Gordon Lightfoot Forums - Birmingham UK

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- - Birmingham UK - May 27-2016 (http://www.corfid.com/vbb//showthread.php?t=28220)

Birmingham UK - May 27-2016

I'm performing this evening with the Gord Lightfoot band at the amazing Symphony Hall in Birmingham England. What a wonderful theatre!
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Re: Birmingham UK - May 27-2016

http://thebirminghampress.com/2016/0...-the-twilight/

Richard Lutz takes a pew for Canadian legend Gordon Lightfoot.

It wasn’t until singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot delivered his most well-known song If You Could Read My Mind that this show at Birminghan’s Symphony Hall started to burn a tad brighter.

The 77 year old musician has a partially shot voice, half bee buzzing in a jar, half raspy whisper. He looked under the weather and a bit tired. But who wouldn’t in the eighth decade of life and touring night after night?

But the man has form – half a century in the business and songs like Early Morning Rain that have been covered by Dylan, Elvis and Judy Collins. He also has a sharp sense of humour. “Rumours of my death are greatly exaggerated,” he confided as he referred to a recent Twitter error that he had died.

With his range limited and heading for the twilight of his career, he needed able backup from his four piece band and that helped pick up the show. But he still carries a bittersweet charm that has helped pay the mortgage for five decades and, on this day, fill such a big hall.

Songs were shortened to take in the breadth of his songwriting career or maybe help him get through his voluminous work in one piece. But he can still pick a tune or two. And at 77, though showing his age, he is still quite the troubadour as he continues his UK tour with that raspy voice, that back catalogue and, from what I saw, a keen following.

Re: Birmingham UK - May 27-2016

That Birmingham article is headed by this stock photo which I simply copied from the web page then equally simply pasted here

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Re: Birmingham UK - May 27-2016

Guess that's the best review we can expect from the English press!

Re: Birmingham UK - May 27-2016

Just back from last night's performance in Birmingham.
Not withstanding Mr. Lutz's comments, the audience enjoyed the performance, showing their appreciation throughout.

Set List:

Sweet Guinevere
Did She Mention My Name
Waiting For You
Never Too Close
14 karat Gold
Clouds Of Loneliness
A Painter Passing Through
Christian Island
Shadows
Beautiful
The Watchman's Gone
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
Carefree Highway

Short Break

Gordon appeared for second half with Mike Heffernan,
Spoke about writing this song in 1992 when America
went into Iraq, then did a brilliant rendition of,

Drink Yer Glasses Empty
The rest of the band joined them for:
Now And Then
Ribbon Of Darkness
Sundown
All The Lovely Ladies
I'd Rather Press On
Minstrel Of The Dawn
Rainy Day People
Let It Ride
If You Could Read My Mind (Great response from audience)
Restless
Baby Step Back
Then spoke about the various people who have covered this next song,
particularly Elvis. Then did
Early Morning Rain

Encore

Cold On The Shoulder.

I thank Gordon for giving me and my wife, plus the thousands who have seen him so far and those still to see him here in the UK and Ireland.

PS I bought a Lightfoot tee shirt.

Re: Birmingham UK - May 27-2016

RICK: Yesterday, on Friday nite, we thoroughly enjoyed performing at Birmingham's Symphony Hall in the fairly new ICC Center. 35 years ago we played at the old Odean Theater here in Birmingham. Sorry for this delay in posting, but I had spotty wifi.
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Re: Birmingham UK - May 27-2016

Hi, I was also at Birmingham. I am a total GL nut when it comes to his songwriting and he has given me hundreds if not thousands of hours of pleasure both listening and playing his music. To me he is unsurpassed with his amazing lyrics, melody lines, progressions and musical arrangements. But I don't think we should pretend that he is anywhere near what he was; how could he possibly be? The press article was pretty near the mark in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I have tremendous admiration for the fact that he still tours and performs in the way he does which is incredible; but the show was a nostalgic journey rather than a wonder in itself; in some ways it was a touch sad but thoroughly enjoyable just the same. I wouldn't have missed it for the world as a trip down a wonderful part of memory lane. The show livened up in the second half when he spent a little bit of time actually talking to the audience and occasionally smiling; more of this would have been nice. Overall, amazing that he is still doing it but we shouldn't pretend that it is as it used to be and never can be. Bravo for the nostalgia and memories.

Re: Birmingham UK - May 27-2016

thanks for your input - you are right in so many ways. We love what was and appreciate what is..and our moments with him now are a blend of both.. Sweet and nostalgic, forgiving of the aging we all experience and thankful for what is now given as a thank you for allowing him and his music to be a fan's forever friend.

Re: Birmingham UK - May 27-2016

Beautifully put Charlene!

Re: Birmingham UK - May 27-2016

I think all of us would be in agreement to Charlenes sentiments. Very well put indeed.