Guitar god Richard Thompson stopped by Liberty Hall Thursday night for a night of glorious fretboard magic.
The legendary Scottish guitarslinger, augmented by an energetic four-piece band, brought roadhouse blues, roots rock and more chops than a butcher shop.
Thompson, dressed in his trademark black beret and black clothing, started off with the one-two punch of "Cooksferry Queen" and "Sibella," both from his new album "Mock Tudor."
Critics have praised "Tudor" as one of Thompson's best albums in years, and the new material was heavily featured. Songs, such as "Bathsheba Smiles," were received with as much applause as the classic "Jenny My Love."
The guitarist's dark English humor and wry lyrics were on full display throughout the night.
The band -- stand-up bass, drums, second guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Pete Zorn -- backed Thompson capably, at times rocking with Crazy-Horse abandon. Zorn was easily the group's VIP, adding everything from mandolin to saxophone to percussion with equal dexterity.
The star of the show, of course, was Thompson who delighted the crowd with torrents of swaggering rhythms and blistering leads.
Thompson started off slow, teasing the audience with short solos, only hinting at the impending guitar volcano. After a few songs, he really took off, stretching new song "Hard On Me" into a 10-minute fretboard workout -- an effortless exhibition of sublime licks and searing blues.
Thompson's guitar histronics were enthusiastically received by the audience, who greeted every solo with roars of applause. It was guitar they came for and guitar they got as Thompson delivered the goods with untamed abandon.
-- Geoff Harkness is a part-time music writer for the Journal-World.
No comments
Commenting is turned off for this story.