Chatham concert
 

Just returned from the Lightfoot concert in Chatham, Ontario. Beautiful night, beautiful venue. The Capital Theatre is a gorgeous recently restored old movie theatre. It seats about 1500 and was over 90% full. First time I’ve ever paid over $100 per ticket (face value – not resale market) for a Lightfoot show. So I guess it’s great that that many people would be willing to pony up that kind of change to see the man. For what it’s worth, the first Lightfoot concert I attended (1977 at Massey Hall) cost me $7.50.

OK, so now I’m sounding like a grumpy old man grumbling about how expensive it all is, so I’ll move on to the events of the evening.

The show started promptly at 8. Mr. Lightfoot was in good voice and good spirits. The setlist was as follows:

Did She Mention My Name
Carefree Highway
Sea of Tranquility
14 Karat Gold
Never Too Close
A Painter Passing Through
Let It Ride
Christian Island
Shadows
Beautiful
Watchman
Ribbon of Darkness
Sundown
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
INTERMISSION
Sweet Gwenivere
Cotton Jenney
Early Morning Rain
Restless
Home From the Forest
Waiting For You
Make Way For the Lady
If You Could Read My Mind
Don Quixote
Baby Step Back
Canadian Railroad Trilogy
ENCORE
Rainy Day People
In My Fashion

At one point, he mentioned that Chatham was the home town of Sylvia Fricker, who would team up with Ian Tyson to form Ian & Sylvia, and how much they helped him.

Later he said something like “So I guess now I’m officially a songwriter . . . I was wondering if this whole thing would work out”, which drew loud applause – a reference to his recent induction to the American Songwriters Hall of Fame (along with Bob Seger).

So that’s about it. Tomorrow night off to the show in Sarnia.

Brian

Re: Chatham concert
 

Wish I could have made it Brian! The theatre sounds beautiful - how was the sound as far as volume? I've found everything just perfect for the last 4 shows I've seen this past week. Vocals, instruments are combined perfectly and not low at all like in previous years. Gord's voice is clearly heard so no one need yell "turn it up!".
lol
He mentioned at one of the 4 shows I just saw that he always wondered if the songwriting thing would work and if he was writing good songs...he's a funny guy..lol..Gets good applause for him..lol

Have fun in Sarnia!

Re: Chatham concert
 

Woohoo! That's been my big bugaboo with Lightfoot shows the last while ... volume levels too low. Glad to hear that's been addressed!

Re: Chatham concert
 

I think the sound guy has just taken over and mixed it the way he wants..it really was awesome at all 4 concerts I went to. Every note from every instrument and every bit of vocal was picked up perfectly. In Montreal and Ottawa you could actually hear every thing Gordon said when he was away from the mic too..not so much in Kitchener tho..

Re: Chatham concert
 

The volume levels both at the Chatham and Sarnia shows were very good. You could here the lyrics clearly and almost all of the off-mike comments clearly. Whatever they're doing, they should keep it up.

Comments on the Sarnia show to follow.

Brian