Also this issue: Mehta Physics Meet the man who’s turning the Kimmel into a world-music hot spot. -A.D. Amorosi Matter of Import The Brit in Big Sandy’s court. -Mary Armstrong Blistered in the Sun Unwrapping the Summer Tour Package. -Jesse Delaney The Kills -Sam Adams The Sick Lipstick -Maura Johnston 4 Way Street -Nicole Pensiero Jamaican Dave's Birthday Bash -Ainé Ardon-Doley Tracy Chapman -M.J. Fine

July 17-23, 2003

musicpicks

Richard Thompson

by Sam Adams

Rock/pop

It’s not always easy to tell the difference between a great Richard Thompson and a not-quite-as-great one. (There simply aren’t any bad ones.) But from the shimmering clarion call of the opening "Gethsemane," The Old Kit Bag (Spin Art) announces itself as one to pay special attention to. The most obvious starting point is the climactic ãOutside of the Inside,ä where Thompson, a devout Sufi for more than two decades, rails against religious extremism with chilling precision. This dovetails neatly with the deflation of military glory in ãGethsemane.ä The songs that fall in between tread on familiar Thompson territory ÷ doomed love, wasted youth, doomed love again ÷ but with exceptionally nimble feet. Perhaps itâs his trawl through history thatâs lightened Thompsonâs gait. Available only at shows or on the Internet, the delightful 1000 Years of Popular Music finds Thompson and crew (including the stellar vocalist Judith Owen, also featured on The Old Kit Bag) essaying everything from Italian madrigals to Britney Spears covers. The accompanying 1000 Years shows are apparently done with for now, but donât be surprised if a few leftover nuggets find their way into Thompsonâs set. Heâs in town twice this weekend, headlining at the Kimmel (despite the confusing ad) and closing out the first night of WXPNâs Singer Songwriter Weekend.

Fri., July 18, 8 p.m., $47-$57, with Shawn Colvin, The Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999; Sat., July 19, 12:30-9 p.m., $5-$15, with Nickel Creek, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Kathleen Edwards, Alexi Murdoch, eastmountainsouth and Townhall as part of WXPN Singer Songwriter Weekend, Great Plaza, Penn’s Landing, www.xpn.org.