Guitar virtuoso Richard Thompson will play all-request solo shows at City Winery (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
155 Varick St. between Spring & Vandam Sts.
October 21-23, $35-$60, 9:00
212-608-0555
www.citywinery.com
www.richardthompson-music.com
Richard Thompson is one of the most entertaining performers around, whether he’s with his full band or doing a solo acoustic show. Although we’ve seen him playfully shoot down fans screaming out for specific songs, last year he held three all-request shows in California, and now he’s bringing that act to the intimate City Winery, and we could not be more excited. From his days in Fairport Convention to his much-chronicled marriage to Linda Thompson to his outstanding solo career, Thompson’s wry sense of humor, cynical lyrics, and guitar virtuosity continue to make for excellent records and even better concerts. Make sure to come prepared with your requests; you never know what he’ll end up saying yes to. (We’ll be asking for “Calvary Cross,” by the way.)
Richard Thompson considers another request at City Winery show (photo by twi-ny/mdr)
update: We might not have gotten “Calvary Cross,” but what we did get was another stunning performance by RT on October 23, closing his three-night sold-out stand at City Winery. Digging into a big bowl filled with audience requests, Thompson pulled out such utter delights as the unforgettable “1952 Vincent Black Lightning,” a free-spirited “Valerie,” a misspelled “Al Bowlly’s in Heaven,” a killer “When the Spell Is Broken,” and a gorgeous “Walking on a Wire.” Thompson, who turned sixty earlier this year, also played several covers, including Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” a stellar sing-along version of the Easybeats’ “Friday on My Mind,” and, for Halloween, the bartender-requested “Monster Mash.” In fact, whenever Thompson, as amiable and acerbic as ever, didn’t feel like playing a requested song after that, he claimed it was yet another person asking for the Bobby “Boris” Pickett novelty tune. The end of the show featured such great numbers as “I Agree with Pat Metheny” (a funny riff on Kenny G) and a sensational “Matty Groves” as he reached back to his Fairport Convention days. (We couldn’t help but notice that his ex-wife and former recording partner, Linda, was mouthing the words from her seat in the audience as he sang.) Once again RT delivered a generous, wholly engaging, and marvelously entertaining show. Don’t dare miss him next time he comes around these parts, which can’t be soon enough.