Winnipeg review #2
 

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/ent...wAllComments=y - comments at link


REVIEW: Lightfoot still has fire in his bellyBy: Morley Walker

16/04/2009 11:03 PM | Comments (2)
Canadian folk legends go, Gordon Lightfoot keeps on going. He’s not as strong as he used to be, but he’s still standing.

The 70-year-old star proved he still has some fire in his belly, though not as much honey in his throat, as he worked his way through a two-hour-plus concert dotted with several of his greatest hits Thursday night in the MTS Centre’s surprisingly intimate RBC Theatre.

In his first visit to Winnipeg since October 2006, when he played two sold-out shows at the Pantages Playhouse, Lightfoot gave the crowd of 3,000 pretty much what they came to hear.

In truth, however, to borrow a metaphor from that devotee of Canadian culture Billy Bob Thornton, Gord’s mashed potatoes were a little watery.

As for his ever-so-polite boomer-aged fans, they must have left their gravy at home. They had to watch their cholesterol levels, no doubt.

Still, they cheered the introductory chords to many of his tunes and clapped to the beat of a few others. Every once in a while a wild whoop could be heard from the back of the room.

Everyone seemed to forgive Lightfoot’s thin vocalizing, his once-regal baritone a shadow of its former self, apparently hampered Thursday night by a head cold.

Lightfoot, of course, is not the only veteran balladeer to lose a few octaves of range over the decades. And, to be fair, his singing gained strength as the show progressed.

It will be interesting to see how his concert compares to the forthcoming gig by that other aging energizer bunny of Canadian folk, Leonard Cohen.

Certainly both men have songbooks that defy most people’s creative imagination.

Of the nearly 30 tunes that Lightfoot offered up, there were numerous classics: Ribbon of Darkness, Sundown, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, If You Could Read My Mind and Early Morning Rain.

However, there were many more he did not do, and one wonders if he opted to avoid because he just can’t reach the notes anymore. Or maybe it was that blasted cold.

Wearing a blue crushed-velvet jacket over a white dress shirt, his long grey hair swept back over his collar, Lightfoot looked like a tubercular duke, gaunt but proud.

He seemed comfortable onstage, saying little between songs in the first set but getting almost chatty during the second.

He rushed through the opening set, doing 15 songs, shortening many, in a quick 50 minutes.

He promised to loosen up in the second set and, in fact, he did. It was by far the stronger half, and of course the crowd brought him back for an encore.

His four-piece band, the model of quiet dignity, included two of his longtime cohorts, bassist Rick Haynes and lead guitarist Terry Clements, and they played with understated grace. Organist Mike Heffernan was often called upon to give the songs a little heft.

Lightfoot himself played mostly six-string guitar but also picked up his 12-string. He remained on his feet the entire show, never once resorting to a stool, as he has on past tours.

It must have been a sign of defiance. Water down your own mashed potatoes, Billy Bob.

morley.walker@freepress.mb.ca

Re: Winnipeg review #2
 

In the Winnipeg review there was no mention of the low sound as has been noted in previous reviews, so I'm going to assume that he has kept it like it was in Edmonton. It was a complete turnaround from what I've heard for years.

Re: Winnipeg review #2
 

Interesting review with a couple of unusual turns of phrase. "Gaunt but proud" is a pretty accurate description that I would use for a number of Lightfoot shows I've seen, especially after he was sick.
But "tubercular duke"?!? That's definitely a couple of words that, when I woke up this morning, I would have bet I'd live my whole life without seeing together. You never know.

Re: Winnipeg review #2
 

Yah, the mashed potatoes being watery was also an unusual reference. As far as the part about resorting to a stool goes, the reviewer is actually correct. It’s been many years, but for a long time Lightfoot would come out after the intermission, all by himself on a stool and do three or four tunes, just him and the guitar (no band). It was a long time ago, but I know he did it at Massey Hall more than once. To be honest, at the time, I didn’t like it and found it kind of boring. Now, in hindsight, I would love to see him do that again.

Re: Winnipeg review #2
 

I just watched Kris K. sit on a stool with his guitar and sing Sunday Morning Coming Down..(Elvis Costello TV show-Spectacle)
I could sit thru hours of songs done like that with Gord performing his tunes.
It's how Kris has been touring for several years now..Him and his guitar.. awesome.
I remember those concerts Brian..I loved it!
Elvis just asked him if he'd ever thought about writing a book. Kris said "yes....when i get old" He will be 73 in June..lol
He's singing Me and Bobby McGee now with Johnny's daughter Roseanne.
The show is on again on Bravo on Sat. @ 8 and on Bravo @ 6 on Sunday for those around these parts..

Re: Winnipeg review #2
 

And most, if not all, of the performances can be found on youtube. Here's a link to "Me And Bobby Magee" :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig-STFXX_eQ

It would be great to see Lightfoot in such a semi-circle of songwriters, and pass the jar (iced tea only), and that old guitar.

Re: Winnipeg review #2
 

wouldn't that be something to see..oh yeah.

Re: Winnipeg review #2
 

yeah, i'd prefer that over a GL concert - maybe Gord has mellowed and would consider a pull these days but in the past has been asked and declined when several opportunities arose - he said most of his tunes don't lend themselves to pulling...and as for duets, he said he's been down that road and never again, too much of a control freak:)


checked out the Bravo airing last night - what a wonderful tune this is

YouTube - April 5th: Elvis Costello, Kris Kristofferson, Roseanne Cash


i love the tune Norah performed (she took some Hank lyrics from the vault and put a melody together) - John Leventhal held the whole session together nicely

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWubs...eature=related

...a nice hour of song...i'd never made it through the entire Elton show

Re: Winnipeg review #2
 

"As far as the part about resorting to a stool goes, the reviewer is actually correct. It’s been many years, but for a long time Lightfoot would come out after the intermission, all by himself on a stool and do three or four tunes, just him and the guitar (no band). It was a long time ago, but I know he did it at Massey Hall more than once."

I remember the stool. He did IYCRMM from a stool (with the band) first time I saw him (Chautauqua, 1993) and I know he did A Painter Passing Through from the stool when I saw him mid-90s (95 maybe?), a few years before that album was released - and I think he did that one without the band.