Review: Richard Thompson, Royal Concert Hall
RICHARD Thompson's 'power trio' is a distillation of what has been his core band of the last ten years, last seen at the RCH in 2010 on the Dream Attic tour. That time, perhaps unwisely, he devoted the first 75 minutes to his new album. Tonight, he starts with three songs from Electric (a stronger album) but plays just three more new songs, blended in with an astute selection of classics and interesting choices. It's clearly aimed at long time fans, some of whom have 'driven 80 miles to see me', as he points out before launching into a powerful 'Shame of Doing Wrong' from 1975.
The electric trio come into their own on an extended work-out of 'Can't Win'. Michael Jerome must be the most dynamic drummer Thompson has ever worked with, while Taras Prodaniuk is a supple, inventive bass player, who also adds backing vocals when required. They provide the perfect companion to Thompson's fluid, melodic yet muscular electric guitar. He jokes about their being too folky to be a power trio, but if he was American, we'd be ranking him equal with Neil Young as a lead guitarist. Worth noting that, no matter how heavy the song, you can always make out the words. Did She Jump Or Was She Pushed and Wall of Death are highlights.
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Richard Thompson
There are folk elements. Sidney Wells turns into a 9/8 slip jig.
Thompson begins the encore with two acoustic requests, his quintessential story song Beeswing and 1952 Vincent Black Lightning.
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Then he surprises us by playing the Hendrix version of Hey Joe (and a bit of Purple Haze). We're given an extended version of Electric opener Stony Ground before he leaves us with a rousing run-through of old chestnut Tear Stained Letter. Three men, two hours, three standing ovations. Fantastic.
2 Comments
by GreatValerio
Friday, March 08 2013, 9:43AM
“Despite the RCH being virtually full RT is still Britain's best kept musical secret.
You only need to read the US reviews of the "Electric" tour to see him being hailed as the best guitarist in the world, without rival, but still most people in this country haven't even heard of him.
With a back catalogue of 400+ songs there is always an element of slight disappointment that your personal favourite wasn't performed but having seen RT many times over many years Wednesday night was about as good as it gets and his playing, and that of his band, was suitably electrifying!
On the evidence of last summer there are a number of over sixty British music "icons" in serious need of immediate retirement but RT, at 63, is still very much at the top of his game. I'm not sure how his supercharged version of "Can't Win" would have gone down at the Olympic Opening Ceremony though!!
Thanks Richard. We'll all be back next year.....”
by capotwo
Thursday, March 07 2013, 1:38PM
“They were fantastic as a trio, although inevitably you miss other musicians such as Pete Zorn. It helps if you are already familiar with "Electric", with RT the lyrics are essential, but at a live gig you don't always hear a percenage of them. It is a really good album, I could have happily heard him play all of it.
Equal with Neil who? RT is the best guitarist in the world today, he makes Clapton look like an amateur in comparison. Not a one-trick pony, he has more tricks in his locker than most guitarists. Hey Joe? Move over, Jimi...”