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[MUSIC REVIEW] Richard Thompson's single-malt folk-rock triumphs at Mahaiwe
10.26.08
Richard Thompson at the Mahaiwe on October 25, 2006 [photo by Stephen G. Donaldson Photography]
MAHAIWE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.
RICHARD THOMPSON
Sunday, October 25, 2008
by Seth Rogovoy
(Great Barrington, October 26, 2008) -- If singer-songwriters were scotch whisky, Richard Thompson would be one of those rare, expensive single-malts, appreciated only by true connoisseurs. (John Mayer, on the other hand, would be Dewar's.)
In his solo performance at the Mahaiwe last night, Thompson demonstrated his remarkable, distinctive characteristics: the fleet, orchestral guitar playing; the gruff but passionate vocals; the acerbic, sometimes astringent, wit; the modal-based folk-rock; and how all these unique flavors (like the peat, the smoke, and the burn) blend into the old-fashioned values of vaudeville in his seemingly effortless, generous delivery.
Like Laphroaig, Thompson is an acquired taste. But those who acquire it are forever enriched (and forever ruined for the John Mayer's or Jackson Browne's of the world). An incisive lyricist and composer, Thompson's music is mostly built on the drones and modes of Anglo-Celtic folk--the same modes and drones, however, upon which most non-Western music is built. As a result, to the Western ear expecting blues changes or scalar melodies, it can be hard at times to recognize Thompson's melodies or musical strategies -- his songs seem to lack melodies to follow.
But Thompson's strategy is the perfect marriage of form and content. Just as his songs shy away from the banalities of so much pop and blues in favor of examinations of the dark corners of love, loss, and regret, his music supports the grim and gloomy, sometimes twisted and violent viewpoint.
This is all, of course, leavened with a good dose of humor, albeit some of it black, and Thompson's shimmering guitar approach, a miraculous one-man band in which guitar functions as drum, bass, rhythm and lead instrument all at once.
Thompson knows how to pace a concert, balancing fan favorites like the opener, "I Feel So Good" (think Warren Zevon's "Excitable Boy") with new material such as "Dad's Gonna Kill Me" (not a family drama, but an Iraq war protest song, "dad" here being short for Baghdad) and a few jazzy or rock-based novelty tunes thrown in for relief from the serious tension Thompson builds.
A gracious performer in spite of his sarcastic wit, Thompson can seem timeless in his musical and lyrical concerns and then toss off a mention of iPhones and Wikipedia to startle listeners into the present. He also got the primed, sold-out crowd to participate in several sing-alongs, but wasn't above making fun of them in the process.
Like his contemporary, Joni Mitchell, who similarly began playing traditional folk before establishing a style built upon that but all her own, along the way becoming the most influential female singer-songwriter of the rock era while remaining a musician's musician (in spite of a few hits), Thompson's influence can be felt throughout singer-songwriters since the late-1970s. Elvis Costello is unimaginable without Thompson, as are Jeff Buckley, Shawn Colvin, and Ani DiFranco.
Who knows -- maybe even late at night, when he's looking for inspiration to take him places he's never dreamed of going on his own, John Mayer listens to Richard Thompson.
Seth Rogovoy is the award-winning music critic and editor-in-chief of Berkshire Living magazine.
10/26/2008
Saw Willie there but didn't see you; I've seen RT maybe 6 times and I think this one was the best. Taking your booze analogy another step, it appears he's improved with age.
Best line: She likes to get goosed
While reading Proust
Rapp
From IP address: 69.204.171.9
10/26/2008
oooh tell me more....
nice replay, gentlemen.
wish i could have been in two places at the same time last night.
think i'm gonna pour one tonight for that girl who likes to get goosed.
From IP address: 69.204.160.120
11/29/2008
I have also aquired "the taste" for Richard Thompson and have seen him well over a dozen times. I didn't see him in Mass. this last tour, but I did catch the same show at the Egg in Albany. I think the bite poisen made him even better because he was absolutely on fire there, too. Rarely has there been such a combintation of great guitar playing, great singing, and great songs. I do take exception, however to Seth's use of Jackson Browne's name as a less then great artist. Jackson has proven himself to be a songwriter, musician and singer who has also stood the test of time. I think Seth should stay with the performer he is reviewing and leave out the comparisons to others.
Thank you,
G.
From IP address: 24.148.118.230
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