Buffalo concert-Sept.2008
 

What a beautiful day for a GO train ride and then car ride heading west out of Toronto to Buffalo New York. Kinda cloudy with an autumnal coolness but with an appropriate sweater on I was ready for the trip. My daughter Lisa, as usual was tagging along..

We arrived in Buffalo around 3 p.m. and checked into the hotel, greeting a few familiar faces with big hugs and the shared excitement of a Lightfoot concert only hours away.

We had dinner in the lobby restaurant/bar and enjoyed watching the Oakland Raiders players walking around and sitting amongst us. They'd lost to Buffalo in the last few seconds of that afternoons game so were kinda low key for some VERY big an impressive looking, football playing, sharp dressed guys!
Some guy from Buffalo (BIG guy) was entered into the Hall of Fame earlier in the day at the game. - Bruce Smith was his name..and I haven't a clue who he is..but he smiled and said hello to us later that night.. ;)

We headed out and walked a couple of block to the lovely re-furbished Shea's Auditorium for the 7 p.m. show. Line-ups were out the door as folks were buying tickets and picking up 'will-call' tickets. We met with Dan and Nanci who live a short distance from Buffalo and made our way to our 2nd row seats but because the first row is shorter than the 2nd and 2nd row curved we were basically in the front row with no one in front of us....just to the side of Mike Heffernan on keyboards. There was a 'front' stage with a curve that kept front row about 15 feet from the slightly raised stage that Gord and the band would be on..
While walking to our seats I heard my name being called out but not expecting to hear that in Buffalo I didn't really pay attention until I heard it again and Lisa told me someone was calling me..it was Harold and his family sitting a few rows back from us! Hello Harold!!
lol

THe auditorium/theatre seats around 3 thousand people on wide comfortable, red velvet covered padded seats. There were around 2300 people in attendance I think..The artwork on the ceilings, moldings, carvings, side balconies, chandeliers were all stunning. What a gorgeous place..

We took our seats, the lights went down shortly after a short intro and out strode the boys, taking their places as The Man himself swaggered on out with a wave and huge smile..En masse all 2300 of us stood for a loud and prolonged ovation. Well it would have been longer if Lightfoot hadn't launched right into the first tune "Triangle", forcing us to stop the adoration and listen.

He had on his reddish coloured velvet waist jacket, pale blue dress shirt and black trousers with black boots. His hair was a few inches longer than it was back at Massey in May..He looked thin but healthy and rarin' to go.

During the evening he spoke about being back for the first time in 25 years and how he loved going to the old, refurbished and renovated theatres and seeing what had been done with them. As you read in the newspaper review at another thread he also recalled the days when as a young boy he drove all the way to Buffalo to go to a movie and later as a teen to go to Club Moonglow,, laughing as he said "back when we were stupid."..
He sang a shortened version of Rainy Day People and said it was so he could talk more..lol
He was a slight bit raspy and breathy at first but that gave way and his voice grew stronger after each song.

The band intro was done all at one time and he also introduced the sound guy and stage guy, also thanking them for the lovely new backdrop. He sang 14 songs and took a short break.

Lisa and I took the time during the break to change seats and move to the very centre of the floor in the second row...I was sitting dead on to where Lightfoot's mic was..great seats..

As mentioned in the newspaper article there was a hissing white noise throughout the 2nd set that diminished a bit after Rick adjusted something.

He came back out with a white shirt, wine/burgundy coloured vest with small diamond pattern and black pants of a dressier version than the first pair..

7 songs into the 2nd set he sang If You Could Read My Mind..when he was finished he received a huge, loud ovation, taking bows and smiling with obvious pride in that monumental song. There was one encore song and after he left the stage he came back for one last wave, thank you and gracious bow to his fans..

We were escorted to a small waiting room until Gordon, Mike and Barry came to chat up some radio folks, fans and friends..

The place emptied out and I had a few moments with Gordon with just a few folks there, giving and getting a nice Hi Char and hug..I brought him a new T-Shirt that I thought he might enjoy as an early birthday gift but alas and alack I hadn't thought him to be as small as he is..I bought a LARGE that was meant for a 5'10"/160 pounder..Gordon explained that he was a "medium - 148 pounds!" and I told him I would exchange it for a medium and possibly drop it by the office. That was good because he "really liked it - it's a nice shirt" he said. He mentioned that he attends his health club five times a week, saying he's pretty regular..I laughed and told him that was nice..lolol. oh dear. (Leslie thought it rather funny too)

While Gord spoke with all the folks I noticed that Leslie (new tour mngr) stayed very close to Gordon..I had printed out the article regarding the Lightfoot Tower in Nova Scotia and told Gordon he could take it and read it later.. Leslie was right there to hold it for him..lol

I noticed that Gordon was using a retractable Sharpie pen like the one I gave him at Massey..I asked him if it was that one and he said 'oh no, but I've had Leslie get me several more since then!" Glad to know he liked it! I had brought him another in case he didn't have one..lol

He said he's feeling great overall but was tired and would be heading up to his room when I asked how he was feeling..I said well tomorrow is a day off and he laughed and said well there's no show but I'll still be working..they were flying out at 1 p.m. today for Indiana, Pennsylvania..

I also asked about the LIVE Massey stuff.. ohmigoodness he did a quick look around and pretty much said 'they're not being released, I haven't done anything with them, they'll come out when I'm ready and that's not now."

I mentioned about the possibility of another phone chat and he seemed amenable to that. Yeah, yeah that might be alright...
I said I'd call him later next month..we'll see..I said there's a lot of folks with lots of questions about the music..

The last thing I did was show him my tattoo!! ..well he was quite surprised and impressed and was quite taken with it..He proclaimed it to be "very, very nice...tasteful, very tasteful!"

We said our goodbyes to Gordon and headed back to the hotel for a drink and sit with some folks before heading to our room at midnight.

Another wonderful road trip, gorgeous weather for the day of autumn, fabulous friends, and Lightfoot and his orchestra making new memories for us..

with apologies to The Man:

Oh the gist of it all is the first day of fall
Is the day when my memories don't fail
The best of all friends will say good-bye again
We've had that one last glass of ale

We'll wave away proudly, our backs to the wall
With kisses and lots of good cheer
And when we look onward and forward
We'll be in Toronto next year.

Set List
1. Triangle
2. Cotton Jenney
3. 14K Gold
4. Never Too Close
5. In My Fashion
6. A Painter Passing Through
7. Rainy Day People
8. Shadows
9. Beautiful
10.Carefree Highway
11.Hangdog Hotel Room
12.Ribbon of Darkness
13.Sundown
band intro
14.Watchman's Gone

INTERMISSION

15.The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
16.Alberta Bound
17.Don Quixote
18.Clouds of Loneliness
19.Waiting For You
20.Make Way For The Lady
21.If you Could Read My Mind
22.Restless
23.Baby Step Back
24.Canadian Railroad Trilogy
OVATION
ENCORE
25.Blackberry Wine

Here's some photos..I'm waiting for more pics from Dan.. last one in thumbnail format is my TATTOO...

Re: Buffalo concert
 

oh wonderful, wonderful!!! Thank you Char SO much for taking the time to write all this and all the wonderful details and "aside" stuff :). And PHOTOS :)!!!! great fun and interesting to read!!

gee...I've yet to wear a sweater, though I did 1/2 my summer/fall/winter packing up and taking out rather early (like 3 weeks ago!). Did you wear the tan hoodie sweater that I like? hehe

Re: Buffalo concert
 

yes I did wear that sweater during the day until I changed for the show..!
lol

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Thanks Char.
This is really great and I was waiting for you to put something up as we spoke earlier about the Buffalo concert. Sure sounds like he's keeping himself busy. Guess he's doing it the way he likes to do it and that's positive. Kinda keeps the door open for the "big Massey" gig in November next year. Reading this fulfills our first autumn day with a warm sunset here in Vancouver. Cheers, Ron J.

Re: Buffalo concert
 

forgot to add that on the way back home in the car with a brilliant blue sky above and the water of Lake Ontario shimmering under the bright sun, heading towards the skyline of Toronto, Gordon Lightfoot singing "Carefree Highway" came on the radio..
oh yeah..
alrighty then...

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Thanks Char. Nice shirt, it kind of matches your "very, very nice...tasteful, very tasteful!" tattoo. I really like that PIC_0012. Wow, nice that Carefree Highway came on on the radio at such a nice time.

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Thanks for sharing the experience Char, and great pics. :)

Re: Buffalo concert
 

one day I'll get a much better camera that takes better zoom shots..
i do love that one with his arm outstretched tho...

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Char,

Great Pictures from Buffalo. Good Job!

I did catch you in a white lie though. You once told me your real age, and by looking at the pictures of you standing next to Gord, you can't be older than the low 30's.

Re: Buffalo concert
 

oh dear..that's very sweet dear Wes..but now put your glasses back on and take another look..lol
ack!!
Maybe II'll just get my pic taken with Gord all the time..
;)

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Thanks for a great review and picture, Char; I almost feel like I'd been there! And your addendum blew me away! (The skyline of Toronto was the last picture I took from Pearson in May; and Carefree Highway always gets to me, even though I'm not the Ann he's singing about!)

Thanks again, Char!

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Here ya go Anne!
The Skyline of Toronto:

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Oh the skyline of Toronto
Is something you'll get onto
But they say you've got to live there for a while... :eek: :)

Re: Buffalo concert
 

My favourite line in Alberta Bound!

After I took the picture of the S of T, my camera froze (with the lens zoomed); I guess the battery must have died. Anyway, that picture did not want to go away (neither did I)! Thanks for posting your S of T photos, Char.:)

I pray that we all meet up at Massey next November:headbang:

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Sorry, Jesse Joe; thank you too!

Re: Buffalo concert
 

That's no problem mandoann, your too kind ... :)

Re: Buffalo concert
 

I like reading your reviews, Char. The pictures are great...thanks for posting them.

Re: Buffalo concert
 

As always, great report Char.

Re: Buffalo concert
 

I am the "Dan" in the "Dan and Nanci" that Char has mentioned in her illustrious report of the Buffalo Concert. Here is a link to the pictures that Nanci and I took:

http://picasaweb.google.com/dannoros...ptember212008#

Danno

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Hey mandoann,
I was in Portland this past July and really loved that city.
It was absolutely a great place to visit!
Danno

Re: Buffalo concert
 

I was really surprised that Gord didn't tell his Elvis story at the Buffalo concert. When I talked to him after the show I told him so. He told me he only tells that story when he does Early Morning Rain and that he had done Canadian Railroad Trilogy instead. The Elvis story involves Buffalo Memorial Auditorium where the Buffalo Sabres used to play. I told him that they are in the process of knocking it down. That is why his mouth is open in the picture of me with him. Gord's Elvis story would have been a barn burner in Buffalo. It was really great that he got a standing ovation JUST for walking on stage. He is very much still loved in this community. Much more than anyone could ever fathom.

Danno

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Dan,
GL did tell the Elvis story in Cleveland on Wednesday night... He mentioned that him and Rich Haynes (and he said "There Kids went with them") drove down to Buffalo to see Elvis. Does anyone know what year that was?

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Danno - I remember speaking with you after the first set and thinking he wouldn't do CRT because he did The Wreck already and some nights he only does one of them..they are both long songs and he was a bit breathy in the first half.. I was surprised to hear CRT in the second half.
Wasn't the ovation after IYCRMM amazing? He always nails that song..gotta love him..
The standing "O" as he walked onstage was lovely and his big smile was beautiful.

Elvis was in Buffalo on April 9, 1972..

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Wes,

Gord probably did Early Morning Rain in Cleveland only because I told him he should have done it in Buffalo :-)

In Cleveland he should have done Song for Winter's Night....

Maybe we should all help him with his set lists.

When I meet him, I am always surprised at what a really nice guy he is. He is always so pleasant and humble.

Danno

Re: Buffalo concert
 

Char,
And my sister who loved Elvis was there!

I believe the first time Nanci and attended a GL concert was early 1972. Will have to check the "archives" when I return to Buffalo.

Danno