[davevoeltz]

The first set was completed at 8:45 pm and consisted of 13 songs. The band took a 15 minute break and was back on stage shortly after 9:00 pm. The second set consisted of:

Sweet Guinevere
The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
Never Too Close
Wild Strawberries
Make Way for the Lady
Let it Ride
If You Could Read My Mind
A Painter Passing Through
Baby Step Back
Early Morning Rain
Song for a Winter’s Night

Encore:

Blackberry Wine

It appeared he was wearing the same pair of pants, but now he had on a black shirt in lieu of the velvet jacket.




(Sorry about the lousy photos)

During the poke-a-dot underwear portion of Wild Strawberries, he gave the crowd a puzzled look when very few laughed at the lyrics. There also seemed to be some technical issue during “Wild Strawberries”. I could see Rick gesturing to one of the stage hands who walked over to him. He left for a moment and then brought back what appeared to be a note and a bottle of water and placed on the stool next to Gord. Then during one of Carter’s solos, Gord walked back to Rick and discussed something. He was late getting back to the mic and missed the first few words of the next stanza. I was never able to figure out the problem as everything sounded fine to my untrained ear.

During the entire concert, there was a photographer who seemed to have carte blanche to go anywhere and take pictures. He spent much time in the shadows of the stage and a number of times, would actually be behind the band taking pictures looking into the crowd. Anyone have any idea if this was one of Gord’s guys or possibly a local newspaper reporter or a PR person from the facility?

All too soon, they launched into the ‘last’ song, “Song for a Winter’s Night”. He again mentioned that he can’t hit the high notes on the song and had to slightly change the tune. Again the crowd applauded their love for his signing and he nodded in appreciation. He did modify the tune in the ‘If I could ….’ portions of the song. All too soon, the song concluded, they took their bows, and left the stage.

The house lights remained off but some folks started to walk out. I started shouting “ENCORE ENCORE” to make them realize that the concert was not really done. 20 seconds or so later, they came back on stage to the cheers of the crowd. Gord thanks everyone and introduced the band once more. He then said “Here is a toe tapper” and launched into “Blackberry Wine”. Upon complete of the song, the band left the stage, Gord walked to the front and took a deep bow at stage left, stage center, and stage right before walking off stage. The house lights came on and we knew the concert was truly over.

This was the first time we saw Carter in person. He plays very nicely and adds his own touch to the music. He also likes to stand during some of the songs where he has feature solos. His skills are comparable to Terry’s in producing the sounds our ears have grown accustomed to hearing. The only exception last night was the ‘mandolin’ part of Christian Island where he labored a tad and wasn’t quite as smooth as Terry. Still, the crowd gave him a loud applause at the conclusion of that ditty and he is truly an integral part of the band.

Since I had to work the next morning, we returned to the car for the 3 hour trip home. If I had the time, I would have hung around by the back stage gate to see if we could have spotted Barry, Rick, Mike, Carter or Gord. As a part time bus driver, I would even enjoy chatting with the semi and bus driver. But knowing it would by 60 to 90 minute wait for them to appear, we decided it would be too late of a night with the added risk of falling asleep on the way home. Next time, we will stay overnight, allowing us time to be “Sittin’ at the old South Gate, waitin' them boys they bin stayin' out late’.”

15 different albums were represented. Sundown, Waiting for You, Cold on the Shoulder, and Shadows each had 3 songs performed. Lightfoot! And Summertime Dream each had two songs, while Don Quixote, Summer Side of Life, Did She Mention My Name, Endless Wire, Dream Street Rose, East of Midnight, If You Could Read My Mind, A Painter Passing Through, and The Way I Feel each had one song performed.

In wrap up, it was a good concert and we got to hear some songs we have not heard before in concert. And better yet, I didn’t have some drunk sitting next to me this time constantly babbling and singing, although I did hear someone snoring 2/3rd of the way through the second set. But apparently a well-placed elbow by a spouse remedied that situation so all in all, it was an enjoyable evening.


Here are some memories from the past. My son Thomas meeting Gord for the first time in Winnepeg in 1999:



And again a year later in Minneapolis:





We now skip ahead to Minneapolis in 2006:



And finally in Rapid City in 2009:



Dave in Pierre, SD