Richard Thompson w/ Joan Shelley – The Birchmere, 4/4/2018

Table 216 – 8-person table parallel to the stage, house left section, about 1/3 of the way back. I was the first one at the table, so I claimed the seat closest to the aisle facing the stage. Not super close, but a nice view.

 

Recipe for a great, sold-out, 110-minute Richard Thompson show:

 

Old favorites – Beeswing, 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, Wall Of Death, Dimming Of The Day, etc.

Stuff I’d never seen him perform before – Gethsemane (which opened the show), Crazy Man Michael, Push And Shove, They Tore The Hippodrome Down, Right From Wrong (from his upcoming album)

Audience participation – Hots For The Smarts, Tear-Stained Letter (first encore)

Great guitar workouts – most notably on Valerie and Shoot Out The Lights

At least one REALLY old song – Matty Groves

 

Traffic was good in both directions. I arrived shortly after 4:00, and the line already extended most of the way back along the building.

 

Setlist

 

Joan Shelley and Martin Salsburg (both on guitar) did a quiet but effective 30-minute opening set; I liked both her voice and her material. Something like Carrie Newcomer in her more contemplative moments, or even the Milk Carton Kids (if one of the latter was a woman, who did almost all of the vocals).

 

Setlist