Saw GL last weekend in Houston. I saw him in the early 90's in Houston, both times were fabulous. This time around, was fortunate to have front row seats, but must say that Lightfoot's vocal range is rather diminished, which I reckon is normal considering his age, and the 15 years or so since I last saw him. But, considering the lyrical content of most of his songs, he never missed a beat. I don't know how long he plans to actively tour, but even marginal fans should check him out as he encroaches 70.

Saw GL last weekend in Houston. I saw him in the early 90's in Houston, both times were fabulous. This time around, was fortunate to have front row seats, but must say that Lightfoot's vocal range is rather diminished, which I reckon is normal considering his age, and the 15 years or so since I last saw him. But, considering the lyrical content of most of his songs, he never missed a beat. I don't know how long he plans to actively tour, but even marginal fans should check him out as he encroaches 70.

Hello ESG,

I'm curious, which seating arrangements are preferable to you--front row, or back aways. The reason I ask, is that I saw him last Sept. and was duped into thinking I was front row, when in reality I was front row balcony. They were good seats, don't get me wrong, but I could not see his facial expressions, hear some of his comments and jokes between songs, etc. Perhaps the up-side to that would be the fact that I was not able to really notice much when he was struggling with high notes, etc. Also, not having been up close, I was able to more easily overlook signs of aging, etc.

I will be seeing him again in September of this year, but this time I have 7th row seats, center, main floor. I'm a bit nervous being so close. I would love your take on it?

And don't get me wrong, I love him the way he is now, gray hairs and all. Just wondering about front row experience.

Hi ESG,
we went to the Houston concert, too. Absolutely loved it. And for the first time ever we had front row seats,too. It was so great to be able to see him play that guitar up close, esp. now that I'm trying to learn how to play guitar, and also to see his facial expressions as he was talking between songs. :)

Hi ESG,
we went to the Houston concert, too. Absolutely loved it. And for the first time ever we had front row seats,too. It was so great to be able to see him play that guitar up close, esp. now that I'm trying to learn how to play guitar, and also to see his facial expressions as he was talking between songs. :)

Yo Gitch, I've been in the front row a couple times over the years (Minneapolis Orpheum, Sarasota Van Wezel (and coming up again this weekend in Cedar Rapids)) and my opinion of the experience is this: it's absolutely astonishing and there's nothin like it..

You sit there about 6 feet away from the toe of guy's boot (which is tapping along to the tune etc.) and you're absolutely petrified you might cough or sneeze (God forbid someone would have the gall to yap away between (let alone during) songs etc., for fear Gord and the guys would hear anything muttered).. During the softer ballads in fact (think Shadows) you actually feel a bit afraid to breath for fear it could be overheard. The intensity that this brings to the evening (as opposed to say, row 35 etc.) ..is amazing.

..just my .02 anyway..

[ June 28, 2007, 15:11: Message edited by: RJ ]

The first several rows of any concert to a favorite band or artist is a magical experience. Saw The Who front row this year and Steely Dan front row last year. To be that close to legends makes for truly memorable nights. I have the same fondness for Gordon Lightfoot. B/W one of his songs, I heard him ask the guitarist "which song was next". But he definitely seemed thinner in the last decade. I was wondering if anyone noticed when the change of voice changed. Quite a change b/w Gords Gold I and Gords Gold II. I know he had Bell's Palsy years ago, and recently had a recent aneurysm sugery of his aorta.

The first several rows of any concert to a favorite band or artist is a magical experience. Saw The Who front row this year and Steely Dan front row last year. To be that close to legends makes for truly memorable nights. I have the same fondness for Gordon Lightfoot. B/W one of his songs, I heard him ask the guitarist "which song was next". But he definitely seemed thinner in the last decade. I was wondering if anyone noticed when the change of voice changed. Quite a change b/w Gords Gold I and Gords Gold II. I know he had Bell's Palsy years ago, and recently had a recent aneurysm sugery of his aorta.

RJ & ESJ, thanks for your comments about how magical an experience it is to be up close. It has brought tears & goosebumps. I won't be in the first row, but 7th is pretty close and the best I ever had. I'll be sure to bring my cough drops. And I thought I was excited before! I can't wait! :)

Front row centre (and even a few rows back)at The Church of Gord (Massey) is magic. Not only do you hear the amplified sound you can also hear his unamplified voice as well.

And pretty much all the stuff he talks about as he wanders around can be heard as well. up close you can watch the interaction of all the boys in the band and sublte nuances that might be missed from a distance. and there's the bonus that as he moves to the edge of the stage and does his 'lean over the geetar and gaze intently into the audience' move, he's gonna be looking straight at you!

omigoodness - THAT is quite something!!

It's been about 15+ years that his voice began to change..following him so closely I only notice it when I've played some old recordings close to when I'm going to see him in concert. Which is why I dont' do that any longer.

He's the performer he is now..that's who I go to see and hear and I love him as much now as I did back in the day.

Front row centre (and even a few rows back)at The Church of Gord (Massey) is magic. Not only do you hear the amplified sound you can also hear his unamplified voice as well.

And pretty much all the stuff he talks about as he wanders around can be heard as well. up close you can watch the interaction of all the boys in the band and sublte nuances that might be missed from a distance. and there's the bonus that as he moves to the edge of the stage and does his 'lean over the geetar and gaze intently into the audience' move, he's gonna be looking straight at you!

omigoodness - THAT is quite something!!

It's been about 15+ years that his voice began to change..following him so closely I only notice it when I've played some old recordings close to when I'm going to see him in concert. Which is why I dont' do that any longer.

He's the performer he is now..that's who I go to see and hear and I love him as much now as I did back in the day.

Wow! So much cool stuff buzzin' round these days it's hard for this ol' boy to keep up with it all, but many thanks for all the fantastic posts and please keep em' comin'. Char, you are so great! and it shows in the comments that we see coming forth from the readers. I just want to help provide some input for the "geetar" players who might be trying to learn how to play Gord's music. Well, when I got hooked back in the sixties and decided that I really need to know just exactly what it is that he does on his guitars up there I went to drawing board and came up with a plan that worked well for me and still continues to this day. The best seating position for a good view of what he does on the finger board would be "left centre, as close as possible to the front." That way you get a bird's eye view of what he's doing on the fingerboard and at the same time study the finger and strumming style as well. Once in a while the microphone stand will get in the way depending on how he moves around. If you can't get a seat up close, keep with the left centre area and bring along a pair of opera glasses or binoculars. I remember in the early days in Massey Hall the binoculars I used could show the bubbles in his glass of soda water. No shortage of nostalgia that's for sure and it's so cool that it still applies to this day. Talk about magic moments. Stay cool. Ron J.

Hey RJ - I got a kick out of watching you watch Gord from second row one night last November..
it was like you'd never seen him before..

a kid in a candy shoppe never looked so captivated and gobsmacked..
lol

Hey RJ - I got a kick out of watching you watch Gord from second row one night last November..
it was like you'd never seen him before..

a kid in a candy shoppe never looked so captivated and gobsmacked..
lol

That happened to me in January. I thought I had done something wrong, and was soon to be escorted out by security.

LOLOLOL!!!

:0

LOLOLOL!!!

:0

Absolutely right on the mark there Char. I just love they way you've phrased that, but truthfully it's always been that way. There's just something that happens when that guy walks out there on stage and bares his soul the way he does with his music in the presence of fans that just thrive on the high they get from what he gives them at his concerts. It's like some kind of power he has that seems to be able to communicate so directly to his audience that it can make one spellbound. I know I'm not alone here because over the years many Lightfoot fans have told me similar stories. But yes, I probably was, and I really don't know for sure just how to describe it, but in some state of meditation, where other than myself and the music, the rest of the world was shut out. I wish I could decscribe the feeling in a better way but other than saying he obviously knows there's something connecting at his performances and his fan base seems to be building and he's not about to call it a day. So I would say watch for many more gobsmacked and captivated folks out there. The way things are going, theyre'll be no shortage of line ups. Stay loose guys. Cheers, Ron J.