Opening night at Massey Hall. Did we ever think we would see another
one. Yes! Many of us faithful held on tightly to our 2 ½ year old
tickets, and were rewarded for our efforts last Weds night.
It was wonderful to be back there, looking over the sold out auditorium
in the Grand old Lady of Shuter Street. The excitement was in the air,
and smiles were everywhere. I met up with several Lightheads the night
before, and during the day, when I wasn't standing in line at the
hotel check in attempting to get them to correct multiple errors in the
reservations! That had put a damper on things, until I entered Massey
Hall, when everything else was forgotten.


We took our seats, the lights went down, and every person in the Hall
had an expectant face on them. The band came out, the crowd started
roaring, and then Gord sauntered out onto the stage. I have never, not
even in Hamilton, heard anything like the ovation he got the first
night. It was just one huge roar, everyone jumping to their feet,
screaming, whistling, cheering, and applauding till our arms ached. And
he let us. Unlike Hamilton where Gord cut it off after a few minutes,
he must have known that nothing would happen until we showed him just
how glad we were that he was back. Gord let the applause just wash over
him, and I found myself wondering just how that must feel. The energy
from the opening night's audience was so intense that I couldn't
put it into words if I had to.
I didn't keep track of the set list, hopefully someone else did. I
wanted nothing to distract me from the enjoyment of being there, and
nothing did. There was no warming up with the first few songs, Gord and
the band were "on" from the minute they hit the stage, till the
minute they left. Many of us commented how it was like we were at a
concert from 10 or 20 years ago, Gord sounded that good. The Governor
General of Canada was in the audience as well, and if Gord was at all
nervous about that, it sure didn't show.
Since I didn't keep a set list, and the four nights were a blur of
great music to me, I can't comment specifically on any songs, other
than he did a hauntingly beautiful rendition of SFAWN, and CRT was just
wonderful. Being from the US, it was fun to hear the crowd's reaction
to Couchitching.. Gord ended with at least a two song encore that
night, if not a three song one, someone with a better memory will
hopefully post that! Gord did say that as a musician, Massey Hall was
the centre of his universe. It was a very poignant moment.
I would say in my 35 years of being a Lighthead, and with probably some
75+ concerts under my belt, this one was one of the top 2, the other
one being Friday night, at least for me. The emotion, the quality, the
fact that not only was Gord able and willing to do this, but able to do
it even better than he has in years, is just incredible. Thanks again
Gord for having the will, the energy and the drive to do this for us.
Jenney

Opening night at Massey Hall. Did we ever think we would see another
one. Yes! Many of us faithful held on tightly to our 2 ½ year old
tickets, and were rewarded for our efforts last Weds night.
It was wonderful to be back there, looking over the sold out auditorium
in the Grand old Lady of Shuter Street. The excitement was in the air,
and smiles were everywhere. I met up with several Lightheads the night
before, and during the day, when I wasn't standing in line at the
hotel check in attempting to get them to correct multiple errors in the
reservations! That had put a damper on things, until I entered Massey
Hall, when everything else was forgotten.


We took our seats, the lights went down, and every person in the Hall
had an expectant face on them. The band came out, the crowd started
roaring, and then Gord sauntered out onto the stage. I have never, not
even in Hamilton, heard anything like the ovation he got the first
night. It was just one huge roar, everyone jumping to their feet,
screaming, whistling, cheering, and applauding till our arms ached. And
he let us. Unlike Hamilton where Gord cut it off after a few minutes,
he must have known that nothing would happen until we showed him just
how glad we were that he was back. Gord let the applause just wash over
him, and I found myself wondering just how that must feel. The energy
from the opening night's audience was so intense that I couldn't
put it into words if I had to.
I didn't keep track of the set list, hopefully someone else did. I
wanted nothing to distract me from the enjoyment of being there, and
nothing did. There was no warming up with the first few songs, Gord and
the band were "on" from the minute they hit the stage, till the
minute they left. Many of us commented how it was like we were at a
concert from 10 or 20 years ago, Gord sounded that good. The Governor
General of Canada was in the audience as well, and if Gord was at all
nervous about that, it sure didn't show.
Since I didn't keep a set list, and the four nights were a blur of
great music to me, I can't comment specifically on any songs, other
than he did a hauntingly beautiful rendition of SFAWN, and CRT was just
wonderful. Being from the US, it was fun to hear the crowd's reaction
to Couchitching.. Gord ended with at least a two song encore that
night, if not a three song one, someone with a better memory will
hopefully post that! Gord did say that as a musician, Massey Hall was
the centre of his universe. It was a very poignant moment.
I would say in my 35 years of being a Lighthead, and with probably some
75+ concerts under my belt, this one was one of the top 2, the other
one being Friday night, at least for me. The emotion, the quality, the
fact that not only was Gord able and willing to do this, but able to do
it even better than he has in years, is just incredible. Thanks again
Gord for having the will, the energy and the drive to do this for us.
Jenney

Jenney is so right on about the first night ovation.
Out of several huge moments at Massey this past week the roar of the crowd and the love that rolled onto the stage for Gord the first night was certainly one of them. That he allowed it to continue and really accept all that it meant was beautiful and quite rewarding to me as a 30 year Massey Hall atttendee. It happened again after Trilogy. Amazing.
I am having a day of reflection and rest after an emotional rollercoaster ride so my trip report/concert reviews will be a bit late. It's been a helluva ride with these Lightfoot folks....a helluva ride.
Char
I do have set lists/comments etc. and will decipher those as well.

Thanks, again, Jenney, for a wonderful review!!! Makes me feel like I was there!!

xxo, Sheryl