Richard Thompson at the Ark

[olson_jr]

---RICHARD THOMPSON SELLING FAST---

RICHARD THOMPSON comes to The Ark for a solo,
acoustic show on MONDAY, JULY 7 AT 8 P.M.
Tickets are already going fast, so get yours
now. Don’t miss out!

[WhiteSE]

he must be recouping...a scorpion bit him in the hand while on vacation in Mexico..

[zoeinterloper]

This is one of those events IMHO that it a "don't miss" situation. I have traveled more than three hundred miles, one way, in an evening to see Richard perform and I would do it again, in a heart beat, especially to see him in a solo concert and there is no better place than A-squared's Ark. The focus will definitely be on guitar work and storytelling. Just get a ticket and go... you will experience what live music should be about (and in this case IS). Mr. Thompson will not disappoint, I promises. Richard is a unique songwriter, a phenomenal and diverse guitarist, and one of the few great live performers left. Need I mention Fairport Convention's fine work and influence on popular music and Linda & Richard Thompson's contribution to rock music?! Just be there or a … be squared! If I had two hours of music left to hear before I die, this would be a fitting way to waste the hours away.

Happy Listening!:beatnik:

A few video samplings to entice you...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=AxKTzwaEa2o

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OQhZwwwec6M

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zCuhxEy8Brw

[olson_jr]

Rob,
Does this mean I will see you there?
If I had two hours of music left to hear before I die, this would be a fitting way "

[zoeinterloper]

Rob,
Does this mean I will see you there?
If I had two hours of music left to hear before I die, this would be a fitting way "

Indeed you shall!

And fortunately, by the grace of God, I think I will have more than that two hours of music left to spend.

Several of the SMAC members and I have tickets already.

Happy (RT) Listening!:beatnik:

[olson_jr]

Great, I will see you there.

Now suggest some RT LPs I should dig out of the :banana:basemnet!

[Drybasement]

David and I are confirmed. See you all there.

[zoeinterloper]

Great, I will see you there.

Now suggest some RT LPs I should dig out of the :banana:basemnet!

Shame on you if your RT albums are really in the basement,
but that mishap aside... here are a few highlights, so many great tunes are scattered though his entire career that it's kind of like panning for gold, every scoop of dirt washes up a few choice nuggets when your in a rich vein, that said I will try to keep the list short and hit some of the biggies...

Let’s see if I can keep this short, hmmm. Fairport Convention, his beginnings, like early Fleetwood Mac and Pentangle found inspiration in black American blues combined with a love of their own UK folk music tradition with skillful hands and voices influenced rock music yet to come. The first five albums are strong and solid and spirited in every way.

1968 S/T on UK Polydor
1969 What We Did on Our Holidays on Hannibal
1969 Unhalfbricking on Hannibal
1969 Liege & Lief on A&M
1970 Full House on Hannibal

1975 Pour Down Like Silver on Hannibal

A very nice record with Linda (Thompson) and a stunning version of “Dimming of the Day” at the end of the second side.

1982 Shoot Out the Lights on Hannibal

A RollingStone Desert Island Pick in the top 100 rock Lps of all time. Many gems, a classic. Need I say more?

1994 Mirror Blue on Capitol UK

Another of my personal favorites for his great writing chops along with a spirited performance through out. Some of his best… For the Sake of Mary, Shane and Dixie, Beeswing, Mingus eyes, I Ride in Your Slipstream, Mascara Tears, OK, well you get the picture, basically, the whole album.

1996 Two Letter Words [live] on Flypaper

This (in a nutshell) is the best condensed view of his long career. The band members are consummate craftsmen with a skill level and sensitivity to the narrative that is totally amiss in most of popular music today IMHO. The performance is exceptional, the recording is beautiful, with the caveat that it should have been released on vinyl. One of my favorites for turning someone on to RT, the sad news is, it is out of print, but can be found on ebay for a premium. Probably his finest rendition of 1952 Vincent Black Lightning.

2003 The Old Kit Bag on Cooking Vinyl
Solid writing, a killer rhythm section, very collected vision, passionate playing, and the production work by Mitchell Froom is as good as it gets. Beautiful pressing as well on the part of Cooking Vinyl.

Hope these coments will stimulate some enjoyment.

Happy Listening! :beatnik:

[Cantabury Guy]

with regard to the previous post...well said!

[zoeinterloper]

Well, as many who know me would suspect, rave reviews of RT's solo show last night at the Ark. Richard was in rare form and instead of rockin’ out as usual (although he did at times) he focused on a broad range of his career and a lot of the slower, easier, more heart felt tunes. This is not to say that the evening was without his usual deep dive and diverse guitar virtuosity. A completely different version of "I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight" that in a dozen or so trips to see Mr. Thompson, I have never heard before in any likeness to this interpretation, very nice. He dug back to Fairport (Convention) and played a Sandi Denny cut "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" with great gentleness and passion and as he admits before playing, only Sandi could fully do it justice. He played stuff from Sweet Warrior, Mock Tudor, Semi-Detached Mock Tudor, Mirror Blue, Daring Adventures, Small Town Romance, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, Unhalfbricking, did I miss anything?! And a great little audience participation ditty called “I’ve got the hots for the smarts” (I think) just to show his cunning playfulness with all who showed. Richard made an honest attempt to dig deeper and share some of the less obvious gems he owns and was most successful in doing so. I’m a bit of a fan (tongue in cheek), so I must admit and this particular show was like no other I can remember, off hand. The Ark was as the Ark always is, sonically intimate, friendly, and there is hardly a bad seat in the house (all 200 or so). This was a great pleasure to share with my friends Laura, Darren, and Dave. Wow, it was another good evening for music lovers!

Happy Listening! :beatnik:

[modge]

Thompsons singing at Cropredy Fest again this year but I cant get out of standby so I cant go :tears: Its a long time untill 2009 but I shall wait. Cropready is one of the highlights of the year for me. Thers a few more fests and nights out to see but nothing tops Fairport and the crowd drinking a few beers and enjoying the whole event. Its a real pain avery time I think about not being there. Im off to put some Thompson on the tt and listen to him now. Roll on 2008.

[tentoze]

RT is still on my list to see live one of these days. Consistent genius. And, I'd LOVE to catch Cropredy at some point.

[modge]

Theres allways a few Americans or Canadians ( well its a little hard to know the diferance realy being has you all sound the same to us LOL ) at Cropready. The flags fying there in the crowd and outside the tents are from all over the world. I just cant belive Im not going:cry: As they say my way, Ya canna have it all so dunna keep on :thmbsp:

[Drybasement]

Another fantastic show at the Ark in Ann Arbor. RT was superb and really gave us a good show. I'm still awestruck. He played for a solid 2 hours with 2 encores.

From what I remember, RT played:

Cooksferry Queen (Mock Tudor)
Crawl Back (Under My Stone) (Mock Tudor)
Valerie (Daring Adventures)
Dad's Gonna Kill Me (Sweet Warrior)
Johnny's Far Away (Sweet Warrior)
Shoot Out The Lights (Shoot Out The Lights)
I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight (I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight)
Down Where The Drunkards Roll (I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight)
Who Knows Where The Time Goes? (Unhalfbricking)
1952 Vincent Black Lightning (Rumor And Sigh)
I Feel So Good (Rumor And Sigh)
Persuasion (previously unreleased, it's on the Action Packed - Capitol Years best of comp.)
She Twists The Knife Again (Across A Crowded Room)


Rob or David fill in the gaps if you would. As always, it was a pleasure hooking up with you guys again. And it was nice to meet your friend Laura as well, Rob.

Cheers

[zoeinterloper]

Nice coverage Darren.
I'm thinking, I'm thinking, ... give me a minute.

Bees Wing from Mirror Blue

(didn't he do?)
I Feel So Good from Rumor and Sigh



Great to hang with you two and the IPA at Ann Arbor brewery was superb!!

Happy Listening! :beatnik:

[zoeinterloper]

"I feel so good" opps! you got it!

[jmathers]

....and the IPA at Ann Arbor brewery was superb!!

A legendary beer indeed:thmbsp:

Appropriate beer for the show.

Jeff

[zoeinterloper]

A legendary beer indeed:thmbsp:

Appropriate beer for the show.

Jeff

Crap!! I was going to grab a grawler (or three) on the way out of town. Mondays happy hour prices were running all night. Well, next time!

Wish you were there my friend. :beatnik:

[dmax99]

One Door Opens - The Old Kit Bag.And yes the IPA was excellent(on par with the show!)

[olson_jr]

I shed a tear when I found out I had to work in Arizonia this week and miss Richard at the Ark.

Now that I see you went to the Arbor Brewery before the show and had a couple of Sacred Cow IPAs without me I am actually crying, crying in my beer that is.

[zoeinterloper]

dmax99, very good. Darren and I forgot that one! But now that you mention it...

Happy Listening! :beatnik:

[zoeinterloper]

I shed a tear when I found out I had to work in Arizonia this week and miss Richard at the Ark.

Now that I see you went to the Arbor Brewery before the show and had a couple of Sacred Cow IPAs without me I am actually crying, crying in my beer that is.

My condolances.

[dmax99]

It's funny, I was waiting for Darren to pick me up and I was playing The Old Kit Bag.When that song came up I thought to myself,that would be a great song for a solo performance.I guess he agreed, it was the first song he played....

[olson_jr]

I believe this is one place to see Richard Thompson that might be more fun than the Ark. Bit of a drive from Michigan though......

Richard Thompson Tue, 9 December 2008 Chico, CA Big Room @ Sierra Nevada Brewing Co (530) 345-2739 Sierra Nevada Brewing Company RT Solo

Guess I won't be seeing RT this year.