Review
By Ron
I went
to the Saturday show 8 March 1997 It ran from 3.00 pm to 4.00 pm (as
scheduled) the second show was on the following night 11.00 pm to 12.00
pm which I was not able to attend. Richard played an acoustic set (dressed
in black) with Danny on Double Bass. There was an audience of probably
300-400 people, of which quite a few were familiar with his work judging
by the banter between songs.
I was totally blown away both
by the sound quality and the quality of Richard's playing. So effortless
and yet with so much variety and passion. I was close enough to be able
to him play and spent some time just watching how he played . At one
point when Danny left the stage I could still hear a bass line and looked
around for another bass player and couldn't find one. I haven't got
the first clue about how to play guitar so I presume Richard was playing
a bass line with his thumb on the top string. I think his playing will
live with me forever. I wonder what he would be like on an electric
guitar with a band, but for the moment I think I prefer his acoustic
approach.
An hour would never be enough
to hear all the songs I wanted to hear, I loved what I heard, the power
and the sensitivity and passion of his voice had me wishing that it
was never going to end. I personally would have loved to hear some of
his earlier material but that's purely selfish on my part and no way
distracted from the show. I sensed Richard to be slightly shy but someone
who came through with a terrific sense of humour and certainly not worth
the Doom and Gloom tag that is often given to him.
It was a magical afternoon that
I will never forget, my first and I hope not my last chance of ever
seeing Richard play live. Back to the CD's I suppose , but somehow
its not the same .
Ron
