Richard Thompson brought thunder, lightning, and an on-and-off downpour to Brooklyn last night and we got soaked, but we still had a great time at the Celebrate Brooklyn concert. The Prospect Park bandshell has an amazing sound system. I could understand almost all the lyrics, even of the songs I’d never heard, which was most of them (there were a lot of new songs in the set). But Richard and his band did play “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” and “Wall of Death,” and he make sure to mesmerize the crowd with “1952 Vincent Black Lightning.” His son Teddy joined him for a gorgeous rendition of “Persuasion.”
Back on the lawn, girls ran around with glow rings until they fell down. Grown-up people were wet but happy. A few tall, quiet men stood around wearing Richard Thompson hats. I tried to use my beach chair as an umbrella. Meg told us all about how Pete Seeger had given her a cookie at the Clearwater Festival. Starbucks provided tiny cups of free coffee, and beer (not free) abounded.
Richard Thompson and his band at the Prospect Park Bandshell in Brooklyn, 6/22/2007. Photo by Meg Braun.