Recorded live at Newcastle Opera House
(now The Journal Tyne Theatre)
in Newcastle, England on March 5, 2003.
Don't expect an unbiased review of this one, as it was a gig I was lucky enough to
attend. So, with that warning out of the way, this is an essential listen. After
several months of acoustic shows in the U.S., Richard Thompson and band hit the UK
in fine form, with Danny Thompson on double bass, newcomer Earl Havin on the kit and
Pete Zorn on almost everything else.
This is just a blast from start to finish, and with Tear Stained Letter
opening and Can't Win closing the main set (possibly two of the most raucous
tracks in the catalogue) you get an idea of how electric this is. That said, there
is still space for a beautiful solo acoustic rendition of A Love You Can't Survive.
Finally, anybody foolish enough to doubt RTs place as the greatest living guitarist
merely has to listen to 1952 Vincent Black Lightning and reconsider...
Oddly enough, after several weeks of actively looking for a recording of this show
it fell into my lap completely by accident, sent by mistake by the guy who recorded
Steve Earle's set at the same venue. Greatly
appreciated!
As for sound quality, despite being a touch bass-heavy and a little muffled it's the
kind of audience recording which gives you a real sense of the atmosphere of the gig;
turn it up loud!
