I’d give my right eye to do anything as well as Richard Thompson does everything in music. One of the best guitar players in the world, both electric and acoustic, the legend of British folk-rock has a gorgeous singing voice, and he’s written some of the most beautiful songs of the last 50 years.

With his full band for the first time in five years, Thompson left the audience at the Strathmore absolutely spellbound with his recent performance.

One of my favorite types of musicians is the artist who, despite being critically lauded and vastly influential over their peers, remains a cult figure. Thompson certainly fits that description. After leaving Fairport Convention, the British folk-rock institution he was a founding member of in his teens, he went on to release a series of acclaimed albums with his then-partner, vocalist Linda Thompson, which never sold particularly well. He poked fun at this at Strathmore on Oct. 20. When the audience applauded for a song from that era, he asked why they couldn’t have bought the album when it came out. “I could be playing to millions, rather than thousands.”

The reach of Thompson’s influence goes to some surprising places. It’ make sense that he’s revered by British folkies, or even by roots-oriented American artists like Los Lobos or Dave Alvin. But you can also hear some of his distinctive guitar playing in the sound of the punk band Television, and Bob Mould considers himself a disciple (Mould covered “Shoot Out the Lights” on his solo debut). Thompson and Mould have played together, and, as Richard said, he stole Bob’s electric punk version of what was originally an acoustic song, “Turning of the Tide.”

Earlier this year, Richard released a new album, Ship to Shore. In a point that obviously tickled his funny bone, he mentioned how the title had run with misprints in a few places in the press. As he did, I will leave it to your imagination exactly what form this took. Thompson opened with the the record’s lead track, “Turnstile Casanova.” The set included two more cuts from the album, “The Old Pack Mule” and “Singapore Sadie.” The performance emphasized quality over quantity, allowing the band, and, especially, Richard on lead guitar, to spread out the songs and display his virtuoso playing.

Stream “Turnstile Casanova” by Richard Thompson on YouTube:

This show was something of a family affair: he was accompanied on vocals by his current partner, Zara Phillips, and his grandson, Zak Hobbs, was on guitar. Richard shared that Zak and his wife recently welcomed a child, to which I say, mazel tov.

After “Turnstile Casanova,” the set continued with “an older song,” as Richard said, “Take Care The Road You’re On.” “Hard On Me” got the first sanding ovation of the night, of which there were, deservedly several. The next tune, “John the Gun,” was written by the late Sandy Denny, who Richard played with in Fairport Convention, and who passed away tragically young at the age of 31.

Next, we got a tune from Richard’s days with Linda, “Withered and Died.” “Al Bowlly’s in Heaven,” he said, is set in the Thatcher Era, and deals with the memories of a WWII vet who’s been forgotten about by his government and been left to live on the streets. Speaking of WWII, he said that, Brexit notwithstanding, “We’re all friends in Europe now.” This led to the evening’s most humorous moment. “What’s the difference,” he asked “between heaven and hell? In heaven, the English meet you at the door, the French do the cooking, the Italians provide the entertainment, and the Germans organize everything. In hell, the French meet you at the door, the English do the cooking, the Germans provide the entertainment, and the Italians organize everything.”

After “What’s Left To Lose,” the rest of the band left the stage and Richard took up the acoustic guitar. The audience applauded when they heard the notes of his epic ballad, “Vincent ’52 Black Lightning.” The band then returned to play “Guns Are The Tongue,”on which Zak played mandolin. Two more songs from Ship to Shore followed, then they finished the main set with “Tear Stained Letter.”

Thompson returned to the stage alone with an acoustic guitar to start his encore with the hauntingly beautiful “Dimming of the Day,” which has been covered by Bonnie Raitt. The rest of the band joined him for Pete Seeger’s “The Bells of Rhymney,” which they played somewhat in the style of the Byrds’ version of the song from the ’60s. “That was one for the old hippies,” Richard said. They sent the audience home with “Jealous Words.”

Watch Richard Thompson perform “Dimming of the Day” live on Sound Opinions via YouTube:

Before Richard and his band delivered the goods, Canadian folk duo — and second cousins — Kacy & Clayton played a 30-minute opening set. They started things off with the title track from their album Carrying On, followed by “High Holiday” and “That Sweet Orchestra Sound.” Next up was a new song Kacy has written that’s sit in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, which reminded me of something I’ve been pondering: How many sax solos would a sasquatch play in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan if a sasquatch did play sax solos in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan?

Kacy and Clayton kept things going with a medley of Canadian fiddle tunes they’ve translated to their acoustic guitars. Introducing the next song, Kacy asked, “Does anyone here live in a nursing home?” “Providence Place,” the explained, is about moving their grandfather into one. He was the one who taught them to play music, and he lived to the age of 96. The duo finished off with “Brunswick Stew.”

Oddly enough, this was the second time I’ve seen Kacy & Clayton, and the previous time was at this exact same venue, opening for Ray LaMontagne, before the pandemic. They were a delight then, as they are now. But Richard Thompson, of course, was the highlight, showing everyone once again why he’s such a respected elder statesman of the singer-songwriter community.

Here are some photos of Richard Thompson performing at the Strathmore Music Center on Oct. 20, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Steve Satzberg.

Here are a few photos of Kacy & Clayton opening Richard Thompson at the Strathmore Music Center on Oct. 20, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Steve Satzberg.