Reviewed! The Richard Thompson Band - The Richard Thompson Band: Live at Celtic Connections

The Richard Thompson Band

The Richard Thompson Band: Live at Celtic Connections

Eagle Vision

The Richard Thompson Band: Live at Celtic Connections represents Richard Thompson’s third soiree into the live home video release arena, and marks his best entry yet. Filmed in January of 2011 at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, Live at Celtic Connections captures Thompson doing what he has done best for four decades plus – captivate crowds via virtuosic guitar playing and lyricism. The Richard Thompson Band: Live at Celtic Connections offers up 11 of the 13 total tracks from his latest effort Dream Attic, and the second half of the performance, well, as Thompson himself told the Glasgow crowd this night, his “greatest hits, with a small h.” At least the guy has a sense of humor. It’s particularly excellent to see the setlist of The Richard Thompson Band: Live at Celtic Connections span the breadth of Thompson’s canon, ranging back to his 1972 debut Henry and the Human Fly (“The Angels Took My Race Horse Away”) all the way to his more recently bodies of work like 2007’s Sweet Warrior (“Take Care the Road You Choose,” “I’ll Never Give It Up”), and, of course, Dream Attic, released in 2010. Not much is presented in the way of bonus material, as two bonus tracks are included as the sole extras on the disc, “Uninhabited Man” and “Johnny’s Far Away.” Judging by this performance, it would seem Thompson has a lot left to offer and more than enough left in the tank for another go of it. A new record this year, or early next, perhaps? Here’s to hoping.

Grade: B+