I've been seeing Our Hero for ten years now. I was at the fabled Bayou show. I've sat through multiple solo shows that were for the most part the same show. Some great band and not as great band shows. But last night I saw the "new" Richard Thompson. And it's the best he's been. Danny and Pete, augmented by Teddy's beautiful (if underutilized) voice and a powerful yet tasteful drummer whose name I can't seem to keep in my head for more then five seconds. Lot's of new material. Some dips into the past, but no "Dog Eat Dog" or sing-a-long polkas. And I'm grateful for that. No, I don't have the set list. You need to get off your duff and GO to the show. It's a live experience. RT is kickin' ass and taking names! For the past three years I've taken a guest to RT's shows. The last two years was newbies. This year was fellow list member Tim Armstrong. After the show we chatted with Pete and "the drummer" and Danny and of course, the guitar player. But Teddy never ventured out. Maybe it was past his curfew. Anyway, Our Man keeps getting better and better. And there's few veteran rockers you can say that about. For my fellow gear-heads, no sign of the Rick Turner guitar, but I did get to talk to him about it a little. Teddy's playing a Danelectro through a "Line 6" digital modeling amp. RT, had the Ferrington and the Lowden and the overhauled reissue Vibroverb.
Now back to your regularly scheduled RT discussion list. Can I go to sleep now?
PAUL HONEYCUTT
HONEYCUT@wapa.gov
Paul said about the Boulder show. Passionate, wild, loud, intense... I did wish for more of a Teddy presence, but he did just fine (and he played understated but effective electric on his 2-pickup, single cutaway Danelectro, and much the same on acoustic guitar with his own personal Lowden).
Mike Jerome made a believer out of me, and I'm a huge DM fan. He's a GREAT drummer, and was a real nice, friendly, humble guy afterwards when we met him. A Mike Jerome note: he's the first African-American I've seen play with Our Hero. Heck, the first Texan, too, as far as I know!). Having Teddy carry much of the rhythm really opened up Pete Zorn to do what he does best, mostly woodwinds, a little fingerpicked(!) mandolin, and some acoustic guitar. He really played some wild sax, and his bass flute was quite effective. He also sang the hell out of the harmony part of "Wall of Death".
As a fan of pure pop music, I love ABBA!
I once read where Bruce Springsteen, very early in his career, almost bailed out of the rock'n'roll world to play string band music, and was actually offered a recording contract by the American folk label Rounder. This would have been pre-Born To Run. Don't know how true the story is, but he was a closet folkie all along.
Cheers,
Tim Armstrong, King of the Armadillos
tarmadilo@yahoo.com