Richard Thompson- Live 2-19-2004
Published February 25, 2004
Richard Thompson played live at Birdy's in Indianapolis on February 19, 2004.
First, you need to understand that Richard Thompson is the guitar playingest sumbitch walking the Earth today.
Thus, a band would be about halfway superfluous. He can and does play a couple or three parts at a time as needed. He played Birdy's as he has three of the four times I've seen him: solo acoustic. One microphone, acoustic guitar. If you've got the songs and the playing prowess, that's all you need. Bono talks about "three chords and the truth." I don't know about that, but Thompson has vision and skills.
You could tell that up front from "Cooksferry Queen." He can play that rockabilly stuff ten times better than Scotty Moore's inspired but crude stylings. He's got skill and imagination- and a better song than any but maybe a couple of Elvis' Sun classics. OK, he's not quite ELVIS, but he's good. The vibrant joy of the song just shone through.
For the serious moods of much of his material, he likes to balance by fun-ing with the audience, teasing us a bit. There were no seats, other than a few out of sight in the back of the balcony. Thus, he noted that he found it amusing to see a packed bar full of middle aged people standing up all night to listen to acoustic music.
That's alright, though, cause he promised us something to get our "toes tapping" - then plays "Outside of the Inside." This would be his "Taliban's eye view of the West," a thick and somber song even by his standards. Then I looked down about halfway through, and damned if my toe wasn't tapping. Even an ascetic ballad played solo acoustic had a strong rhythmic interplay.
As a longtime Muslim, Thompson has a unique perspective on the world situation and Western culture. He understands Islam and fundamentalist thinking enough to write an insightful dissection like "Outside of the Inside." Yet he has his own little perch as part of Western popular culture. This gives him a little different outlook from most entertainers, and from most Muslims.
- Richard Thompson- Live 2-19-2004
- Published: February 25, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Classic Rock and Oldies, Music: Folk, Music: Rock
- Writer: Al Barger
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As far as I know, he's never actually put out the "1000 years" project.
The Pat Metheny song would be one of those jokey songs going with the Janet Jackson song. I never heard him play it live, but I do somewhere have a live bootleg. It's fun. Also in that vein, search Kazaa for "Mr Dead," which I especially like.
In the realm of Thompson perversion, I have apparently a studio recording of him singing Britney Spears "Oops, I Did It Again." Supposedly this is slated for the "1000 Years" project. Funny thing, when Thompson sings it, it comes out sounding at least halfway like a real song.
oh man, check out his website.
you can get the 1000 years cd as well as some tastly live stuff.
Speaking as a semi lame guitar player with but enough talent to keep the critters away from the ranch at night with my attempts at string bending I heartily agree with Mr. Saleski's observation of Richard Thompson's abilities. Scary indeed.
Years ago I brought home A Richard Thompon Instruction Video from the local library. With great excitement I plugged in my old Tele poured a stout cup o mug and readied myself to be playing licks a la Thompson in one easy lesson. When the tape ended I realized I had not struck a note during the entire lesson. The man is just an amazing player and delivered an array of, to me, most impossible wizardry with such an easy and nonchalant manner. Too much for my clumsy fingers I admit with no shame.
I have been listening to Mr. Thompson since I was but a clueless teenager with a clear beard in the hills of North Alabama and to this day he is high on my list of players.
"Vincent Black Lightning" is one of my all time favorite ballads and in an odd way fits easily into the dark Appalachian Ballads of which I am so fond. Take a listen to Del McCoury's version some time and you will hear how natural it sounds in that garb.
By the way Mr. Barger, you are correct. "Mock Tudor" is a great record.
Holy crap, Mark- you're right! How did that happen? The 1000 years CD is available for purchase from his website. I'ma be ALL over this. And look, there's the Britney Spears song. Better yet, leaving behind the joke category, PRINCE! What could RT do with "Kiss?" Enquiring minds MUST know!
In my defense, this seems to be available ONLY through his website. It's not even on Amazon.
The Janet Jackson Song is downloadable now here:
http://www.richardthompson-music.com/audio/dear_janet.mp3
Thanks for the tip Flip. Let's make that a convenient "Dear Janet Jackson" hyperlink. RIGHT CLICK HERE (Save as...)
Check out this link for the live version of "I Agree With Pat Metheny."
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speaking as a guitar player, i've gotta say that Thompson makes the impossible look waaaay too easy. it's scary.
you're right though, in that he's got the songs to back it up (and thus make it interesting).
two questions al:
- do you have the "1000 Years Of Popular Music" CD? (i don't...dunno what my problem is)
- every heard his anti-Kenny G tune "I Agree With Pat Metheny"?