By Anna Mantzaris
Teddy Thompson (that’s Thompson as in spawn of Richard and Linda) may be an English boy by birth, but the 31-year-old's rock-folk-country sound will make you think he’s spent years fine-tuning his sound deep in the land of the American south.
Taking on the greats - Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, George Jones - Thompson’s latest CD, Up Front and Down Low(Verve Forecast), is a thoughtful collection of interpretations of C&W classics and not-so-well-known gems, with dad Richard and pal Rufus Wainwright lending their talents. A New Yorker by residence, Thompson takes his show on the road opening for Suzanne Vega; he appears Monday, Nov. 12, at the Fillmore.
Bay Guardian: How did Up Front and Down Low come about? Why an album of covers?
Teddy Thompson: I came home after touring after the last record for a year. I didn’t have a lot to do. I started just recording some songs for fun, but I liked the way it came out and I thought maybe it would make a good side-project album.
BG: How did you choose this mixture of classics and lesser-known songs?
TT: I hunted around for them. It turned into a little project, which was fun. I spent time buying country box sets, looking through old records. That was a big part of the appeal, the research angle.
BG: What’s it like to work with your dad in the studio? How much does he influence you?
TT:He came in on the end. I’ve worked with him before. That was easy. He has certainly influenced my love of country music because I heard [country] from my parents.
BG: Who are your country influences? Who did you listen to growing up?
TT:A lot of the Everly Brothers and Hank Williams. Classics, mostly '50s stuff.
BG: What makes a good country song to you?
TT: Specifically for this album I was drawn to the songs that have a witchy turn of phrase. I did a lot of those.
BG: What do you think of San Francisco? Where do you like to go when you’re here?
TT: I love San Francisco. I like the weather. It’s like being in England. I was just there [for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival]. I have a couple of friends there, and I mosey around. I was staying in Japantown. That’s my latest favorite area.
Teddy Thompson opens for Suzanne Vega Monday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m., at the Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd., SF. $25–$32.50. (415) 346-6000.
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