Rockford Ill. article
 

http://www.morningsun.net/entertainm...-but-effective

Lightfoot's show simple but effective

PHOTO PROVIDED
Gordon Lightfoot

By Georgette Braun
GateHouse News Service
Posted Mar 13, 2009 @ 01:45 PM

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ROCKFORD, Ill. — Folk-rock balladeer Gordon Lightfoot is known best for hits in the early and mid-’70s that were high on the list of Billboard’s Pop Singles chart: “If You Could Read My Mind,” No. 5 in 1971; “Sundown,” No. 1 in 1974; and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” No. 2 in 1976.

His favorite: “If You Could Read My Mind.” “It’s wonderful to play on stage, has great vibes, and I always save it until near the end (of a concert),” Lightfoot said in a telephone interview with the Rockford Register Star on Feb. 26 from his Toronto home.

Lightfoot will sing and play guitar March 21 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.

Here’s what concertgoers can expect:

No opening act. It’ll be just Lightfoot and four other musicians backing him up on stage. The show will last two hours, including a 20-minute intermission. Lightfoot doesn’t bring merchandise to sell to his shows.

“And I don’t do much talking,” he said. “It’s mostly the music, all strung together. ... Lots of good rhythm tunes.”

Critics describe Lightfoot’s voice as rich and warm, his guitar technique as nimble and his songwriting as poetic journeys. He’s had five Grammy Award nominations. And he recently was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Who are some of his favorite singer/songwriters? Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Goodman, Bryan Adams, James Taylor, Van Morrison, Harry Chapin, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.

Cash covered Lightfoot’s “If You Could Read My Mind,” which was released after Cash died. “It was good,” Lightfoot said. “He brought a new perspective to the song.”

Georgette Braun can be reached at gbraun@rrstar.com.

If you go

What: Singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot in concert

When: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 21

Where: Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford

Cost: $52.50 and $42.50

Information: coronadopac.org, (815) 968-0595 and the Coronado box office

Re: Rockford Ill. article
 

Ok, count me in!
Oh, I already have my tickets!

Re: Rockford Ill. article
 

Hope you have the same type of wonderful experience that I did Wednesday at the Davenport Concert. I saw Gordon at the Metro Center there in 1982
I grew up in Rockford, graduated from Rockford East in 1970. Moved to Davenport in Dec 1970.

Kevin

Re: Rockford Ill. article
 

Well Kevin, a bit a saddness will overshadow our moods as I lost my sister earlier this week. I always buy an extra ticket for Mom, I hope she's up to going by then. Or perhaps this is just what we need.

To be sure I will be there with my little Emma (5 yr old)

happier days lay ahead...

Re: Rockford Ill. article
 

I'm sorry to hear about your loss.
I think a Lightfoot concert is just what you and your family need...let us know how things go.
char

Re: Rockford Ill. article
 

I'm so sorry to hear that, we'll be praying for your family. I can sympathize with the situation. Back in 1991, my girlfirend's stepfather died the day before Gordon's concert in Davenport. We were ready not to go to the concert, but Erin's mother insisted we go to help us get our minds off things. It did help. ...

Kevin