[charlene]

Along the way there were a number of online video sessions Mauck had with Carter Lancaster about the guitar parts. He wasn’t just a fan all those years, he was a student too, and as mentioned, he was covering everything in his bar gigs.
“I paid deep attention for 50 years of going to shows; Gord’s right hand, his left hand technique, all that stuff,” said Mauck. “Playing with a band is completely different, if you care to pay attention to it, as opposed to as a solo, it’s night and day difference how you play. (With a band) you don’t have to do that anymore (cover all the parts). (You) have to leave space for the other instruments. It’s really cool to get into the nuances playing with any band, but when it’s those guys, it’s pretty cool.”
The Second Session
Back in Toronto for round two one month ago, things went much better.
“Two weeks later I was back up there and I’m proud and pleased to say they figured, OK, you’re listening, you’re getting it, that’s fine,” said Mauck. “Sunday we had a session, took a break, I left the room, and (Barry) Keane came out a few minutes later and said, “So do you want to come in for your verdict Mr. Mauck?” I walked back in and said, “let me guess, we’re going to commercial break like they do on those TV shows to drag this out.” They said, ‘You’re in, welcome to the band.””
And so starts a new chapter for the Lightfoot Band, as they will be known. Four guys facing retirement they didn’t want averted, and one who was comfortably retired about to find out there’s room below that gas pedal..
“That’s certainly dawning on me, what did I commit to here? Doesn’t everybody go into a major league, high intensity, high time commitment, travelling lifestyle at age 67? Sure,” said Mauck.
“A smarter guy would have joined a band in his own town.”
It’s a heavy weight to carry. While people in Punta Gorda, and those who heard him play in the neighbourhood pub near Massey Hall every year where he’d bring his guitar to the only Lightfoot music open mic and the members of the band know he can respectably sing the songs, there is a legion of diehard fans to win over.
One thing he’s got going for him is his personality. In one short phone conversation, its apparent Mauck has an engaging personality, a sense of friendliness like Gordon Lightfoot had with those he let into his small circle of friends. Lightfoot was friendly with his fans too. This writer never saw him turn down a fan’s request for an autograph or photo. It’s an extension of his kindness and trust of those closest, and it’s possible fans will see that in Mauck as well.
“I’ve known Gord since before I met my wife,” said Mauck. “I’m the new guy on the block. I’m here to help keep that music alive out there in performances. I’m going to do my best because I love it.”
“He loved to work. He truly did,” he said of Lightfoot. Still, “it’s still painful to think of why I have this opportunity.”
The Future
For Haynes, the task at hand is to prepare for the band’s debut performance of the world’s first Original Member Cover Band at the El Macombo in Toronto January 27, and then lining up concert dates for 2024.
“We don’t claim to be a tribute band at all,” said Haynes. “You’re going to see in our promotional stuff and our graphics on stage, we’re not going to use any images of Gord. There’s not going to be pictures of album covers floating around on the back wall (stage screen).”
That’s fair. Gord’s not there. But, it’s not like the band didn’t have their input and influence on how the songs turned out. This is a new chapter and it’s now their gig, but the sense of duty to remain faithful to the work and vision of the ghost you can’t see will be present in the music.
“I felt like the only way we could get started would be to do a showcase (at the El Mo) where people can find out what we’re going to do and what we can do,” said Haynes. Go big or go home? “That’s it, exactly right. That’s my philosophy of everything.”
At the moment only standing room tickets are available for the El Macombo show. Days after announcing that one last week, it was announced there would be a Massey Hall concert May 23, with a long list of performers scheduled to appear, including the Lightfoot Band.
One place he hopes to play on stage again is right here in Orillia at next summer’s Mariposa Folk Festival.
“They were so kind to us last summer I was hoping we were good enough, or interesting enough, or whatever enough that they might ask us to come back. I’m hoping we might have a shot at it. I’d be thrilled to come back to Mariposa with the band.”
In the end, musicians have to play. There are no options when it’s been your life. Haynes and the rest of the band just want to carry on.
“We want to do the songs of Gordon Lightfoot just as good as we can do them and hopefully sounding even better, stronger. That’s our mission is to make the songs sound great and make people smile.”