Kneel before the greatness of Richard Thompson
There are at least four things we love about Richard Thompson: 1) He’s one of the best guitar players you’ll ever see; 2) He’s an incredible, rip-your-heart-out singer; 3) His songs can make you laugh and cry simultaneously; 4) He’s a sixtysomething British folkie, who can somehow pull off wearing berets with panache.
Thompson, who visits Pabst Theater tonight, wrote one of our favorite songs of all time—the gut-wrenching “Small Town Romance,” which is also a candidate for “saddest damn song we’ve ever heard.” And on “Shoot Out The Lights,” the unbelievable title track of his 1982 “divorce” album with ex-wife Linda Thompson, he plays what must be considered among the most terrifyingly twisty-turny guitar solos in rock history. Enjoy.
