Venue:
Birmingham Symphony Hall
Date: 30/10/2021
Possibly the artist I have seen live more than any other, Covid provided the longest gap I can recall between seeing one of his gigs. This gig was originally arranged to promote his autobiography Beeswing that i would imagine has been out long enough now to achieved the bulk of its sales. Still it’s a treat to see him live even though this was supposed to be Solo acoustic (more on this later) – I do prefer his electric outings especially in his trio tour with Michael Jerome and Taras Prodaniuk. The benefit of it being to promote Beeswing is we did get more of his earlier back catalogue. Wall of Death, Bright Lights,
Walking the long miles home, Keep your distance. He would recite paragraphs before specific songs to explain how the song came about – so my favourite song Turning of the tide was preceded by his description of visiting a brothel in Hamburg when touring with Fairports. I am not normally a fan of one man and an acoustic guitar but this is the master we are talking about and many times last night he made the guitar sing – he was lost none of his dexterity or fluidity. And how can you tire of hearing the beautiful melodies that appear in the likes of Sunset Song or Persuasion. This is no ordinary Acoustic guitar playing this is Richard Thompson guitar playing. 1952VBL and Beeswing were played early in the set which got the ‘hits’ out of the way to focus on the deeper cuts. The setlist was very good and balanced on his entire career including 3 or 4 songs from the digital album he released in lockdown that I had not heard such is my aversion to digital form . Thankfully they had a physical version available at the merchandise stall. The last half a dozen songs of the main set were with his new squeeze Zara Phillips. When they sang Bright Lights and Wall of Death it was easy to conjure memories of his time with Linda although I dont think Zara yet has the same emotional heft of the ex missus. When we reached the encores there was a shout out for Galway to Graceland but we got Meet on the Ledge instead plus a few songs from the new album.
The audience:
Not yet in the departure lounge but likely to be the next stop for many of them. It was the smallest audience for any Richard Thompson gig I have been to. Not sure if this is because of Covid or because many of his audience are no longer firm enough to make the trip out on an October night. About 60 percent full – those not there missed a treat.
It made me think..
I really want him to tour as an electric band again but as next years UK dates are also acoustic I fear it will not be a guarantee that I will see that again.
Going tonight to Manchester, also the arist I have seen most at least once a year since 75 apart from the non touring years.
Not a great fan of VBL so I’ll probably switch off then at least it’s early on.
I’ll report back, friend I’m going with saw him Monday in York and said he was on top form.
I’ve not enjoyed the live mix with the band when I’ve seen them.
I now avoid the electric band, having seen them three or four times. Always the same – always a terrbile mix, always far too loud. Probably the only similarity between RT and The Fall.
Happy to see him acoustic, though. It takes all sorts, dunnit?
Re: “Probably the only similarity between RT and The Fall.”
Maybe RT could’ve done “Shoot Out the Light User Syndrome”?
1952 Vincent White Lightning
London Palladium on Tuesday for us.
Looking at the seating plan this week I saw there are still plenty of empty seats there too. In part it may be price. We’re in the cheapest seats, in the front row of the upper circle at £43 a pop. Most seats are 10 or 20 quid more. That seems steep to me. I’ll pay because, well, because it’s Richard effing Thompson but it’s probably enough to put off any waverers. Of course there will be many others, especially in the age bracket of this audience, who may just be uncomfortable with going to large events again. I was at Show of Hands at Union Chapel on Friday and that was about two thirds full too.
We had hoped to see him at Ally Pally last year as it was a chance to see him in Muswell Hill and we could have walked to it.
This’ll be my third concert this month.
The general industry consensus at the moment seems to be that the older the target audience, the harder it is to sell, so perhaps not a surprise that Thompson’s audiences seem to be down. He is definitely not alone in that regard. I would guess that an Afterword poll – and let’s face it, our average age would place us in the ‘older audience’ demographic – would indicate that collectively we have been to less gigs in the last couple of months than would have been the case for the same period pre-Covid.
On in Dublin on Weds (at Vicar St, a lovely intimate venue of about 1,200). Had I not seen him twice on his Aug 2019 acoustic tour, I’d probably be in like shot but COVID cases here are going through the roof. Still lots of TX left, so come Weds, who knows?
I attended the gig in Glasgow’s Concert Hall on Tuesday, my first since 15/02/20. A 150 mile round trip from Dumfries in awful weather but well worth it. Great guitar playing and the old favourites with a couple of newer songs. The lovely Zara joined him for quite a few songs which worked well. We were required to wear our mask for the duration. This might affect my attitude for attending future gigs. There were a lot of empty sections of the venue which made me think there are those who still have doubts Covid-wise.
I also enjoyed the performance of the support act, Katherine Priddy, a good singer, songwriter and guitarist. All in all, a great night out including the pre-gig meal in Masala Twist on Hope Street.
Thats the difference between Scotland and England – no face masks required in England although many wore them. I would prefer a Covid pass if I am honest but there is a reluctance it would seem.
I have been in total agreement with the ongoing mask requirement in shops etc. but I found it uncomfortable to wear it for over 2 hours. Strangely enough, as it was an indoor seated event, the vaccine passport was not required. Most people locally in Dumfries seem still to have no problem with the general mask wearing requirement.
I’m really happy that RT’s fans are still enjoying the man and his music. I was a big fan for many years favourite concert at The International II in Manchester in the 80’s when he only came on stage with his band around 10pm. They played for 3 hours+ and really rocked believe it or not, bloody loud too!
This was a far cry from the last time I saw him in the 10’s in Manchester, I fell asleep! I cannot listen to him any more, got rid of my RT collection and don’t regret it. Funnily enough I still enjoy Fairport Convention.
This post is not to knock RT, just my opinion and as I stated earlier I’m happy his fans still enjoy the man and his music.
that could be an interesting thread – artists you were huuuge fans of once, and now just couldn’t care less about. For me I’d have to say Flaming Lips from ‘Priest Driven Ambulance’ to ‘Yoshimi’ . But now … meh.
Interesting.
My Dad – a long time fan – went to see him last Monday in York (I think) at the Barbican. Not impressed and came away thinking he was just phoning it in.
An interesting view but not one I share. I have seen him solo acoustic many times and as mentioned in my review it is not my preferred way to see him However on saturday night he played some absolutely exquisite solos and I would say better than I had previously seen him. I will say though that one of the songs from the recently released lockdown set was extremely twee and irritating.
I don’t know which one your referring to, but although I revere Thommo’s output above any other there is a streak of mawkishness which grates with me. Thankfully it only shows itself occasionally, but fan favourites like Devonside and Galway to Graceland are in the category.
On the electric / acoustic split, I’ll go and see him with either but his electric sound is the peak of what I seek in live music. His sound man Simon Tassano does let rip with the volume when allowed though (notably at the South Bank Centre a few years ago) and while that does suit the ferocity of the guitar it can be too much of an aural assault. The last time I saw the electric trio, at Southend Cliffs Pavilion, the volume was kept in check.
They guy is 72 so I just want to see the musician who has given me greater pleasure than any other before he calls it a day.
When I mentioned to Mrs Jaygee that despite Ireland’s COVID case numbers going through the roof, I was thinking of heading up to Dublin to see RT on Weds, she was not happy so will reluctantly bow to her wishes. Fingers crossed RT will still be hitting the high notes if I get to crawl to 72 five years from now.
Re solos – Not sure if he’s doing the song on this tour, but the balls-to-the-wall version of Valerie her performed on his 2019 acoustic outing was a wonder to behold. Only criticism of that show was that, despite being acoustic and therefore surely far more flexible in terms of mixing it up a bit, he performed pretty much the same set on both nights I saw him.
He played Valerie the last time I saw him solo, the third song in after starting with an emotional double whammy of Gethsemane and King of Bohemia. His first spoken words to the audience were, ‘Right – that’s the easy ones out the way.’
I don’t think he was phoning it in last night but there was possibly a lack of spark. He fluffed a solo on Salford Sunday (played because he was in Manchester?) which perverse chap I am enjoyed seeing.
As I say I turn off foe VBL and just listen to the guitar.
The song about tinkers ‘twee and irritating ‘ perchance?
When he had an online book launch and answered questions I asked if he’d considered making another instrumental album, “if you offer to pay for the recording” I was tempted.
Interestingly on the merch stall no sign of the book, and no merchandise for sale after the event. The support had said she couldn’t sell her cd at the theatre (probably they wanted to take a cut?).
Tassano’s mix for the band I agree with Gatz.
@hubert-rawlinson yes that was the one. Absolute drivel but that was first hearing.
On the merch stand there was a soundtrack cd called The Cold Blue which I assume is an instrumental album but yet to hear it.
He didnt play Valerie in Birmingham and doesn’t appear to have played it thus far on the tour but he does mix the setlist up each night so who knows.
@Gatz interesting that you view Galway to Graceland as mawkish – I regard it as a great lyric but agree it is sentimental – would you put Al Bowly’s in heaven in the same category as I often thought that Galway to Graceland is a similar song in a way.
If he was to play real deep cuts I would love to see him play Flee as a bird from the Guitar Vocal album.
The Cold Blue is light orchestral, and Richard composed and arranged rather than played. Pleasant enough to hear but non-essential to my mind.
As for Al Bowlly, I’ve always thought of it as pastiche, but with a more identifiable subject than Devonside or Galway. I did get fed up with it being wheeled out on every tour for the band to have their jazzy solos though. In more recent times I’ve had my my suspicion confirmed that They Tore the Hippodrome Down was written as a like-for-like replacement.
His is an enormous, 50+ year catalogue of course. Something would be wrong with my perception if I liked every single bit of it, but when it does click, as it does so often, there is no one better.
The Cold Blue is the soundtrack to the film of the same name which is a stunning set of footage of B52 bomber crews and raids, originally shot in the war to make morale boosting propaganda. It which was brought back to life and cut into a full length film with interviews with the surviving members. RT did the soundtrack and actually does play on it though as an ensemble player. I saw the opening screening with a “Making of” which I imagine is an extra on the DVD/Blueray. I’d really recommend it if you like that sort of thing. Dust warning – when the surviving crew members ponder the question of whether they are heroes it’s Kleenex time.
I actually reviewed it at the time.
Flee as a Bird is the sort of stuff I mean for an instrumental album, I suppose a Strict Tempo 2 was what I’d need.
Thanks to Gatz for the heads up on The Cold Blue.
Friend at York bought the lockdown ones and deemed that he probably wouldn’t bother with them again.
However he raved about the live album from Nottingham from the 80s.
Grizzly Man is a good instrumental album – another soundtrack.
As are
The Marksman
Life and Loves of a She Devil
Sweet Talker
I might dig ’em out and play them too but I’d still like another Strict Tempo.
My favourite instrumental (largely) RT album is The Bones of All Men, which raises the old artist/life dilemma after Phil Pickett was convicted of some particularly vile crimes.
There is the instrumental Twangin’ n’ A-Traddin’ by the Ashley Hutchings Big Beat Combo, with guest RT.
Is that semi-detached mock tudor? Terrific show.
Just checked, it ‘s not, but the track Listing for Nottingham looks terrific so, thanks for the heads up!
If you’ve not got it, SDMT is also damn good
It appears it has been available as a boot for some years.
The full gig was broadcast on Radio Trent so it’s been widely circulated over the years. The CD is well worth getting despite the bare-bones packaging and artwork, but for some reason it omits the encores (Willow Tree/Bean Setting/Shooting, Flying Saucer Rock & Roll, Ghosts In the Wind and Pavanne) which were part of the broadcast.
Last time I saw him electric he was terrific, with his daughter joining for some With Linda numbers. Also I went with much missed Phil Pirrip, which was the last time I saw him. So I remember that gig with great affection.
Dont think he has ever been to Australia with a full band. First time I saw him was in London around 83, Black Vincent era, Billy Bragg support straight from busking, first pro gig. RT was fucking loud and kept at that level all night. It was draining.
Solo show under the trees at Adelaide Botanical Gardens for Womadelaide. Did requests all afternoon. Broke a string mid gig ,realised he didn’t have a spare, bolted down the side of the stage, could see him running behind the shade cloth. Bolted back on stage, restring and tuned up ,what was that ? Down where The Drunkards Roll? Why certainly.
Alas the rest have been meh.
Gotta be special for him to be special.
Uncertain whether he or his old band have been seen the more by me, him probably. I confess I always preferred the acoustic to the electric iterations, but he had tended to stick so hard to tried and tested, setlist unchanging much from year to year, so the electric trio were a breath of fresh air the two times I have caught them.
As well as the myriad live sets on bandcamp, or pay per view, there have been two lockdown EPs, Bloody Noses and Serpent Tears, 5 songs apiece. Astonishingly both seemed to fail to get a review anywhere at all, which must have dented his pride at being a national treasure and all that. Together, they make a decent enough LP, if, like any of his, patchy.
@retropath2 it is now 12 tracks and released physically – at least on this tour. He played about 4 songs from that set although none stood out. Will give them more attention this week.
I wouldn’t review download albums as a point of principle.
Just checked: they were 6 apiece so the merch table isn’t harbouring any new. I get “paid” in PayPal credit for one of the sites I scribble on, so Bandcamp tend to get the most of that, with physical copy preference when available.
Well we had a great time last night.
A terrific set-list, pretty much the same as other dates looking at Setlist.fm, though he is persisting with the twee Tinker songs others had already found to lack charm. I can’t recall hearing him play Poor Will and the Jolly Hangman solo before. The guitar playing was ferocious, the performance animated with no hint of phoning it in, and the extracts from the autobiography happily brief (I had worried based on the above that it might dominate more at the expense of more songs).
I laughed in the right places, had a tear in my eye for the double of I Misunderstood a Walking on a Wire, and left the Palladium walking on air. Hard to believe the man is in his 70s and still on such top form.
@Gatz we didnt get I misunderstood at Brum which is a shame as one of my absolute favourites. Agree with you though – certainly not phoning it in.
How beautiful is that melody on Sunset Song? Magical.
“I thought she was saying ‘Good luck’. She was saying ‘Goodbye’.
Brilliant stuff.