Yesterday evening I took a trip up the M5 to see Richard Thompson at the Colston Hall in Bristol. It was almost exactly two years since I saw him at the same venue, that time it was the Electric Trio, this time he was solo.
No issues with my seats this time, we were five rows back from the desk and dead centre.
The show was opened by Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker who kicked off with a version of Reynardyne very reminiscent of Sandy Denny, but it was mostly original material "I have been trying to write a uplifting anthem and this is as close as I got" joked Josienne at one stage. Beautiful voice, great melodies, thoughtful lyrics, excellent guitar playing, but not the most cheerful set. She says buy the album for the nights you are home by your self with a bottle of red wine and have a good cry.
Richard was excellent, alone with an acoustic guitar for a long 100 minute set. The quality of his guitar playing is phenomenal. The set included a good mixture from his enormous back catalogue. A couple of big ones, "Meet on the Ledge" and "Vincent Black Lightning" turned up surprisingly early, leaving "Beeswing" for the encore. Its always nice when you see some one that's been around so long and a highlight is one of the most recent songs "Beatnik Walking" remains one of my favorite RT songs.
I have been coming to the Colston Hall for 49 years, says Richard, first time in 1969 wit Fairport. "They haven't changed the dressings rooms in all that time, come to think of it that haven't changed the towels."
He did a nice cover of Sandy Denny's "Who Knows Where the Time Goes"
And the was the inevitable comic song to contrast the trade mark "Doom Gloom and the Tomb" this time "Hots for the Smarts". Love the "Plutonium stains down her dress " line.
Great night all round.