Sunday night at City Park Jazz, London and Wolfman (as in "Werewolves of London," and for his name) mentioned they were going to the Botanic Gardens to see Aimee Mann and Richard Thompson. I suggested the four of us walk over together, but London teaches until 5:30 so that didn't work, but we could carpool. Which of us has the smallest car? I asked. They have: a Mini Cooper! Wheee!
Now, I didn't know a thing about Richard Thompson before. His name was familiar, as was "and Linda," and I thought he was a folky singer-songwriter. That's all. So he came out and sang a few songs and then spoke. He's British: who knew? In my head, folk singers are American by default--Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Simon & Garfunkel. The venue is lovely, of course. Kal didn't know Aimee Mann but said she'd see anyone there, and I countered "almost anyone" and that Hawaiian music would send any sane person screaming across the Pacific. I haven't found a setlist yet but he had a funny song about penile performance in old age and "Dad's Gonna Kill Me" which I thought was just his "Goodbye English Rose" version of perhaps "'Nam's Gonna Kill Me," because he said as Vietnam soldiers call the country 'Nam so do those of the current war call Baghdad just 'dad. His last two songs got the most response from the audience, one I particularly liked all of whose lyrics have now fled my head, and a tune I guess is named "Valerie" showcasing his guitarissimo. He reminded me, in my ignorance, of Leonard Cohen, for deep voice and solo guitar, which I mean as a compliment.
Aimee Mann didn't keep me waiting. I have to thank Egg again for bringing her to my attention and calling Bachelor No. 2 one of the best albums ever. I hadn't brought a pen, but in the 90 minutes she had, she and her band played at least the following, order uncertain except the last three:
Goodbye, Caroline
You’re with Stupid Now
Save Me
One
You Do
Video
It’s Not Safe
You Could Make a Killing
Medicine Wheel
Nothing Is Good Enough
Frankenstein
Wise Up
Deathly
I was so happy that she sang "Nothing Is Good Enough" that I determined that that would be enough. After "Frankenstein" (during which she called for volunteers to fill in percussion), she said that that was usually her last song but could we please imagine she had already left the stage and come back for an encore and skip the pretense? And went into "Wise Up," my absolute favorite. This had the same effect on me that "Solsbury Hill" did at Peter Gabriel four years ago, exploding me to my feet. I scurried to the edge of the stage--which I could not do at Peter Gabriel--for the final two songs.