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