Richard Thompson - Navy Pier, Chicago, July 1, 1990

Richard Thompson
Lakefront Festival
Navy Pier, Chicago
July 1, 1990
Set list:
I Misunderstood
1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Shoot Out the Lights
Days of Our Lives
Two Left Feet
Waltzing's for Dreamers
Jerusalem on the Jukebox
Pharaoh
I Feel So Good
She Moves Through the Fair
Psycho Street
Wall of Death
Don't Roll Those Bloodshot Eyes at Me
Valerie
Down Where the Drunkards Roll

[@kayzinti4452]

Setlist with timestamps: 1. I Misunderstood 0:56 2. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning 6:05 3. Shoot Out the Lights 11:20 4. Days of Our Lives 15:48 5. Two Left Feet 17:22 6. Waltzing's for Dreamers 21:34 7. Jerusalem on the Jukebox 25:26 8. Pharaoh 29:20 9. I Feel So Good 34:43 10. She Moves Through the Fair 38:58 11. Psycho Street (43:31 Neighbors) 44:26 12. Wall of Death 49:15 13. Don't Roll Those Bloodshot Eyes at Me 52:42 14. Valerie 57:30 15. Down Where the Drunkards Roll 1:02:36

[@klaus3579]

So impeccable. So touching. May you live long - and play for us forever!

[@dsleaf]

In the early to mid-90s, Richard Thompson and his band came to Bellingham, WA to play at the auditorium of Western Washington University. The ticket sales were way too low, so the concert was reconvened at a local bar. Most in the small crowd were musicians and/or die hard fans who knew Richard's work by heart. The evening was a bust financially for Richard and his crew, but they genuinely enjoyed playing up close and personal to an energized audience. Best concert of my life.

[@HellsDonutHouse]

Lucky man!

[@vsavage9773]

Wow, a much bigger crowd at Mt. Baker Theater this past Saturday. As usual, a show only RT could pull off. A nice break during this plague.

[@shelflife3867]

I've been going Thompson concerts for 25 years (a late comer) and he always blows everyone away, especially me. Each time I hear new converts talking at shows around the bar or in their seats exclaiming their astonishment at Richard's performance and how "they had no idea!" or "why isn't this guy a household name?' Good question that last one! Still, I'm glad he is just famous enough to be free from all that! What a body of work!

[@EnosEverything]

Couldn't agree more my friend... He is simply amazing with a body of work that people who are revered, like Bob Dylan, would be absolutely proud of.. I've seen him four time here in Australia and had the good fortune to chat with him after one show.. He is a very affable person and a delight to hear singing and playing... At one show I dragged about ten of my workmates and their partners along .... They were initially sceptical about my constant ravings of his talent - I was watching them at times during the show and they looked completely gobsmacked... They are all totally converted now... In some ways I'm glad he isn't globally known or famous because he can still connect so well with people in intimate surroundings.. Richard Thompson you are a bloody legend.

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

@@EnosEverything - love your comment - unfortunately a lot of my friends haven't got the 'ears' for RT - lol!!! They get fed up with my constantly telling them how brilliant he is - playing him so loud the entire street can hear on a summer's day (maybe that's why they don't like him??), and generally bigging him up. One of the great things about RT not being as big as Dylan etc. is that I can still get a ticket to see him for less than £50: if everyone realised how brilliant he was that might go up considerably!!

[@theoschlag3551]

I have seen Richard Thompson solo at the Paradiso, Amsterdam, the same year, 1990! The best solo concert I have ever seen! He is one of the greatest guitarists, a top songwriter and entertainer, and truly funny too.

[@jessehall9010]

A couple of days ago, I stumbled across a cover "Bee's Wing" and I fell in love with the song . Since then I have been watching other videos of Richard Thompson. I cannot believe that I have never heard of this man before. American radio, shame on you! Thank God for KZbin, and thanks to you who post these wonderful videos. What other great talent is there out there that doesn't get the recognition it deserves?

[@colmcasey1794]

Hi Jesse from Ireland .Dont rely on the radio to play this great music anymore.Speaking for myself I can recommend Guy Clark,John Prine, Emmylou Harris to name but a few.I NEVER listen to the radio or watch tv anymore..KZbin is where you find the great music.My Beatiful daughter Jamie sings Beeswing .peace Jesse .

[@boboala1]

Yeah, Jesse, I had an almost religious experience last weekend discovering RT after seeing an article about him in an old 1991 Guitar Player magazine I was perusing. Turns out he wrote my favorite, and formerly unknown, zydeco shuffle 'Tear-stained Letter' that I'd very seldom/randomly hear but never knew the name of the tune or artist. And then his rendition of the eerie romantic Irish folksong 'She Moved Through the Fair' raised the hackles on my back as I listened and followed the lyrics...and began pondering the implications of being in love with a ghost...or is it vice-versa?

[@randalclarke5487]

Welcome to the club!! 🙂

[@marcellahoban8490]

It's not a cover. He wrote it

[@jessehall9010]

Marcella Holban, it was a cover that I watched and then looked up Richard Thompson and listened to him play it.

[@kurttimothy139]

I was at THIS show. I never seen Richard before but my friends recommended I go. Got really drunk and really into his playing, so much so that at end I went up on stage and then followed him off. In the maze of backstage hallways i found him and Terry Hemmert from XRT doing a post Show interview. They simultaneously swung their finger to their lips as I burst into their hallway -so I kept my shut and waited. Afterward I asked him to sign my friends copy of "Small Town Romance" bought at the show. He was so approachable , and I even had a chance to touch his guitar like a drunk idiot. I just said this was the first time I'd seen him and thought him AMAZING! I became a lifelong fan. He's TRULY ICONIC.

[@davidzipkowitz9689]

Awesome show. Love the acoustic version of "Shoot Out the Lights." Also very amusing to hear him introduce 1952 VBL and the crowd has no idea what they're in for! Of course,now we know it as a classic, but back then it was a new song.

[@redrover3259]

yes! Never heard acoustic version, just with the band.

[@JamesJones-rt3xo]

I just lost my mind...,.Richard you are a God.

[@mickkirwan3572]

Pure brilliance. Mick mala

[@colmcasey1794]

My beautiful daughter Jamie took me to see RT in Vicar St and the Bridge Theatre in London.I am a lucky man.

[@Pwecko]

What a brilliant performance. I'm thankful that he's still going and still playing and singing really well. I saw him with his band twice last year. I'd love to see him solo again. It's been a long time.

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

have seen him twice this year (2019) - once solo acoustic and at his 70th birthday bash at the Albert Hall - I missed a concert last year due to a car breakdown on the way which was his electric trio - really miffed about that. As he's no longer young I have decided to see him live whenever possible from now on

[@dickdastardly2946]

First saw RT in 86 in the bluebell folk club in Hull UK. Sitting in the audience with his new mrs watching Gordon Tyrell. He was booked to play Spring street theatre the next evening. Nobody asked him to play and when i asked why the mc of the club simply said " he didnt ask" No stars in folk music lol. Luckily I had a ticket for the gig which was great and Ive been a solid fan ever since. Dont know why he was never a big star here like he was in the US because he is a great songwriter and superb guitarist.

[@miguelpereira7934]

Tks....

[@narrowfield6846]

Richard without headgear - a rare sight. And a great performance anyway.

[@kennethpking]

What a pleasure - I attended this show; it was the first time I heard "1952 Vincent Black Lightning." What a profound pleasure it is to see him live.

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

wow - lucky you - don't you love it when he asks does anyone like motorbikes and someone shouts out 'Vincent Black Lightning' and he says 'yes yes' in a gently humorous tone that sounds like a parent gently reprimanding a child.

[@GordonReeder2011]

Me too! I was there! So much fun.

[@alistairfinlay2772]

Man that track always gives me a tear in my eye thanks Richard ❤🇬🇧🎸🎤👌

[@briandavidsmithart]

Just stumbled across this and thanks for posting. I was there and had a great time. I vividly remember this as a new period for Thompson's songwriting and ultimately a preview of the "Rumour and Sigh" album.

[@raybrettman9618]

Did not think I would be re visiting this. I was at this one. I bumped into RT outside the place before the show, taller than I would have guessed. I had seen him a couple time in the early 80's but not face to face.

[@HellsDonutHouse]

Hopefully it lived up to the memories...

[@novocain13]

Man, that's a treasure! Thanks for sharing.

[@HellsDonutHouse]

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it

[@CheshireMoonBand]

This has been my favorite Richard Thompson show for many, many years. I didn't have a playable copy of it for awhile. So I do a search every so often. This time video showed up. Thank you so much for this! Eric - Cheshire Moon

[@HellsDonutHouse]

+Cheshire Moon Thanks -- glad you're enjoying it, happy to share

[@lastnickeldrifter]

Hi Eric ♪

[@robertleutwiler7118]

greatness

[@joehiggs100]

Nice one, many thanks, a great gig by the look and sound of it as always with Mr Thompson. What a geezer!

[@iancunningham5576]

Absolutely brilliant!

[@wilelowman8028]

Thank you, Chicago!

[@letmegoletmego]

Richard Thomson has got some lovely guitars

[@briandavidsmithart]

I saw this show and had completely forgotten about it and your video popped up on my feed. Thanks for posting.

[@amtlpaul]

Wow, three decades have gone by!

[@HellsDonutHouse]

Don't remind me!

[@donlorimer1835]

and he was already more than two decades into his career when he did this.

[@LynnwoodBrown]

Great show! Great set list. Classic RT. Thanks for posting!

[@katnkids3]

Wow - I've never seen this before. Why wasn't I there? I lived 1/2 mile form Nay Pier!

[@goodun6081]

I saw him play many times, 12 to 15 or so, between about 1987 and '95 or thereabouts, and a few times since then. Mostly solo, but also a couple times with the band lineup----Gregson, Collister, Kirkpatrick, Mattacks*, they were especially good at the Bottom Line in NYC.....and the only shows that didn't slay me were the acoustic duo/trio shows with Danny Thompson. This show here is an excellent representation, makes me smile!!!!. *can't remember the bass player [edit, 2019, it was Pat Donaldson on bass for at least one show, IIRC]..there were several different bassists at various shows, occasionally a different drummer ---- Jim Keltner? Or Kenny Aranoff ?

[@dreamwell2020]

If I was a musician, I'm not sure if I'd find this inspiring or intimidating.

[@chrisrobertson9264]

I’m a musician RT is the Bob Dylan of Great Britain

[@jasonmotz5282]

If I was a musician, this would cause me to either raise my game or find a new line.

[@billythedog-309]

@@chrisrobertson9264 Damning with faint praise, eh?

[@monsterpartyhat]

Oh man - this is about a year before I discovered RT, and 2 or 3 before I saw him live over and over. So many fond memories - thank you!

[@jeffreylemal7432]

I first saw him at the old club bene in sayreville nj in the late eighties.amazing guitar player.hell everything thing about richard is amazing.going to see ya years in a row at a free concert behind the woodbridge nj high school in June.

[@jeffreylemal7432]

Two years

[@danieljackson1938]

Psyco Street,.,. hahaha. Genius,. Love it,.,.,.,.,.

[@lyndamiller9413]

Thank you so much for this!! This is the time I first saw RT live....very nearly the same set list. ..although a fan for at least 10 years before. After this came complete devotion bordering on obsession. Well,ok. Full blown obsession!

[@HellsDonutHouse]

+Lynda Miller You're welcome, glad to share it!

[@michaelmaddux5447]

Thank you so much for posting this. I was at this concert and it was great to feel the excitement of the concert again. It was as great as I remembered it.

[@HellsDonutHouse]

Michael Maddux - Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@gregnewman2512]

A true master.

[@divad2332]

the best of him

[@goodun2974]

Song list: I Misunderstood; 1952 Vincent Black Lightning; Shoot Out the Lights; Days of our Lives; Two Left Feet; Waltzing's for Dreamers; Jerusalem on the Jukebox; Pharoah; I Feel So Good; She Moved Through the Fair; Psycho Street; Wall of Death; Don't Roll Those Bloodshot Eyes At Me; Valerie; Down Where the Drunkards Roll.

[@HellsDonutHouse]

Thanks for going to the trouble of writing those out, but they're already in the description....

[@goodun2974]

@@HellsDonutHouse , I was planning on adding the time stamps for each song but got busy with other stuff! I'll get to it later....

[@goodun6081]

Some choice RT onstage banter at Newport Folk festival, around this same era: "You can dance to this, you......wild people!" [chuckles]. Also, "Do you bring your own blankets or are they provided?". After playing the stunning guitar instrumental "The Choice Wife", he said, "that's an Irish traditional tune; it's a folk festival.....shit ". Unable to understand an unintelligible comment or song request from someone in the audience , RT said, "I'm sorry, I forgot my Dick Tracy decoder ring at home !".

[@raybrettman9618]

A trip to see this turn up on here. Certainly not the first time I saw RT, but it was the first time I met him. I recall being a little surprised by his height, taller than expected which, most British guys aren't. I remember having precisely the opposite impression when meeting Ian Anderson, surprised to find him about 5'9 after casting such an image onstage in my mind prior to meeting him in 83. I'm 6'3 and to memory RT was about my height. Anything to do with music ? No, it isn't. But it is my memory of the show, another great one from RT. If you know RT back to the Fairport days....you know. Not much else to be said. Immense talent, in the discussion for best of his time, as great as those times were.

[@billythedog-309]

'most British guys aren't tall' - you do realise that the average British man is taller than the average American don't you?

[@jeffreylemal7432]

Will be seeing the 2nd time at a free concert behind the woodbridge nj high school in June.

[@oobleckboy]

That's for posting this. I was there! Great concert.

[@HellsDonutHouse]

You're welcome, glad to cheer an Oobleckian

[@kurttimothy139]

Me too. He autographed the "Small Town Romance" CD my friend bought. I was SO loaded I just followed him backstage and ran into he and Teri Hemmert. I actually didn't know ANYTHING about him, but he politely signed my CD and my friend was didn't like it anyway-so he gave it to me. I bought a dozen RT CDs since then. HE'S AMAZING especially with his full electric band!

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

@@kurttimothy139 fellow electric fan here - can't understand those who say they only like his acoustic work. Currently my two most listened to RT albums are 13 Rivers and Electric with favourite tracks being 'Oh Cinderella' and 'The Tic Tac Man'.

[@sullivan2339]

Musical genius no doubt.

[@shruggzdastr8-facedclown]

They came for the football score update and got a folk concert as a bonus!!

[@michaelteret4763]

Me too. Thanks.

[@richalderson6069]

He still uses that guitar.

[@goodun6081]

John Kirkpatrick (not Kilpatrick) was the accordion player. my bad!

[@drofro77]

Must be a rare performance...no hat!

[@goodun6081]

and Kenny Aaronov was the other drummer for some of Thompson's tours.

[@IndigoJo]

IIRC he drummed on one tour, following Amnesia; that tour was recorded on the live album More Guitar. Mostly Dave Mattacks and Gerry Conway played drums, and later Michael Jerome.

[@miguelpereira7934]

Jason Molina brought me here...........................

[@andrewallen1083]

Looks better without the hat

[@cycloptical26]

Sans beret.

[@jvhobson]

I prefer Richard Thompson's vocals in She Moved Through The Fair even more than Sandy Denny's. Does a high fidelity recording of his cover exist?

[@sullivan2339]

Have you seen the October 2018 Band Performance ?

[@HellsDonutHouse]

Haven't seem him in a few years now, guess I'm overdue.

[@psychic_cat_production]

I now understand why he always wears a hat these days