Richard Thompson on Nightmusic

[@erikjanus]

F'ing fabulous!! Hiram et al. and RT are a tremendous combo on this tune that really needs some attitude to pull off. Probably one of the greatest moments this show ever had....

[@nitrousnine]

i saw him live a long time ago...and he was joking around in a self deprecating way introducing a song, saying something about you won't hear this on the radio too soon.somebody in the audience screamed out "you're too good for the mainstream" truer words never spoken.

[@poolfrank11]

That's some house band! RT obviously having a blast playing with them.

[@DarkeningSkies1]

@Tamapeaone His artistic slide began 22 years ago? I must have shitty taste, because I think he has released many, many wonderful albums in that time.

[@gregorychanin4225]

Great house band! Omar, Marcus, Hiram

[@walterdufresne]

If talent was a vaporous dispersion throughout an artist's body, then Richard Thompson has more talent in his cast-off toe nail clippings than that contained in the entire bodies of some popular artists. We're lucky to be alive at a time when he's actively creating.

[@daf827]

I know! I was at the Apollo Theater for the taping! Wonderful! Thank goodness for cable (in this case, the Sundance channel) !

[@mjanovec]

A pretty rockin' performance from RT here.

[@Nummymuffincocobutter]

You lucky b*******!!! How I envy you...I bet it was excellent!

[@goodun6081]

The song is Jerusalem on the Jukebox, RT has described it in concert as being about "TV evangelism in the year 2020". BTW, there was a NIGHTMUSIC episode with Curtis Mayfield, Taylor Dayne, and David Lindley and el rayo x as the guests, and pretty much the same backing musicians. Lundley played a killer solo lap steel version if Bin Ton Roulet, lomdly

[@goodun6081]

....of Bon Ton Roulet, backed up Curtis Mayfield on electric lap steel for People Get Ready, and performed Werewolves Of London, that last one being the only clip from this particular show that I have seen on you tube.

[@fabadoo]

The bass player is Tom Barney. Dunno much about him, but he did do a couple of tours with Steely Dan.

[@fabadoo]

You might want to look again. While Marcus Miller was involved in the first line-up of the Night Music band, but after that Tom Barney held the bass chair for most--if not all--of the subsequent shows. He's not nearly as well known as Marcus, but he's a great player in his own right. His father was a musician, he studied with Bob Cranshaw (who was playing with Sonny Rollins last time I saw him), and he's played with more people than you can name.

[@Smudgefizz]

Funny, I just realized that on this song that he reminds me of Pete Townsend visually, vocally, & songwise... Richard is twenty times the lead guitarist though! If you want to check out some incredible ambient guitar playing by Thompson on video, rent the DVD "Grizzly Man" & watch the Bonus Features - It's a couple of hours of him recording the improvised soundtrack live in the studio with some other great musicians!

[@daf827]

Totally agree, mothermoore. I LOVED that show. They had people you would never see on network TV otherwise, e.g. Daniel Lanois, whom I discovered on NM, which was too sophisticated for network TV, which is ALL about ratings, sad to say.

[@Zepster77]

Wow! Sanborn had the mad professor look down-pat at this time, dinnit he?

[@daf827]

It was excellent. And yes, I was lucky. RT's website announced that they had a bunch of tickets available by lottery. When I saw the posting on Beesweb, the lottery had already been closed. But, thanks to a cancellation I managed to get a pair of tickets.

[@daf827]

Actually, the bass player is Marcus Miller, who also worked with Miles Davis, and is one of the pioneers of the thumb slap bass technique. Omar Hakim on drums.

[@lawrenceforde]

The bass player is Tom Barney!

[@helmutsecke3529]

Helmut war diese Nacht da.

[@RTFan52]

It's certainly a great backup band - they really seem to give RT a kick. That's Omar Hakim on drums, I think.

[@chelobes]

that looks like Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) on bass.

[@Nummymuffincocobutter]

@daf827 Well,he is going to be on Spectacle with Nick Lowe and Levon Helm..

[@The_momur]

Hiram's no slouch either!

[@wesleyspencer3861]

What's the name of the song he's performing here?

[@bandcouver]

Have to look up the lyrics to this song. A fine, energetic performance ,but, some of the lyrics are a little heard to make out.

[@marcusmartinez6430]

whats he singing about?

[@bandcouver]

I taped NM when I could because I had a feeling it was too good to last. My God, ratings a concern even late at night?!! Viewers have let network TV and media in general make them dummied-down and docile consumers. Unable to appreciate a fine unique talent like RT because his music and lyrics are actually of consequence. Sad.

[@daf827]

Yes, shows like NM are too good to last, except perhaps on public TV (think "Austin City Limits" which obviously has funding). As for RT he is simply too edgy, too literate, too ironic and too sophisticated for the masses. It's not so much a matter of RT flying below the radar as flying ABOVE it.