Thomas Walsh Returns To Best Video

Thomas Walsh performs at Best Video

Thomas Walsh is a marvelous singer and songwriter who is much beloved by a loyal fan base (this writer included) for the fabulous pop/rock songs which he's created with Pugwash, The Duckworth Lewis Method, and as a solo artist. He's been influenced by a variety of bands, including ELO, XTC and The Beatles, but his superbly crafted pop/rock songs stand on their own, and are terrific in their own right. Thomas's music showcases his knack for creating unforgettable melodies that will get stuck in your head, have you singing along, reaching for the replay button, and will often touch your heart, as with the Pugwash classics "Here," or "What Are You Like," both of which could be heard during the show.

Walsh is on a mini-tour of the US, and he stopped by Best Video Film & Cultural Center in Hamden, Connecticut, this past Sunday. The intimate venue was a perfect showcase for Walsh's music and he dazzled the fan-filled crowd with his extraordinary performances of songs from across his discography, including "A Good Day For Me," from his solo album, The Rest Is History, as well as a generous helping of Pugwash favorites, including "Take Me Away," "Fall Down," "Apples," and "Answers on a Postcard" as well as The Duckworth Lewis track, "Mason On The Boundary." 

One of the great things about seeing Thomas live is that in addition to being a terrific performer, he's more than a bit of a raconteur. He entertained us all on Sunday with stories about his music, his influences, and the legendary artists he's met, including Jeff Lynne, Brian Wilson and Ray Davies. Speaking of Ray Davies, another cool thing about Thomas is he's a real dyed in the wool music fan, just like us. He talked about his love for The Kinks and performed their excellent B-side "Big Black Smoke," as part of a mini-set of Kinks covers. Thomas also played some Bee Gees, a stellar cover of Michael Penn's MTV era hit "No Myth" and even a bit of music from those "legends that would last a lunchtime," The Rutles.

Thomas was in great voice, and his guitar playing was superlative, as usual. Seeing him perform glorious versions of these incredible songs amid the environs of one of Connecticut's best venues for music (as well as the appreciation of cinema) was a special treat. The enthusiastic audience dug every minute of this exceptional performance. Thomas is an outstanding musician, a magnificent performer, and a genuinely nice guy. This wasn't my first time seeing him live, and I absolutely look forward to seeing him perform again in the future. If you haven't seen Thomas, or checked out his music,  I highly recommend you do so as soon as possible. For my review of Thomas's splendid album The Rest Is History, follow this link: https://www.culturesonar.com/thomas-walsh-the-rest-is-history/.