[charlene]

well I'd give it a 5 out of 5 !
It was an amazing show. The sound was top notch and Gord was sounding FINE! The place was packed with 5,00 people (mostly pretty quiet) who all had a grand time. Huge screens on either side of the massive stage showed the live action onstage in closeups of all members, lots of guitar playing, keyboards, shots from overhead and behind the band. I loved it! (I whispered to Bernie C. Fiedler during the show that he might consider one for the next Massey..lol - but alas there isn't room he said even tho he loved them too)
It was fun (and an honour) to sit and guess with him which song was next just by the opening notes..and enjoy the music (sometimes quietly humming along) and corny jokes with him as well. It certainly made for a very unique concert experience to sit with the man who owned The Riverboat coffee house and paid Lightfoot the big bucks to come there and begin the fantastic career he's had all these years. A big thanks to BC !
The show started at 8:10 and ended at 9:40. He sang 22 songs and did two encores for a total of 24.
set list:
1. Cotton Jenney
2. Carefree Highway
3. Sea of Tranquility
4. 14K Gold
5. Never Too Close
6. A Painter Passing Through
7. Let It Ride
8. Rainy Day People

BAND INTRO

9. Shadows
10.Beautiful - gorgeous!
he said he changed it from being about a girl to being about the audience by changing "and when I hold you tight" to "and in the darkest night"
11.Couchiching - nice reaction from the crowd at the mention of Orillia, Lake Couchiching and Casino Rama.. Kinda funny to be sitting IN Casino Rama while he sang the song but still got sick in the stomach feelings at THOSE lyrics...you know the ones.
12.Hangdog Hotel
13.Ribbon of Darkness and then into:
14.Sundown
15.The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald
16.Christian Island - another nice one to hear up near Georgian Bay and Christian Island.
17.Fine As Fine Can Be
18.If You Could Read My Mind - omigawd he nailed it again. He ALWAYS does. Both BC and I just sighed heavily when he was finished. sublime.
19.Don Quixote
20.Baby Step Back
21.Early Morning Rain
22.Restless

ENCORE
23.Blackberry Wine
24.Old Dan's Records

The camera police were in full force but with Bernie's prodding I snapped a couple of quick ones but they're lousy.

Backstage Gordon was busy with some contest winners/casino folks and I had a bus to catch so had to leave at 10:15 but caught his eye and got a nod of recognition while folks were snapping pics. I waited in the adjoining room with the band and family members. Bev Lightfoot was there as well and was quite thrilled with the show.
I did speak with a new tour manager ( I believe his name was Wendell ) who is heading out with the boys for the Canadian tour starting in a few days. The band all were healthy when I spoke with them with no lingering effects from any colds they might have had from the last tour.
So it's off to the Maritimes/Newfoundland and back to Ontario. I'll see him on April 13 in Peterborough and April 14 in Hamilton.
Can't wait ... altho I have seen him in November (4x), January at Hugh's Room, February at the Songwriter's event and March in Orillia! After Aprils shows I'll have to wait until July and the 50th anniversary Mariposa show in Orillia.
LOVE IT!