Richard Thompson Band at the Boulder Theater October 29 Photo by Tim Van Schmidt
On the road after a five-year hiatus, Richard Thompson brought his Ship to Shore tour to the Boulder Theater on October 29. In tow were bassist Taras Prodaniuk and drummer Michael Jerome, who performed with Thompson in a trio format the last time around in 2019. Also in the current band is harmony vocalist- and Thompson’s wife- Zara Phillips and guitarist Zak Hobbs, Thompson’s grandson.
There was plenty of electricity on stage in Boulder, Thompson trading solo time with Hobbs throughout the evening. You could even say that Hobbs has developed a style similar to his grandfather’s, though perhaps a little more fluid, but, of course, no one really plays guitar like Thompson. He wrings a unique intensity out of the bending strings and fleet movement of his fingers that just drops the jaw.
Richard Thompson 2024 Photo by Tim Van Schmidt
A lot of the set included songs from the new Ship to Shore album, as well as favorites such as a revved up “Tear Stained Letter” and “The Turning of the Tide,” as well as a half-century old Sandy Denny song. The disappointing thing was that the sound on the more electric stuff was muddy, burying Thompson’s vocals and even some of his guitar work underneath a mix that was bass-heavy and sludgy.
The good news is that when Thompson toned things down during some solo acoustic spots- performing “Bee’s Wing” and “Vincent Black Lightning”- and a simmering version of “Al Bowlly’s In Heaven,” you could hear every note and vocal nuance. These were the golden moments Thompson fans are always waiting to hear- and his flaming guitar work also, of course.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters, June 8, 2024, Red Rocks, Morrison.
Tim Van Schmidt
After 39 years as a band, there’s still a good dose of heavy blues in the music of Big Head Todd and the Monsters.
At Red Rocks on June 8, one of the mightiest tunes of the evening – and the one that had the crowd howling the most – was BHTATM’s “Boom Boom”, a roiling rockin’ blues number based on the lyrics by John Lee Hooker. Everybody was involved, from shouting out “boom, boom, boom, boom” to countering with “bang, bang, bang, bang” and then going nuts when guitarist Todd Park Mohr let loose on his guitar.
Todd Park Mohr 2024 Photo by Tim Van Schmidt
Blues is only a part of the band’s music, which has more than a touch of soul in it – here, think “Bittersweet.” Or then there’s just the magnificent, showstopping power of rock anthem “Circle.” Still, blues is in there.
I remember back in the 1980s when BHTATM was still a struggling regional band, playing the old Washington’s for free.
I then started covering the band in the local press, reviewing an early record release available only on cassette at the time, and met up with Mohr in the back hallway of the Old Town Ale House (now Lucky Joe’s). He said something interesting at the time, telling me that places like the Ale House were just too small for them. I thought that was pretty arrogant at the time, but the next time I saw the band, they were playing to a full house at Fort Ram – and they haven’t looked back since.
Flash forward to 2024, and BHTATM are playing to a packed house at Red Rocks, a venue they have played more than 20 times over the years. And it was like a gathering of old friends – a rocking gathering.
Jakob Dylan 2024 Photo by Tim Van Schmidt
Even opening act, The Wallflowers, featuring Jakob Dylan, put out an energetic set at Red Rocks. After seeing them last year at Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder – a set plagued by interruptions and kind of a lousy attitude – I wondered how that was going to go. But The Wallflowers apparently were willing to step up at Red Rocks and make the best use of their time.
What a night at Red Rocks. You can’t really get more Colorado than that – one of Colorado’s most successful bands ever at one of the world’s finest concert venues nestled in the hills above Denver. And there it was, “boom, boom, boom, boom” echoing up the rocks, underscored by snarling guitar. A perfect live music night.
Marcia Ball and CJ Chenier, February 29, 2024, The Armory, Fort Collins.
Tim Van Schmidt
At first I didn’t really get it.
I went to the Armory to see Marcia Ball – one of my personal favorites – on February 29 with supporting act CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band. In my mind Ball was the headliner, but was a little confused when she took the stage first.
Marcia Ball 2024 Photo by Tim Van Schmidt
I got what I came for right away – Ball’s upbeat blues, steeped in Down South rhythms. Her piano rolled, guitar and sax rocked, and Ball’s thin, world-wise vocals came right out of the middle. Ball even did a Subdudes song, which probably pleased John Magnie, who I spied in the crowd.
Marcia Ball at the Armory 2024 Photo by Tim Van Schmidt
I could have gone home at that point, but was glad I didn’t.
CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band 2024 Photo by Tim Van Schmidt
Then CJ Chenier took the stage with his lean yet dynamic band. It wasn’t long before the Armory became a zydeco dance hall and there was definitely a pulse in the room, even if it did take a little cajoling from the band to get the crowd up and moving. But move they did to that rich, happy kinetic music from Louisiana.
CJ Chenier at the Armory 2024 Photo by Tim Van Schmidt
Don’t get me wrong – Ball’s set had plenty of energy too, but Chenier and band just tore the evening loose. The Armory got it right putting Ball on first and I saw a lot of happy music-lovers at the end of that show. Leap Day indeed.
