Gordon Lightfoot Forums - CASINO RAMA-ORILLIA-May 30-2015

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CASINO RAMA-ORILLIA-May 30-2015

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/05/31...at-casino-rama

REVIEW
Lighthearted Gordon Lightfoot delights at Casino Rama 2
BY JANE STEVENSON, POSTMEDIA NETWORK
FIRST POSTED: SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2015 10:03 AM EDT | UPDATED: SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2015 10:11 AM EDT RAMA -
Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot got a hometown welcome on Saturday night at Casino Rama given he was born just down the road in Orillia.

“Welcome home, Gordon!” said a male audience member just three songs into Lightfoot’s 90-minute set, which opened with Sweet Guinevere and ended with the encore tune Cold On the Shoulder.

“Thank you - very nice to be back home again,” said Lightfoot, dressed in his trademark blue velvet jacket, white dress shirt and black slacks. “It’s always the occasion to come back.”

Then the legendary folk artist briefly (and badly) tried his hand at comedy: “What did the three-headed English monster say? (in a British accent) Allo, Allo, Allo.”

Thankfully for us, Lightfoot kept his day job, so to speak, singing and playing a variety of acoustic guitars, and even dedicated a song, Home From the Forest, to fellow musician Ronnie Hawkins, who was in the crowd.
“Are you out there Ronnie? We’re doing your tune right now - in your honour, Ronnie Hawkins!”

The 76-year-old Lightfoot, who played his usual four-night residency at Massey Hall last November, returned to his hometown area backed by his trusty yet restrained four-piece band - bassist Rick Haynes, keyboardist Michael Heffernan, drummer-percussionist Barry Keane and lead guitarist Carter Lancaster.

“We just flew in here from Reading, Pennsylvania, this afternoon,” said Lightfoot. “We’ve really been doing some hard travelling here. It’s kind of fun.”

Hits like Rainy Day People, Beautiful, Carefree Highway, Sundown, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, If You Could Read My Mind, Baby Step Back and Early Morning Rain got the biggest audience response but Did She Mention my Name and Ribbon of Darkness did produce actual clapalongs from the rowdy crowd.

Lightfoot also touched upon his near-death experience when he suffered an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

“I wrote a little tune about Orillia,” he said of the song, Couchiching.
“The first time I was (going to) sing it was at the Orillia Opera House, and the next day I was in the hospital, that was back in 2002.”

Thirteen years later, Lightfoot is still at it and even if he’s a paler, thinner version of his former physical self, with a more clipped and weaker vocal delivery, it’s still great to have him around given his songs are gold.

SET LIST:
Sweet Guinevere
The Watchman’s Gone
Waiting for You
Now and Then
14 Karat Gold
Minstrel of the Dawn
Drifters
Rainy Day People
Home From the Forest
Let it Ride
Beautiful
Couchiching
Carefree Highway
Did She Mention my Name
Ribbon of Darkness
Sundown
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
I’d Rather Press On
A Painter Passing Through
If You Could You Read My Mind
Restless
Baby Step Back
Early Morning Rain
ENCORE:
Cold On the Shoulder

Re: CASINO RAMA-ORILLIA-May 30-2015

RICK: We flew back to Ontario to play a Saturday nite show at Casino Rama just outside of Orillia - big room, sold out, big sound, great staff and crowd, and great fun!

Re: CASINO RAMA-ORILLIA-May 30-2015

14 of 24 tunes from CASINO RAMA-Orilia-May 30-2015.. WATCH AT YOUTUBE: videos are noted * http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...ZZaHOERVIPgBib FULL SET LIST:
Sweet Guinevere
The Watchman’s Gone
Waiting for You
Now and Then
14 Karat Gold
Minstrel of the Dawn
*Drifters
Rainy Day People
*Home From the Forest
Let it Ride
*Beautiful
*Couchiching . *BAND INTRO *Carefree Highway
*Did She Mention my Name
Ribbon of Darkness
Sundown
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
*I’d Rather Press On
*A Painter Passing Through
*If You Could You Read My Mind
*Restless
*Baby Step Back
*Early Morning Rain
ENCORE:
*Cold On the Shoulder

Re: CASINO RAMA-ORILLIA-May 30-2015

How did you get all that without the camera police shutting you down? LOL

Re: CASINO RAMA-ORILLIA-May 30-2015

they actually told us as we were seated that cameras were allowed and to feel free to head to the stage for the encore.. i was GOBSMACKED! gobsmacked I tell ya! lol

Re: CASINO RAMA-ORILLIA-May 30-2015

Casino Rama-Orillia-May 30-2015..4 pics - finally got the Toronto Star/Nov.2014 article signed..Almost the last to spend a few minutes with him I got a lovely "Hi Char!" and hug..
but he was having a hard time deciding where to sign the photo. I said" Gordon, just sign it across my chest, it's ok"..lol.. I think I threw him off as he signed "Gordon" then went up top and signed, "to charlene...then "love" under that.. then he finished with his last name across my chest.lol..
The first pic is me, Gordon and my almost healed cold sore....pretend it's not there.. Then me and two of my fave guys hanging in the hall backstage..and The Man gettin' it done onstage at home in Orillia..
A pit stop to the ladies room prior to the show was entertaining with the piped in sound system playing "Never Too Close" amongst other Lightfoot tunes..lol..
Got myself a "LIGHTFOOT" t-shirt after the show when Carter's wife and I went shopping at the merch table..lol.. She gets no perqs..;) ...

Re: CASINO RAMA-ORILLIA-May 30-2015

Great pictures - especially the one you had signed. Looks like a really fun night.

Brian

Re: CASINO RAMA-ORILLIA-May 30-2015

Great pics & wonderful stories behind the pics, Char!

Gail

Re: CASINO RAMA-ORILLIA-May 30-2015

Char-I have the day off and it's cool and rainy here, so what better excuse to spend some time watching your videos from the Casino Rama show. Thanks for including "Home from the Forest". It looked light a great night for GL and the band!

Re: CASINO RAMA-ORILLIA-May 30-2015

It was a terrific night - Just before the show ROnnie Hawkins was brought in to his seat in a wheelchair. He's not feeling well for a while but it was great to see him come out and see Gordon. I knew that Gordon would sing Home From The Forest....in the video you can see Ronnie's dark image and his waving hand when Gordon was introducing the song.
Gordon started out a bit raspy and breathy but after a few tunes he settled in and was wonderful.. He didn't chat much and did 24 tunes. He threw in his 'allo allo allo' joke and the meet me at the rockpile one too.. lol.. Of course the 90 minute casino shows go by way too fast for my liking and before we knew it the show was over.. At the merch table I got one of the black t-shirts with the script writing "LIGHTFOOT".. There were ladies and mens in black and a unisex white with a different font.. It was great to say hi to the band and their families and of course the new Mrs.. Gordon was overwhelmed with casino folks but Warren, as usual kept up a brisk pace and everyone left smiling. I had only a few moments with Gordon, just enough to ask how he was - he's feeling fine! - and get my stuff signed... They were all anxious to finish out the night, some staying over at the hotel and some heading home for a much needed 9 days off. Kim was going to take her hubby home and get him to rest too...they are back out on the 10th, heading to California for a show on the 11th..a very ambitious 19 nights out/14 concert tour in 7 states and 2 provinces... exhausting!!
Enjoy the videos!!