Richard Thompson pulled strips of paper containing audience requests last night at City Winery in New York.

It was a mostly entertaining night of solo acoustic music as Thompson played tunes on the fly with the help of computer generated lyric sheets at times. Richard Thompson classics were sprinkled between  the Rolling Stones “Gimme Shelter”, a couple from his Fairport Convention days and Beatles songs that he muddled through (Richard appeared to be not a huge fan of the Fab Four which is hard to believe but true)  The between song banter was refreshing and the guitar playing was exquisite. He did not play the song I am currently fixated on “The Way Thst It Shows” off of the Mirror Blue collection but he did play the Gull’s  selection “Razor” as the finale.

I first saw Mr. Thompson play at City Winery with his Family band which was entertaining but light on Richard Thompson compositions. 

Richard Thompson performs again Friday night at a sold out City Winery and is well worth seeing if you can get in to catch a legend in an intimate setting.

Shoot Out the Lights

Rock on!

GQ

Leon Russell was one of the great under appreciated rock and roll artists of our time. I have always been a fan of his solo work and I first saw him live in concert at BB King’s Blues Club in Times Sqaure. He was no longer the rock and roll wild man who played with George Harrison and the Rolling Stones. Slightly resembling Colonial Sanders, Leon Russell sauntered carefully on stage with the help of a walking stick but when he sat down behind his piano he was clearly at home. 

The times I was able to attend his shows Leon played for about an hour and a quarter and left you wanting more. The word was he was down on his luck, appearing to be not in the greatest health, and touring because he needed the money. 

Elton John rejuvenated Russell’s  career with The Union project and tour while also being the impetus for Leon’s well deserved Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction. 

I last saw Mr. Russell open for Hot Tuna at the NYCB at Westbury theatre with a band of twenty something year old players who hopefully appreciated the legend they shared the stage with. Unfortunately I had decided that night  not to see Leon Russell again as his portion of the bill was heavy on his playing piano at breakneck speed with less emphasis on his extraordinarily deep song catalog. 

Leon Russell will be missed but remembered for all time as one of the great rock and roll side men and for beautiful soulful musical compositions that will stand the test of time.

A Song for You

Rock on

GQ