TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

Late report re Richard Thompson, Vancouver December 2 2005..

Whoever chose St Andrews church as the venue for a RT solo performance was (divinely?) inspired.  For a start, the acoustics were excellent.  Secondly, the pew seating and lack of bar meant that the audience had to concentrate on the music so that the show was not marred (as some RT shows in Vancouver have been) by relentless chatter or clinking bottles.

The opening act, Paul Hyde, was very good indeed.  Some of you may know Paul as the singer from the Payolas (“Eyes of a Stranger”) with Bob Rock of Metallica etc fame.  He is now in singer-songwriter mode and played a strong set of material, reminiscent a little of Jackie Leven.  Check out his website for samples.

After the hors d’oeuvre, the main course..RT strode on in much the same black clothing with beret as he seems to have been wearing from the past 20 years or so I have seen him live.  The set opened with Spell is Broken and moved on briskly through Crawl Back and One Door Opens.  Only two selections from FPB, which was odd given that a solo acoustic show might seem to be the ideal place to promote a solo acoustic album.  The two FPB songs performed were Thameside, which already sounds classic, and My Soul, which worked less well.  Would have liked to have heard “Mutton Street” and a couple of others, but hard to complain too much when the set also included Walking on a Wire, Dimming of the Day and the Great Valerio (interesting choices – mainly the Linda T songs).

There was a fine version of Crazy Man Michael, presumably in anticipation of the new version on the forthcoming box set.  Several “favourites” were dropped – Al Bowly, Waltzing’s for Dreamers for example – in favour of Cocksferry Queen, Bathsheba Smiles, the anti fundamentalist song from Old Kit Bag.  In addition there were two of those humourous pieces RT always seems to slip in.  On this occasion it was Hamlet and Hot for the Smarts.

Needless to say Vincent Black Lightning was aired and then into encores – Hokey Pokey, Persuasion, Jimmy Shands and Misunderstood.

RT was in very relaxed mood and in great form on the guitar.  Great audience mix – not all old codgers.  All in all a superb concert and hopefully any future acoustic RT shows will be at the same venue. 

Thank you very much for the review. Saved my day.
I´m looking forward to January to see GOD in Warwick.

May I  also say, thanks for the review, it has wetted my appetite nicely. Basingstoke on Jan 6 for me.

6th?!!

I sort of hope that the Basingstoke gig is on the 27th...?

See you there. Possibly!

Cheers

Nick

RT tour dates are here (http://www.richardthompson-music.com/Tour.asp). Basingstoke Anvil is Fri 27th Jan. I think I'll try the Hexagon in Reading...

HTH

Who´s coming on Saturday?
Is there a pub close to the venue where we can meet earlier?  {:-)

Just discovered he's on at Chichester Festival Theatre this week, possibly with Danny.

I may see if I can get tickets.

Paul

Basingstoke for me.  Followed closely, the following week by some other band!

Local gigs for local people!

Will be at the Anvil for RT and FC next two Fridays - see you near the bar I'll wager  :D

I'm also seeing the luvverly Dar Williams tomorrow (in Maidstone Jazz Cafe - not so local then).  She's American and fab.  I saw her briefly supporting RT in London late last year.

I decided to give FC a miss.

The missus will start getting suspicious if I'm at the Anvil three fridays in a row (Athena Andreadis last Friday - one to watch or so I'm told, couldn't see it meself but I got a signed CD just in case).

So I'm off to "Daughters of Albion" at the Barbican on 3rd instead.

Must remember to set the video for "Folk Britannia" on BBC4  :)

Anyone going to Cambridge Corn Exchange to see RT on Monday 30th Jan?

David

me ::)

I'll be at northampton on the saturday night.

Diane

So I'm looking for a dolphin, right?  At least you'll be able to spot!

David

i'll wave me fins at you ::)

Good chap - if you fancy grabbing a pint before the gig send an IM

Thoroughly enjoyed last night at the Anvil.  I nave no idea what was played, other than 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, Persusaion, Genisis Hall and Al Bowley's in heaven.   Lorraine nodded off a couple of times but also enjoyed the show.  Came back with a couple of CD's to educate myself. 

What is the song about liking smart girls called?

 Having missed his set at Cropredy due to unforeseen circumstances we were really looking forward to seeing RT and were not disappointed.A great night in Sheffield yesterday with RT and DT in fine form.The set came from the whole span of his career from Crazy Man Michael through to the new album all performed with power and passion. We were even treated to a 10 minute comedy routine from Danny when Richard broke his G string (really).
Mark, I think you mean 'Hots for the Smarts'

rachel

I'll second that Rachel. Excellent gig.
I was sceptical of the Lyceum as a venue but the acoustics were good and there was a great atmosphere and buzz about the place.
Danny stole the show.

Jeb Loy Nichols was superb too.

Had a great time at the Anvil...  good to see Nick, Fi, Sandy, Martin Mark and Lorraine

tell me someone, whats the name of that song he's been singing for a while now which he describes as being about 'catholic sex'.. starts with a line about Johnnie joining a celiah band and going to sea..?

Ta
Issy

It's called "Johnny's Far Away"

"Johnny's joined a ceilidh band
They're known quite well throughout the land: The Drones
The Drones have signed upon a cruise
And Tracy's laying in the booze back home

She's got herself another man, a smoothy
While the kids are in the front room watching movies
She's got him in a headlock, in an armlock, in a jam
She says I can't express myself with my old man

While Johnny's far away on the rolling, rolling
Johnny's far away on the rolling sea
Johnny's far away on the rolling, rolling
Johnny's far away on the rolling sea
On the rolling sea On the rolling sea

Johnny's cruising out to sea
And he believes in chastity, for some
The wealthy widows bill and coo
He fends off one or two and then succumbs
Well they're hard in pirate ports in the Bahamas
He's turning her right out of her pyjamas
He's turned her every which way, to the rhythm of the sea
He says I can't express myself with my old lady

While Johnny's far away on the rolling, rolling
Johnny's far away on the rolling sea
Johnny's far away on the rolling, rolling
Johnny's far away on the rolling sea
On the rolling sea On the rolling sea

Johnny's home he opens up the door
While someone's sneaking out the back
And Tracy says you look so poorly,
Sores and all, you ought to see the quack
She wipes the kip from off the kiddies' noses
And he charms her with eleven battered roses
And by and by they get down to the job of man and wife
Back to the old comforts of the missionary life

While Johnny's far away on the rolling, rolling
Johnny's far away on the rolling sea
Johnny's far away on the rolling, rolling
Johnny's far away on the rolling sea
On the rolling sea
On the rolling sea
On the rolling sea
On the rolling sea"

Fabulous show at the Anvil.  The sound was a bit iffy for the first couple of songs but they sorted that out soon enough.

I don't think I've ever seen him quite that relaxed and engaging.

But where was Christine?

Good to see all the aforementioned TAW'ers at the Anvil. (Hope you're feeling better Sandy)

I could only manager 3 Jeb songs, I'm afraid.  Bit dull.  ^-^

However RT was his usual self apart from his clothes.  Why he wore a yellow tutu is beyond me   .......   nah only joking.  ;)

Great playing and a very funny joke about honey to boot  ;D

Having had to miss the Cambridge gig tonight because of teenage daughter, "can you give me and my mates lifts to local Norwich heavy metal gig?" issues, (drunk when I agreed to do this the other night, so difficult to get out of it), I am now very tempted to make the 2 hour (at least) journey to Northampton next Saturday to see RT in a small indoor venue, my only previous experiance of him being outdoors at Cropredy when all day drinking, big crowds, and poor sound can make for poorer musical appreciation, but very enjoyable nonethe less. Questions I want to ask is: what if anything is worth seeing in Northampton on a Saturday afternnon? What is the venue like? any decent pubs near by?  answers gratefully received-Nuthouse?

Have just returned from the aforesaid Corn Exchange gig.  A sublime romp through one of the richest back catalogues of them all, with three from Front Parlour ballads.  Blissful and blistering guitar, ooh I'd like a Lowden too.

And he got us singing, and Danny was the perfect foil.

Sorry you missed it pterryb.

David

Anything worth seeing on a Saturday afternoon in Northampton ?

No rugby on at the Saints, but the Cobblers are playing Rushden & Diamonds  (if that's your cup of tea)

Inside of the Malt Shovel - a little step out of the town centre opposite the Calrlberg Brewery - fine beer and good food
Inside of Papa Cino's in town centre - cheap and cheerful - and a good selectoion of grappas if you speak nicely to the boss.

Stoke Bruerne (just the Milton Keynes side of Junction 15 is very pleasant - The Boat at Stoke Bruerne is worth a visit - good walks along the canal and a well-kept pint at the end of it all !

Not been the Deco since it was a cinema many years ago - but from the pictures I have seen it looks very pleasant (old 30's-ish type building so characterful)

For car parking, the best directions that I have found is on the still-running Roadmender site - see http://www.roadmender.org/view_event.asp?id=63 . The Roadmender is a short walk form where the Deco is so directions are good. There is also a link to download mp of Northampton Car Parks.

If you park in St Michaels Car Park this is just behind the Deco. As you walk out of the car park onto Abington Square turn right and the entrance to the Deco is down a little alley just as you get onto the street.

Hope this helps... of course this may also be of use to anyone coming to see Fairport at the Deco.

 :-*