[ATTENDED: January 14, 2023] Teddy Thompson
This was our first experience with Outpost in the Burbs, a fun venue in Montclair. The venue is actually in a church (I think it might be outside in the summer). This Richard Thompson show was sold out. But the tickets were first come / first seated. In a church. So, in a series of pews.
We arrived in what we thought was plenty of time, but we couldn’t find parking and wound up pretty far away, so by the time we got into the church, it was almost 8PM. We walked in and the lights went down. Luckily there were announcements to be had (which we missed), as we were sent looking for a seat. We were told there were seats in the balcony, so we trudged up the stairs to the (very full) balcony. We headed back down, having seen seats across the room. We headed over there only to discover that these seats (strangely empty) ere positioned directly behind two massive speaker cabinets which entirely blocked the stage–thus, why they were empty. Really they should not have even been available.
Luckily, right next to them was a pew bench against the wall that had a mostly unobstructed view of Teddy as he came out on stage. If he backed away from the mic I couldn’t see him at all, but he didn’t do that very often so it was fine. In fact, it was actually quiet comfortable. The bench had a cushion, and I was in the corner, so I had a corner edge to lean against. And, plenty of leg room!
And, it must be said, the acoustics were outstanding, even in this weird eave.
I saw Teddy Thompson open for his father about ten years ago in Princeton. He played songs from his then new album and sang some songs with his father.
I haven’t really listened to much by Teddy over the years. His music is quite different from his father’s. I do like it, especially hearing him live, but I just don’t listen to it much.
His voice sounds great–big and powerful. The biggest difference is that he doesn’t do a lot of “guitar stuff.” I guess if your father is a master of guitar picking and soloing, there’s no point in trying to keep up. So he mostly writes simpler songs with powerful choruses.
He’s a great live performer, self-effacing and funny and he really knows how to command a room.
I really should give his studio albums more of a listen, because I really enjoyed his (sadly, quite short) set.
SETLIST
- Can’t Sing Straight ∅
- Don’t Know What I Was Thinking ∅
- Heartbreaker Please ♥
- Brand New ♥
- I Should Get Up ⇔
- Everybody Move It ⇔
- No Idea ♥
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