Gordon Lightfoot Forums - Thunder Bay- Set List (Dec. 4)

OK- back from a long trip to Thunder Bay and back. Some bad roads in the hills of northern Minnesota near the Canadian border. Glare ice going down into the Customs office.

Well, made it to the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. Beautiful concert hall with exquisite acoustics. The place also wins my award for concert hall with best leg room. Lovely maple-back seats with very comfortable cushions.

At intermission, I looked behind me. There were still open seats way back on the main level. The second level looked fairly full but the third level was nearly empty. It was a far different cry than the last time in Thunder Bay (April 2009) when we were lucky to even get seats.

So I don't know if it is the bad economy, the aging of Lightfoot's fan base, cold weather, $75 tickets, or what? But apparently Gord is not selling out like he used to do. I would question touring at this time of year competing against Christmas needs, snow and cold, etc. But like Gord says, "they like the work."

Perhaps the 2/3 full auditorium was a downer for Gord. He was less talkative than usual and kept to a very business-like performance with minimal chatter. Here's the set list:

1) Did She Mention My Name
2) Carefree Highway
3) Sea of Tranquility
4) 14 Karat Gold
5) Never Too Close
6) A Painter Passing Through
7) Let It Ride
8) Christian Island
9) Shadows
10) Beautiful
11) The Watchman's Gone
12) Ribbon of Darkness
13) Sundown
14) Wreck of E.F.

Intermission

15) Sweet Guinevere
16) Cotton Jenny
17) Restless
18) Home From the Forest
19) Waiting For You
20) Make Way for the Lady
21) Fine as Fine Can Be
22) If You Could Read My Mind
23) Don Quixote
24) Baby Step Back
25) Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Encore:
26) Rainy Day People
27) Old Dan's Records

He started Sundown with the wrong verse from which he quickly recovered, but that was the only notable lyric mistake.

He introduced "Wreck" as a "song that means a lot in these parts."

There were a couple of instances in which he went back from the mike and bowed his head, obviously trying to keep the sinuses clear.

After "Baby Step Back", he said that he (could not hear any) "outgoing" and that he hoped that it sounded good to us. He said it puts "even more pressure to get the notes right."

He introduced Trilogy as this one is the "real test." I don't expect to hear the "Gord's Gold" version any more, like maybe some do. The high notes of the last segment were in and out, but hey, he's not 35 anymore.

The crowd gave a standing ovation. He and the guys returned to perform two songs -back to back. I was very happy to see him messing with his capo after "Rainy Day" , because it meant one of my top 10 favorites: the live version of "Old Dan's Records."

The crowd was mostly over 50 that I saw. Many couples out on a date to reminiscence.

So glad to hear that he's touring in 2012. Seems like he has recently played everywhere near the Twin Cities in the past few months- so I hope to find somewhere on the tour to attend in 2012. Keep the reviews and set lists coming everyone! Best,

John/ Minnesota