Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Richard Thompson’ Category

Richard Thompson: XPoNential Music Festival: Marina Stage (Wiggins Park, Philadelphia PA, September 20, 2025)

Posted in Marina Stage, Philadelphia, PA, Richard Thompson, Wiggins Park, WXPN 88.5 FM--Philadelphia, PA, XPN Fest, Xponential Music Festival on September 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: September 20, 2025] Richard Thompson

After Soccer Mommy, we scooted across the waterfront to get  to the Marina Stage to see Richard Thompson. This was my thirteenth time seeing Richard Thompson. He is a consummate performer and I enjoy his shows every time I see him.

But it was so packed!  We couldn’t get anywhere close to stage (anything close was on a steep hill–not conducive to a guy with a cane. We watched the first song from behind the stage, which is obviously very close, although not very satisfying.  And then two women walked up right behind us and started talking to each other really loudly.  So we gave up and moved to the front.  I wound up standing on the stairs which probably blocked someone, but there were others standing next to me.  My wife went a little further up and was probably more comfortable.

But it was a great view and the sound was fantastic and it was fun to see the crowd get into him.

He didn’t play anything I haven’t seen him play before, although he started with Gethsemane, a favorite of mine that I’d only heard for the first time last time.

He always sounds great–even when he needs to clear his throat–he waits between verses and somehow never sounds bad while singing.  His voice is strong and powerful and his guitar playing is of course phenomenal.

He is also really funny between songs: “People say you are entitled to your opinion.  I say no.  You are entitled to your informed opinion.”  This led to a major compliment to WXPN–“any station that plays me must be good.”

Then he said he was going to play an old song from 1969 (Genesis Hall) which he said is probably before most of your were even born.  No, looking around, I take that back.

He played the super Turning of the Tide, with some great guitar sounds–he does so much with an acoustic guitar.  He followed it with the gorgeous Persuasion.

Then things got rowdy with  the always fun sing along of Johnny’s Far Away.  It’s a modern sea shanty.  A cruise shp shanty.  It’s about sex and it’s got a very obvious chorus.  You’ll know when its coming… as the bishop said to the actress.  The crowd really got into singing along and Richard greatly appreciated it.

Up next was Pharoah, an older song that is pretty dark.  As he said, it’s a song about kings, despots, authoritarians.  [Boos from the crowd]. I’m speaking historically of course, I can’t think of any contemporary similarities.

Up next was a song he put out on an EP during COVID and nobody bought it.  There’s still 80,000 in the warehouse.”  I think it’s a great song, although he joked “Did someone out here say it sounds like Kenny G?  I’m glad i misheard….  But it does a bit.”

I’ve loved Walking the Long Miles Home from the first time I heard it.  I think of it every time I go for a walk because the beat is just perfect.  And he likes to tell the origin story of the song.  It involved him going to the Marquee Club which featured The Who every Tuesday and The Yardbirds every Friday with Eric uh… Idle no Clapton.  Then he left and in came Jeff and then he left and it was Jimmy.  And The Move.  But if he missed the last bus it was a ten mile walk home.  On a school night.  There went a promising career in accounting.

Then came one of his most beloved songs 1952 Vincent Black Lightning.  It’s a gorgeous song, a great guitar melody and live, it features some amazing soloing.

It’s pretty amazing how many classic songs he has been a part of–songs that people with any kind of musical history recognize instantly.  Up next was the song he did with his ex-wife Linda, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight–fun and jaunty–perfect for a summer day by the waterfront.  He ended the set with another Richard & Linda song, Dimming of the Day.

I was surprised he didn’t play Beeswing, probably his most famous song.  I think he ran out of time.  I’m not disappointed since I have seen him play it 8 times.  But I’m sure some people were bummed.\

Every time I think I’ve seen Richard enough, I realize how much I love his live shows.  But next time I really want a full band!

You can find a stream of his set here: https://xpn.org/xpn-fest/

2025 XPoNential Music Festival
Gethsemane ∴ [2]
Genesis Hall [Fairport Convention song] ۯ [4]
Turning of the Tide ◊ [5]
Persuasion ≤ [8]
Johnny’s Far Away ⊄ [4]
Pharaoh ◊[2]
If I Could Live My Life Again ♦ [4]
Walking the Long Miles Home ∏ [4]
1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [12]
I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight £≤ [5]
Dimming of the Day  [Richard & Linda song] £∇ [4]

 

February 22, 2025, McCarter
 January 14, 2023 Outpost in the Burbs January 18, 2020 McCarter
If I Could Live My Life Again ♦ [3]
 Gethsemane ∴ The Sun Never Shines on the Poor [Richard & Linda song] £∇ [2]
Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [8]
 If I Could Live My Life Again ♦ [2] The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [6]
Beeswing Ø [8]
 Genesis Hall [Fairport Convention song] €Ø [3] Valerie ð [6]
I Feel So Good ® [5]
 Turning of the Tide ◊ [4] Crocodile Tears
Matty Groves [Fairport Convention song] €£ Beeswing Ø [7] Beeswing Ø [6]
 You Love Me Like It’s 1969
 Persuasion [with Teddy Thompson] ≤ [7] Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [6]
Walking the Long Miles Home ∏ [3]
 Cut Across Shorty [Eddie Cochran song] [with Teddy Thompson] Walking the Long Miles Home ∏
1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [11]
 Johnny’s Far Away ⊄ [3] 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [9]
I Misunderstood ® [5]
 Little Sally Rackett [recited a verse of the shanty] [2] Cooksferry Queen ∏ [2]
Pipe Dreams [?]  (with Zara Phillips) 
 Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [7] Who Knows Where the Time Goes? [Fairport Convention song] €Ø [2]
 Hokey Pokey (The Ice Cream Song) (with Zara Phillips) £∇
 Walking the Long Miles Home ∏ [2] Hope You Like the New Me ∏ [2]
Singapore Sadie (with Zara Phillips) ⊥[2]
 Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] (with Zara Phillips) £♦ [7] Meet on the Ledge [Fairport Convention song] €ϖ
 She Twists the Knife Again (with Zara Phillips) ♣ [2]
 Singapore Sadie (with Zara Phillips) ⊥ If I Could Live My Life Again ♦
 If Love Whispers Your Name (with Zara Phillips) Λ [2]
 The Old Pack Mule (with Zara Phillips) ⊥ Jet Plane in a Rocking Chair [Richard & Linda song] (with Zara Phillips) £∇
The Old Pack Mule (with Zara Phillips) ⊥ [2] The Rattle Within (with Zara Phillips) ≅ [2] The Storm Won’t Come (with Zara Phillips) ≅
Withered and Died [Richard & Linda song] (with Zara Phillips) £≤
 Word Unspoken, Sight Unseen (with Zara Phillips) ∴ She Never Could Resist a Winding Road (with Zara Phillips) Θ
Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] (with Zara Phillips) £♦ [8]
 Keep Your Distance(with Zara Phillips) ® [2] The Rattle Within (with Zara Phillips) ≅
encore
 I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (with Zara Phillips) £≤ [4] My Enemy (with Zara Phillips) ∑ [2]
The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [7]
 encore encore
The Rattle Within (with Zara Phillips) ≅ [3]
 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [10] Persuasion ≤ [6]
Tinker’s Rhapsody (with Zara Phillips) ζ [2] Encore 2: Dimming of the Day  [Richard & Linda song] £∇ [3]
  Tinker’s Rhapsody (with Zara Phillips) ζ encore 2
  She Was Lost in the Crowd (with Zara Phillips) I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight [Richard & Linda song] (with Zara Phillips) £≤ [3]
  When the Saints Rise Out of Their Graves (with Zara Phillips)ζ

 

October 9, 2016, Sellersville
 June 4, 2016 Mann Center (opening for Wilco)
 February 9, 2016 McCarter
When the Spell is Broken ♣ [3] When the Spell Is Broken ♣ [2] The Sun Never Shines on the Poor [Richard & Linda song] £∇
Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [5] The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [5] The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [4]
Josephine Θ [2] Valerie ð [4] Valerie ð [3]
Valerie ð [5] Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ [5] Josephine Θ
Beatnik Walking Θ [2] 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [7] Johnny’s Far Away ⊄ [2]
1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [8] Walking on a Wire £♦ [4] Beatnik Walking Θ
Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ [6] Persuasion ≤ [4] 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [6]
 I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight [Richard & Linda song] £≤ [2] One Door Opens ∴ [2] Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ [4]
Who Knows Where the Time Goes? [Fairport Convention song] €Ø I Misunderstood ® [3] I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight [Richard & Linda song] £≤
Good Things Happen to Bad People ∑ [4] Genesis Hall [Fairport Convention song] €Ø [2]
Hots for the Smarts Η Good Things Happen to Bad People ∑ [3]
Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song]£♦ [6] Woods of Darney ⇔
Woods of Darney ⇔ [2] Read About Love ®
Fergus Laing Θ [2] Persuasion ≤ [3]
I Misunderstood ® [4] Fergus Laing Θ
encore Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [5]
Persuasion ≤ [5] I Misunderstood ® [2]
Read About Love® [2] encore
encore 2 Beeswing Ø [4]
Beeswing Ø [5] encore 2
  Down Where the Drunkards Roll [Richard & Linda song] £≤ [2]
  One Door Opens ∴ [2]
  Shoot Out the Lights [Richard & Linda song] £♦

 

October 4, 2013 McCarter
[with Teddy Thompson tour]**		 February 17, 2012 McCarter**
One Door Opens ∴ Man in Need  £♦
Hope You Like the New Me ∏ Sally B ∑
Valerie ð [2] Haul Me Up Λ
Saving the Good Stuff for You ∑ Hard on Me ∏
Johnny’s Far Away ⊄ Good Things Happen to Bad People ∑
Pharaoh ◊ Easy There, Steady Now Ø
1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [5] Al Bowlly’s in Heaven ð [2]
Sunset Song ⊄ I’ll Never Give It Up ⊄
Good Things Happen to Bad People ∑ [2] Did She Jump or Was She Pushed? [Richard and Linda song] £♦
Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [3] Sidney Wells Λ
Hamlet (Dog Eat Dog in Denmark) [Frank Loesser cover] [3] Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ [3]
Genesis Hall [Fairport Convention song] €Ø She Twists the Knife Again ♣
Beeswing Ø [3] If Love Whispers Your Name Λ
Crawl Back (Under My Stone) ∏ (2) encore
My Enemy ∑ 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [4]
Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [4] Little Sally Rackett [traditional]
Down Where the Drunkards Roll [Richard & Linda song] Demons in Her Dancing Shoes Λ
I Feel So Good ® [4]
encore
Persuasion [with Teddy Thompson] ≤ [2]
The Price of Love [with Teddy Thompson] [Everly Brothers song]
encore 2
Grey Funnel Love [with Teddy Thompson] [Cyril Tawney song]

** set list approximated from shows near our show.

 

November 3, 2004 McCarter
[1,000 years of music tour] **		 April 20, 2001 Town Hall (NYC)
Sumer is Icumen In ¥ Don’t Let a Thief Steal Into Your Heart [Richard & Linda song] £1
King Henry Fifth’s Conquest of France ¥ When the Spell Is Broken ♣
So Ben Mi Ch’a Bon Tempo ¥ Crawl Back (Under My Stone) ∏ 
Bonnie St. Johnstone King of Bohemia Ø
O Sleep, Fond Fancy Turning of the Tide ◊ [3]
Dido’s Lament Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [2]
Remember O Thou Man I Misunderstood ® 
Shenandoah ¥ My Daddy Is a Mummy
Blackleg Miner ¥ Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ [2]
Trafalgar Square ¥ 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [3]
There Is Beauty in the Bellow of the Blast ¥ The Great Valerio [Richard and Linda song] £≤
The Sally Gardens I Feel So Good ® [3]
Java Jive
 The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [3]
Night and Day I Agree with Pat Metheny
London Pride Beeswing Ø [2]
Orange Colored Sky ¥ Keep Your Distance ®
Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee ¥ Uninhabited Man ∏
A-11 ¥ Cooksferry Queen ∏
See My Friends ¥ encore
Friday on My Mind (The Kinks cover) ¥ Persuasion (with Teddy Thompson) ≤
Tempted (Squeeze cover) ¥ I Can’t Wake Up (with Teddy Thompson) Ø
Kiss (Prince cover) ¥ encore 2
Oops!… I Did It Again / Marry, Ageyn Hic Hev Donne Yt  ¥ Word Unspoken Sight Unseen ∴ 
encore Wall of Death  [Richard & Linda song] £∇ [3] (with Teddy Thompson)
I Am a Man in Prison ¥
Money, Money, Money (Abba cover) ¥
It Won’t Be Long (The Beatles cover) ¥
encore 2
Sam Hall ¥
Cry Me A River ¥
1985 ¥

** set list approximated from shows near our show.

June 18, 1998 Harborlights (Boston)
Thompson/Bruce Cockburn/Dar Williams **		 June 15, 1997 (Guinness Fleadh)
Turning of the Tide ◊ [2] Turning of the Tide ◊
Bathsheba Smiles ∏ The Ghost of You Walks ⇔
How Will I Ever Be Simple Again ð I Feel So Good ®
I Feel So Good ® [2] From Galway to Graceland €
The Ghost of You Walks ⇔ [2] 1952 Vincent Black Lightning ®
Hamlet (Dog Eat Dog in Denmark) [Frank Loesser cover] [2] Lotteryland [Richard & Danny Thompson song] √
1952 Vincent Black Lightning ® [2] Razor Dance ⇔
Dry My Tears and Move On ∏ Beeswing Ø
Walking on a Wire [Richard & Linda song] £♦ Hamlet (Dog Eat Dog in Denmark) [Frank Loesser cover]
Don’t Sit on My Jimmy Shands ® Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] £♦
Razor Dance ⇔ [2] Dimming of the Day [Richard & Linda song] £∇
encore encore
Wall of Death [Richard & Linda song] £♦ [2] Keep That Wheel A-Turnin’ [folk song]
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) [Pete Seeger cover] with Dar Williams and Bruce Cockburn]

** set list approximated from shows near our show.


⊥ Ship to Shore (2024)
Η Live from Honolulu 2006 (2022)
ζ Serpent’s Tears (2021)
♦ Bloody Noses EP (2020)
≅ 13 Rivers (2018)
Θ Still  (2015)
∑ Electric  (2013)
Λ Dream Attic (2010)
⊄ Sweet Warrior (2007)
Front Parlor Ballads
¥ 1,000 Years of Popular Music  (2003)
∴ The Old Kit Bag (2003)
∏ Mock Tudor (1999)
√ Industry (Richard & Danny Thompson) (1997)
⇔ You? Me? Us? (1996)
Ø Mirror Blue (1994)
€ Watching the Dark
® Rumor and Sigh (1991)
≤ Sweet Talker (1991)
◊ Amnesia (1988)
ð Daring Adventures (1986)
♣ Across a Crowded Room (1985)
Ψ Hand of Kindness (1983)
Richard & Linda Thompson
£♦ Shoot Out the Lights (1982)
Sunnyvista (1979)
£1 First Light (1978)
£∇ Pour Down Like Silver (1975)
£∇ Hokey Pokey (1975)
£≤ I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974)
Fairport Convention
€£ Liege and Lief (1969)
ۯ Unhalfbricking (1969)
€ϖ What We Did on Our Holidays

RIVER STAGE:
Soccer Mommy
Molly Tuttle
Shar van Etten and the ATtachment Theory
MARINA STAGE:
Tune-Yards
Richard Thompson
Kathleen Edwards
1994
Iris Dement • John Gorka • October Project • Sam Phillips • Sarah McLachlan • Shawn Colvin • Sonia Dada • Subdudes • T-Bone Burnett​
1995
Ani DiFranco • Black 47 • BoDeans • David Wilcox • Freedy Johnston • Jill Sobule • John Flynn • Patsy Foster • Patty Larkin • Paula Cole • Susan Werner • The Schramms • Wanderlust
1996
Cheryl Wheeler • Francis Dunnery • Jonatha Brooke • June Rich • Martin Sexton • Nil Lara • The Iguanas
1997
Big Blue Hearts • Bruce Cockburn • Dar Williams • Grey Eye Glances • John Hiatt • Kim Fox • Kim Richey • Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans • Suzanne Vega
1998
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones • Francis Dunnery • Huffamoose • James McMurtry • Lucinda Williams • Marah • Mary Arden Collins • Moxy Fruvous • Olu Dara • Patty Griffin • Southern Culture on the Skids
1999
Brian Seymour • Duncan Sheik • Entrain • Indigenous • Kelly Willis • Old 97’s • Richard Thompson • Spooky Ghost • Steve Earle • Susan Werner
2000
Ben Arnold & the Philly All-Stars • Chris Smither • David Mead • Jimmie Dale Gilmore • John Flynn • Mary Chapin Carpenter • Patti Smith • Phil Roy • Shelby Lynne • Steve Forbert & Rough Squirrels • Terri Hendrix
2001
Amber deLaurentis • Billy Jonas • Blackthorn • Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer • Eliza Carthy • Erin McKeown • Ernie & Neal • Five for Fighting • Girls From Mars • Jeb Loy Nichols • Marc Cohn • Nanci Griffith • North Mississippi Allstars • Tim Eason
2002
4 Way Street • Beats Walkin’ • Cousteau • John Eddie • John Flynn • John Mayer • Los Lobos • Nick Lowe • Raul Malo • Solomon Burke • Sonia Dada • Suzanne Vega
2003
Alexi Murdoch • Art Garfunkel, Maia Sharp & Buddy Mondlock • Damien Rice • Eastmountainsouth • Grey Eye Glances • Indigenous • Kathleen Edwards • Nickel Creek • Rhett Miller • Richard Thompson • Robert Randolph & the Family Band • Sharon Katz & The Peace Train • They Might Be Giants • Townhall
2004
Amos Lee • Bubboon & Bubbles • Charlie Musselwhite • Fountains of Wayne • John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting • Michael McDermott • Mindy Smith • Nellie McKay • North Mississippi Allstars • Old 97’s • Philly Locals in the Round with: Jim Boggia, Lauren Hart, Mutlu • Rachael Yamagata • Sarah Harmer • Shemekia Copeland
2005
Billy Miles • Danielia Cotton • Drive-By Truckers • Erin McKeown • Indigo Girls • Jim Boggia • John Legend (Guest Appearance) • Loudon Wainwright, III • Mike Doughty’s Band • Patti Smith • Rickie Lee Jones • Rodney Crowell • Son Volt • Soulive • Townhall • Warren Haynes (Guest Appearance)
2006
Alejandro Escovedo • Allen Toussaint • Amos Lee • Antje Duvekot • BC Camplight • Ben Franklin Middle School Drummers with Attitude • Blue Sinatra • Brandi Carlile • Citizen Cope • Codename • Danielia Cotton • Darcie Miner • Dave Quicks Trio of the BurnDown All-Stars • DrugByrds • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • Hoots & Hellmouth • IV Thieves • Jeffrey Gaines •Jim James of My Morning Jacket • Jonah Smith • Josh Ritter • Konono N°1 • Lotus • Mary Lee’s Corvette • Marah • Mutlu • New York Dolls • Seth Kallen and the Reaction • Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka • Steve Wynn • The Brakes • The Fractals • The Hiders • The Lowlands • Willy Mason • Yonder Mountain String Band
2007
Adrienne Young • ALO • Andrew Lipke • Beretta 76 • Bitter Bitter Weeks • Blackthorn • Bob Mould • Brett Dennen • Cracker • David Falcone & Kenli Matus • Dr. Dog • Earl Greyhound • Eastern Conference Champions • Fionn Regan • Fountains of Wayne • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • Hoots & Hellmouth • Illinois • James Hunter • Jesca Hoop • Jesse Malin • Julian Velard • Kim Richey • Los Lonely Boys • Marc Broussard • Martin Sexton • Robert Hazard • Ruder Than You • Ryan Shaw • Sam Roberts Band • Sharon Little & Scot Sax • Slo-Mo featuring Mic Wrecka • Suzanne Vega • Switches • The A-Sides • The Cat Empire • The Cobbs • The Fratellis • The Smithereens • The Swimmers • Tower of Power • Vienna Teng • Will Hoge
2008
Alejandro Escovedo • Amos Lee • Angel Band • Back Door Slam • Beth Orton • Blind Boys of Alabama • Cheers Elephant • Chuck Prophet • Dar Williams • Dave Barnes • Dean & Britta • Ezra Furman & the Harpoons • Fooling April • Ingrid Michaelson • Jesse Ruben • Jim Bianco • Jim Boggia • Joan Osborne • John Gorka • Kuf Knotz & The Hustle • Madi Diaz • Matt Nathanson • Michael Franti & Spearhead • Mutlu • Nicole Atkins • O’Death • Railroad Earth • Salvador Santana Band • Shelby Lynne • Susan Werner • Suzanne Vega • Teddy Thompson • The Brakes • The Budos Band • The Loved Ones • The Mint • The Redwalls • The Refugees • The Shackletons • The Spinto Band • The War On Drugs • Toby Lightman • Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer
2009
Aimee Mann • Andrew Lipke & the Prospects • Annuals • Assembly of Dust • Donna the Buffalo • East Hundred • Farewell Flight • Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams • Gillian Grassie • Good Old War • Guster • Hoots & Hellmouth • Illinois • John Forte • John Gorka • John Wesley Harding • Katie Herzig • Like A Fox • Los Straitjackets • Matt Duke • Minas • Perkasie • Pete Yorn • Peter Bjorn And John • Robert Cray • Sarah Borges & the Broken • Serena Ryder • Sharon Little • Shemekia Copeland • Singles • Steve Forbert & the Windfall Prophets • Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 • The Bacon Brothers • The Hold Steady • The Low Anthem • The Peace Creeps • The Revelations featuring Tre’ Williams • They Might Be Giants • Tom Hamilton’s American Babies • Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby • Yeasayer
2010
Alejandro Escovedo • Amy Correia • Ben Arnold • Ben Vaughn • Big Head Todd & the Monsters • Blood Feathers • Bobby Long • Birdie Busch • Cowboy Junkies • Dawes • Diane Birch • Dr. Dog • Dutch • Earl Greyhound • Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros • Fool’s Gold • Free Energy • Grace Potter and the Nocturnals • Harper Blynn • Joshua James • Nicole Atkins • Robert Francis • Robert Randolph and the Family Band • Rosanne Cash • The Felice Brothers • The Great Unknown • The Holmes Brothers • The Walkmen • These United States • Toy Soldiers • Yo La Tengo
2011
Ben Folds • Booker T • Carbon Leaf • Citizen Cope (solo Acoustic) • Clap Your Hands Say Yeah • Dar Williams • David Uosikkinen’s In The Pocket • Deb Callahan • Emmylou Harris • Gary Clark Jr. • Givers • Hayes Carll • Hezekiah Jones and Andrew Lipke • Jeff Bradshaw and Brass Heaven • Johnny Miles and the Waywards • Joseph Arthur • Jukebox The Ghost • Keb’ Mo’ • Kingsfoil • Kuf Knotz • Matt Duke • Nicos Gun • North Mississippi All Stars Duo • Other Lives • Queen Electric • Ra Ra Riot • Shemekia Copeland • Sun Airway • Susan Werner • Ted Leo and the Pharmacists • The Smithereens
2012
City Rain • Counting Crows • Dana Alexandra • Dave Hause • Dawes • Delta Rae • Delta Spirit • Diego Garcia • Dr. Dog • Field Report • Good Old War • JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound • JD McPherson • JD Souther • John Wesley Harding’s Cabinet of Wonders with: Rhett Miller, Megan Reilly, Eugene Mirman, and Rick Moody • Kaki King • Kasey Anderson • Kathleen Edwards • Lee Ranaldo Band • Lower Dens • Matt Santry Band • Mike Doughty • Ozomatli • Patterson Hood and the Downtown Rumblers • Rhett Miller and the Serial Lady Killers • The Avett Brothers • The Bailey Hounds • The Fleeting Ends • The Hold Steady • The Lumineers • The War On Drugs • We Are Augustines • Wilco •Work Drugs
2013
Aaron Brown • Alo Brasil • Bob Dylan and His Band • Brett Dennen • Dawes • Dr. Dog • Dr. John • DRGN King • Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros • Erin McKeown • Hey Marseilles • John Butler Trio • Jose James • Justin Townes Earle • Kat Edmonson • Kopecky Family Band • Lianne LaHavas • Lord Huron • Matt Pond • Michael Kiwanuka • My Morning Jacket • Phosphorescent • Polica • Red Baraat • Ryan Bingham • The Districts • The Fleeting Ends • The Last Bison • The Lumineers • The Stray Birds • Trampled By Turtles • Wilco
2014
Band of Horses • Bear’s Den • Beck • Caitlin Rose • CJ Cheneir and the Red Hot Louisiana Band • Commonwealth Choir • Dave Hause • Dawes • Diego Garcia • Ginger Coyle • Houndmouth • Hurray For the Riff Raff • Ingrid Michaelson • J Roddy Walston and The Business • James Cotton • Jenny Lewis • Jeremy Messersmith • Lake Street Dive • Lucius • Man Man • Marah • Marian Hill • Nicole Atkins • Old 97’s • Our Griffins • Rodrigo y Gabriela • Ryan Adams • Strand of Oaks • The Districts • The Hold Steady • The Lawsuits • Trigger Hippy • Viv & The Revival
2015
Bombino • Buckwheat Zydeco • Calexico • Cheerleader • Cole Redding • Courtney Barnett • Dawes • Delta Rae • Field Report • First Aid Kit • Fly Golden Eagle • George Ezra • Gina Chavez • Grace Potter • Hop Along • Indigo Girls • Israel Nash • JD McPherson • Kopecky • Lone Bellow • Lord Huron • Lost Bayou Ramblers • Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear • Milton • My Morning Jacket • Pine Barons • Rayland Baxter • Son Little • St. Vincent • The Wailers • The Word (Robert Randolph, John Medeski, North Mississippi Allstars) • Vita and the Woolf
2016
Alabama Shakes • Ben Arnold • Billy Hector • Brandi Carlile • case/lang/veirs • Chicano Batman • Colvin & Earle • Darlingside • David Wax Museum • Diane Coffee • Eliza Hardy Jones • Esme Patterson • Father John Misty (solo) • Femi Kuti & The Positive Force • Gary Clark Jr. • Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band • Kississippi • Kurt Vile & The Violators • Low Cut Connie • Mavis Staples • Old Crow Medicine Show • Oliver John-Rodgers • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Queen Of Jeans • Rosemary Fiki • Ryan Adams and the Shining • The Districts • The Felice Brothers • The Marcus King Band • The Record Company • The Revivalists • The Suffers • Tommy Stinson • White Denim
2017
Adia Victoria • Amos Lee feat. Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Angel Olsen • Arkells • Brownout • Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires • Chicano Batman • Cliff Hillis • Conor Oberst • Dave Hause & The Mermaid• David Bromberg Quintet • Davy Knowles • Dream Syndicate • Drive-By Truckers • Foxygen • Hardwork Movement • Hop Along • Hurray for the Riff Raff • Hurry • Joseph • No Good Sister • Offa Rex • Pinegrove • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Rhiannon Giddens • Spoon • Strand Of Oaks • Sweet Spirit • Swift Technique • The Dove & The Wolf • The Record Company • The Suffers • Wilco • Xenia Rubinos
2018
Bermuda Triangle feat. Brittany Howard (of Alabama Shakes), Becca Mancari and Jesse Lafser • Blind Boys of Alabama • Cloves • Courtney Marie Andrews • David Byrne • Darlingside • Devon Gilfillian • Fantastic Negrito • Femi Kuti & The Positive Force • Greg Sover Band • Harmony Woods • Hiss Golden Messenger • Hurry • JD McPherson • Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band • Jupiter & Okwess • Katie Frank • Lo Moon • Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real • M.A.K.U. Soundsystem • Margo Price • Mondo Cozmo • Mt. Joy • Natalie Prass • Phoebe Bridgers • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Proper Dark • Sunflower Bean • Sturgill Simpson • Swift Technique • Sylvan Esso • Tank and the Bangas • The Lone Bellow • The National Reserve • The War on Drugs • &More (Donn T & Chill Moody)
2019
Ali Awan • Amy Ray Band (Indigo Girls) • Bettye LaVette • Blondie • Caroline Rose • Christone “Kingfish” Ingram • Dave Hause & The Mermaid • Dawes • Elvis Costello & The Imposters • Foxtrot & The Get Down • Gregory Alan Isakov • Guster • Hozier • J.S. Ondara • Japanese Breakfast • Kathleen Edwards • Killiam Shakespeare • Low Cut Connie • Lucy Dacus • Nilüfer Yanya • Rayland Baxter • RFA • Ruston Kelly • Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds • Sean Ardoin • St. Paul & The Broken Bones • The McCrary Sisters • The Vaughns • The War and Treaty • The Wood Brothers • Y La Bamba • Zeek Burse
2020

VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES BY:

Devon Gilfillian • Great Time • Illiterate Light • Liz Phair • Michaela Anne • Nicole Atkins • The Districts

2021
Ani DiFranco • Adia Victoria • Anna Shoemaker • Arthur Thomas and the Funkitorium • Christone “Kingfish” Ingram • Cimafunk • Cory Henry • Dawes • Devon Gilfillian • Great Time • Hoochi Coochi • Jade Bird • Lakou Mizik • Los Lobos • Michaela Anne • Nicole Atkins • Paul Beaubrun • Pigeons Playing Ping Pong • Shovels & Rope • Sierra Ferrell • Sofia Valdés • Stella Ruze • Strand of Oaks • Tedeschi Trucks: Fireside Live • The Record Company • Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers
2022
Bartees Strange • Black Opry Revue • Buffalo Nichols • Catbite • Chestnut Grove • Cosmic Guilt • Dos Santos • The Felice Brothers • Geese • Highnoon • Houndmouth • Jenny Lewis • Kathleen Edwards • Lo Moon • Lucinda Williams • Nathaniel Rateliff • Neal Francis • Omar’s Hat • Patti Smith and Her Band • Samantha Fish • Sarah Shook & The Disarmers • SNACKTIME • Taj Mahal • Tamino • The Dip • The Revivalists • The Suffers • The Tisburys • The War on Drugs • Valerie June
2023
Allison Russell • Bailen • Bobby Rush • Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers • Celisse • Christine Havrilla & Gypsy Fuzz • Don McCloskey • Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band • Julia Pratt • Leyla McCalla • Low Cut Connie • Margo Price • Mobbluz • Moustapha Noumbissi • Nik Greeley & the Operators • Old Crow Medicine Show • Sammy Rae & The Friends • Say She She • Sunny War • Tegan & Sara • The Hold Steady • Velvet Rogue • Wednesday • Wilder Woods
2024
The Walkmen • Pete Yorn • George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners • Cedric Burnside • Velvet Rouge • Carla Gamble • Rosanne Cash • Greensky Bluegrass • Phosphorescent • Blondshell • Brigitte Calls Me Baby • Lizzie No • Florry • Moustapha Noumbissi • Guster • Trampled by Turtles • Jade Bird • Bully • The Heavy Heavy • Julia Pratt • Grace Bowers • Brittany Ann Tranbaugh
2025
Courtney Barnett • Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory • WAR • Greensky Bluegrass • Preservation Hall Jazz Band • Molly Tuttle • Soccer Mommy • Spin Doctors • Richard Thompson • Tune-Yards • Kathleen Edwards • Craig Finn • Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country • Michigander • SNACKTIME • Southern Avenue • Zinadelphia • Owen Stewart • Emily Drinker • Black Buttafly • Maxwell Stern & The Good Light Band • Fawziyya Heart

Read Full Post »

Richard Thompson: Ship to Shore Tour – Solo Show (McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, February 22, 2025)

Posted in Fairport Convention, Linda Thompson, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, Richard Thompson on February 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

[ATTENDED: February 22, 2025] Richard Thompson

This is my 12th time seeing Richard Thompson and my sixth time seeing him at McCarter Theater.  For a while it seemed like he was playing McCarter annually.  But we last saw him there in 2020 (he did play in 2023 but we didn’t go).  I was really hoping to see Richard with a full band, as most of the time that I’ve seen him it’s been him solo.  He was playing with a full band on this tour, but I missed those dates.  And, somewhat sadly (in context, but not actuality), this show was a solo.

I admit to not being as excited for this show as I tend to be for bands that I like a lot.  I feared that I had seen his solo show so much that I would be annoyed at how samey it was to other shows.

But, as soon as he started playing I was blown away at his mastery and at how great his voice sounds (at 75!).  We had great seats–row K, center stage–and I could clearly watch his hands as he did…everything.  I was amazed at the way he played the low sting perfectly in time with the beat as the rest of his fingers played intricate melodies and solos.  I was really quite in awe once again.

It’s interesting the way he seems to play certain era songs a bunch (I tend to see the same songs like three times in a row).  So he opened with If I Could Live My Life Again which came out in 2020.  But then he moved back to Walking on a Wire.  I’ve seen him play it 8 times and I never get tired of it.

Same with Beeswing.  I have a hard time believing there were four shows I’ve seen where he didn’t play it!  But hearing it so clean and perfect and watching his fingers play those gorgeous chords was like hearing it for the first time again.

I Feel So Good is one of my early favorites by him.  I haven’t seen him play it since 2013 and it was fantastic.  I guess someone in the front requested Matty Groves, and old Fairport Convention song and he played it–he is sometimes amenable to requests.  Later in the show someone shouted a song and he said.  Maybe later–much later.

Then he played a song that he said he wrote yesterday.  Most of Richard’s properly released songs are serious and intense.  But live he tends to play these goofy songs that are hilarious.  Maybe someday he’ll release an album of funny songs like You Love Me Like It’s 1969. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Richard Thompson / Alexa Rose (Musikfest Cafe, Bethlehem, PA, July 26, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Alexa Rose, Bethlehem, PA, Musikfest Cafe, Richard Thompson on July 26, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: July 26, 2024] Richard Thompson / Alexa Rose

I really want to see Richard Thompson one more time, but I really want to see hi with his band rather than solo.

For this tour, he announced it would be a band tour!  I was so excited.  But when he announced this relatively local show, it was solo.

What’s weird about his solo shows is that he had a million songs in his repertoire and he plays all request shows where I’m sure he’s playing all kinds of songs.  But when he plays solo he tends to play the same twenty or so songs.  It’s always amazing, I am just looking for something a little different from him.

I keep hoping he’ll bring the band to McCarter one more time.

Alexa Rose was born in the Alleghany Highlands of western Virginia, raised in the tiny railroad town of Clifton Forge. Though no one in her immediate family played or sang, she inherited a deep musical legacy.

She has a pretty, clean voice with vaguely country leanings.

Read Full Post »

Richard Thompson / Jonatha Brooke (Scottish Rite Auditorium, Collingswood, NJ, April 13, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Collingswood NJ, Jonatha Brooke, Richard Thompson, Scottish Rite Auditorium on April 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: April 13, 2024] Richard Thompson / Jonatha Brooke

I’ve seen Richard Thompson more than almost anyone else.

I really want to see him with a full band, but that doesn’t seem to happen much in our area anymore.  He even announced a tour with a full band, but this show was meant to be solo (with help from Zara Phillips).

I have never been to the Scottish Rite Auditorium, which was another reason that I was looking forward to this show.

And then I wound up having surgery earlier in the week.  I probably could have still gone to this show, but honestly it just felt like too much work, getting all the way down there and walking to the venue, all while trying to take it easy and recover.

I know he’s playing in Bethlehem later this year, but again, I don’t think it’s with a full band.  I need to hear Richard rock out on an electric guitar again!

I know Jonatha Brooke from when I used to live in Boston.  She was in a band called The Story and then went solo.  I really liked her album Plumb (1995) and then I pretty much lost track of her.  I had no idea she was still regularly putting out music.

I would have liked to hear her, although I see from the setlist that she didn’t play anything I knew.

Read Full Post »

Richard Thompson (McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, May 18, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, Richard Thompson on May 18, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 18, 2023] Richard Thompson

I’ve seen Richard Thompson more than almost anyone else.

I had wanted to move him to my 2nd place list with one more show.

I love seeing him at McCarter, which is a great venue and has a lot of long time fans.  I’ve seen him there more than anywhere else.

But this show was on May 18, a night that I’d already had tickets for The New Pornographers and Acid Mothers Temple had announced a show for the same night.  And so did Kevin Devine.

So Richard would have to wait.  And since he lives in Montclair, I’m sure he’ll be playing again nearby soon.

Read Full Post »

Richard Thompson (Musikfest Cafe, Bethlehem, PA, May 17, 2023) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Bethlehem, PA, Musikfest Cafe, Richard Thompson on May 17, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: May 17, 2023] Richard Thompson

I wanted to see Richard Thompson, although we had seen him fairly recently.  Actually, I’d really like to see him with his band rather than solo.  But I’m not sure if he’ll be bringing a band with him on tour much anymore–maybe is he releases a full band record again?

When his first local show was announced at McCarter, I was pretty excited about it.  But it turned out to be the one night that I had other shows lined up.

Then he announced this show at Musikfest Cafe.  It’s a great venue and I would have loved to have seen him there.  But I had a few things going on this week and it just wasn’t going to happen.

I’m sure he’ll be playing nearby again soon–maybe even with his band.

Read Full Post »

Richard Thompson (Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair, NJ, January 14, 2023)

Posted in Fairport Convention, Montclair, NJ, Outpost in the Burbs, Richard & Linda Thompson, Richard Thompson, Teddy Thompson, Zara Phillips on January 15, 2023| 1 Comment »

[ATTENDED: January 14, 2023] Teddy Thompson

This was my eleventh time seeing Richard Thompson.  For a while we had been seeing him pretty regularly and then his habits changed.

I had been seeing him every chance I could, but I took a little time off from his tours, hoping that he would perhaps come back with an electric tour.  Sadly for me, he did in fact come around with an electric trio tour in 2018, but it coincided with a hike that we were scheduled to go on, so I had to miss it.

Back in 2020, he introduced a new component to his show, his new partner Zara Philips has been singing with him on many songs (often Richard & Linda Thompson songs, but sometimes adding backing vocals to Richard’s songs.

For a while it felt like Richard was playing the same basic songs at all of his shows, although as I look at his setlists I see that he always mixes in a few new songs every tour.  Indeed, in 2020, he threw in a whole bunch of songs that I hadn’t heard him play before.

I was super excited that he opened with Gethsemane, an older song (I can’t believe that album is 20 years old!) that I like a lot.  He sounded great and his guitar playing was, of course, outstanding.

During the pandemic, Richard released some online albums.  He played If I could Live My Life again from Bloody Noses (which he had played back in 2020, just before the shutdown).

He jokes about the age of the audience and said he would play a song from a Fairport Convention album.  He described the origins of Genesis Hall, and that it was a protest song, which I didn’t know.  He had played it before but not for more than seven or so years, so it was good to hear it again.

Richard recently played a few nights of all request shows in New York City, which I’d love to attend (al though I suspect people probably just request all the popular songs anyhow).   But I wonder if it makes him want to mix up his setlists at all.  Whatever the case it was great to hear him plat “Turning of the Tide” a song that I love and haven’t heard him play live for a long long time.

Then he played “Beeswing.”  I don’t think there’s been a show where he hasn’t played the song and yet this time it really hit me how beautiful it was.  And I was marveling about how Richard Thompson, creator of the song was merely thirty or forty feet away from us playing this song and how amazing it was to be so close to someone so creative.  I had a real moment.  (I’m going to assume it came from talking about how wild it must have been for my young kids to go to concerts and see their favorite bands up close like that, something I never got to do as a a little kid). (more…)

Read Full Post »

Teddy Thompson (Outpost in the Burbs, Montclair, NJ, January 14, 2023) [RICHARD THOMPSON]

Posted in Montclair, NJ, Outpost in the Burbs, Richard Thompson, Teddy Thompson on January 14, 2023| Leave a Comment »

[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. (more…)

Read Full Post »

Richard Thompson / Jonah Tolchin (McLaughlin Norcross Memorial Dell, Haddon Heights, NJ, September 14, 2022) [DID NOT ATTEND]

Posted in Haddon Heights, NJ, Jonah Tolchin, McLaughlin Norcross Memorial Dell, Philadelphia, PA, Richard Thompson, Summer Concert Series on September 14, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[DID NOT ATTEND: September 14, 2022] Richard Thompson / Jonah Tolchin [rescheuled from September 7, 2022]

This show had been postponed by a week.  But it turned out to be the same night as Pearl Jam.  So, sorry Richard, I didn’t show up for your free show.

~~~~

I have seen Richard Thompson more than almost any other musician.  This is largely because for several years in a row he played McCarter Theater in Princeton which felt like a short enough distance for us to go when the kids were littler.

Now that I have seen him so often, I’m trying to making him my most-seen performer (although he won’t ever beat Phish since Phish does many multi-date shows near me).

I was pretty excited to see him for this show, especially since it was free!  I had been to this location for Kathleen Edwards a few weeks earlier (what a great summer line up!).  But as the day moved on, the rain proved to be torrential.  Since Richard lives nearby, he was able to postpone his show for a week.  To a night that I wasn’t free.  Alas.

I had not heard of Jonah Tolchin.  He’s a New Jersey native–his bandcamp says he’s from Princeton.

I listened to a few of his songs on bandcamp, and I rather like them.  He’s got an interesting mix of folk with a kind of punky attitude.  His earlier stuff (when he wa sa long haired hippy) is more folkie, but his latest album (2022’s Lava Lamp) is a bit more stripped down and raw, giving it a rougher edge, maybe like Nathaniel Rateliff.

This would have been a fun double bill (even if Richard would probably only have played his biggest hits).

Read Full Post »

Richard Thompson / Jonah Tolchin (McLaughlin Norcross Memorial Dell, Haddon Heights, NJ, September 7, 2022) [POSTPONED for RAIN DELAY]

Posted in Haddon Heights, NJ, Jonah Tolchin, McLaughlin Norcross Memorial Dell, Philadelphia, PA, Richard Thompson, Summer Concert Series on September 7, 2022| Leave a Comment »

[POSTPONED: September 7, 2022] Richard Thompson / Jonah Tolchin

I have seen Richard Thompson more than almost any other musician.  This is largely because for several years in a row he played McCarter Theater in Princeton which felt like a short enough distance for us to go when the kids were littler.

Now that I have seen him so often, I’m trying to making him my most-seen performer (although he won’t ever beat Phish since Phish does many multi-date shows near me).

I was pretty excited to see him for this show, especially since it was free!  I had been to this location for Kathleen Edwards a few weeks earlier (what a great summer line up!).  But as the day moved on, the rain proved to be torrential.  Since Richard lives nearby, he was able to postpone his show for a week.  To a night that I wasn’t free.  Alas.

I had not heard of Jonah Tolchin.  He’s a New Jersey native–his bandcamp says he’s from Princeton.

I listened to a few of his songs on bandcamp, and I rather like them.  He’s got an interesting mix of folk with a kind of punky attitude.  His earlier stuff (when he wa sa long haired hippy) is more folkie, but his latest album (2022’s Lava Lamp) is a bit more stripped down and raw, giving it a rougher edge, maybe like Nathaniel Rateliff.

This would have been a fun double bill (even if Richard would probably only have played his biggest hits).

Read Full Post »

Older Posts »