Gordon Lightfoot Forums - Fargo Set List-Review

The I-29 Tour started in downtown Fargo on a cool windy evening. The Fargo Civic Center is not the most aesthetically pleasing setting in which I had ever seen Gordon. It looks like it was primarily designed for basketball games, wrestling matches and trade shows. The building is just a couple blocks off of the Red River which experienced record flooding this past spring. The park area is actually quite pretty with flowers still in bloom.

Gord would put on what I consider his finest show that I have seen since his 2005 return to the stage. I was in the first row, practically right in front of Terry.

As usual, the show started promptly. From the first, Gord sounded fresh. Here is the set list:

1) Triangle
2) Did She Mention My Name (full-length)
3) 14 Karat Gold
4) Never Too Close
5) In My Fashion
6) Painter Passing Through
7) Spanish Moss
8) Shadows
9) Beautiful
10)Carefree Highway
11)Hangdog Hotel Room
12)Ribbon of Darkness
13)Sundown
14)The Watchman's Gone
15)Alberta Bound
Intermission
16) Wreck of the E.F.
17) Ring Neck Loon
18) Don Quixote
19) Minstrel of the Dawn
20) Waiting for You
21) If You Could Read My Mind
22) Baby Step Back
23) Restless
24) Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Encores
25) Song for a Winter's Night
26) Blackberry Wine

The full-length "Did She Mention My Name" as it appeared on the 1968 album was a very good surprise. Whenever I had heard it in concert, it was mixed with For Lovin' Me in a medley. Massey Hall concert-goers will love it in November. Gord was fairly talkative during the concert, stating that he had not been to Fargo in 15 years. Towards the end of the first set, I heard him tell Rick Haynes, "one more" , so I think that accounts for Alberta Bound being done.

He asked for the audience for loon calls in the introduction of Ring Neck Loon. I tried and so did a few others. He plays that song on the same 12-string as Trilogy and EMR. I think these are the only songs in which he has done that - but someone can probably correct me if there are others with the capo on the third fret.

The crowd was fairly rowdy for a Wednesday night. Several people came up to the first row with a plastic beer cup and toasted him while he was playing. Some guy came up with an album for him to autograph- right as he was playing. One woman, apparently madly in love, went to the front of the stage and was just grooving while he was playing. Security came and gently removed her from her love-struck haze. The beer was definitely having an effect on her.

Gord performed Trilogy as if it were 15 years ago. Best since his return from his illness. A re-arranged "Song for a Winter's Night" was well received. And he came back for a second encore and gave an energetic "Blackberry Wine" to close the evening.

The concert was very fun: Gord's voice well rested, a responsive audience, Gord talkative, the band tight.

Thursday would bring the long drive to Omaha. I'll continue the tour tomorrow for Corfid readers.

John