Richard Thompson - 17/10/18

First there was Joan Shelley plus guitarist Nathan Salzburg. She folky with a sweet singing voice and an acoustic guitar, he also with an acoustic guitar with an attractive twang to its sound. Together they produced an understated set of songs with some quality that made me want to give them another listen at some point. Memorable were 'Push and Pull' and 'If the storms never came'. Although from Kentucky they brought a Canadian flag on stage to celebrate that day's law change! Richard Thompson arrived on stage with a drummer and bassist plus a second guitarist who supplemented the trio on some songs with some background rhythm guitar. The drummer was Michael Jerome who we have seen with him before and he is an outstanding drummer. He launched straight into a song off the new album 'The Bones of Gilead'. The title and words and indeed the rhythm of the song shout Richard Thompson - it's difficult to think of anyone else who could have written it. It becomes clear that this is guitar virtuoso night. He plays in several guises and this one is where he delivers astonishing electric guitar and the very extended solo during the third song of the set shows he means business. There were more extended solos and the one later on in 'The Storm Won't Come' pinned me back to my front row seat. The set had a number of songs from the new album '13 rivers' plus of course a number of back catalogue favourites and a couple of Fairport songs. 'Beeswing' stood out for some beautiful and delicate acoustic guitar,, 'Wall of Death' because it's such a great song, ditto '1952 Vincent Black Lightning' and 'Put it there pal' for another astonishing extended solo. The second encore finished with 'Take a Heart' a 1965 hit for Coventry band 'The Sorrows'. Like the first song - very Richard Thompson. I need to see him at least once a year so I hope he's back in 2019. Outstanding. https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/richard-thompson/2018/the-forum-bath-england-7b96fafc.html