http://blog.al.com/mcolurso/2008/02/..._out_of_2.html
----- February 2008 Gordon Lightfoot lacks vocal power during disappointing concert at Alabama Theatre
Posted by Mary Colurso February 16, 2008 11:18 PM
Categories: Music, Reviews, Scene
Review rating: Two out of five stars
Who: Gordon Lightfoot, 69, the Canadian singer-songwriter known for his poetic lyrics and rich baritone voice.
AP
Gordon Lightfoot in 2001.When: 8:10 p.m. Saturday at Birmingham's Alabama Theatre.
What: A gaunt Lightfoot performed for about two hours, offering two sets with his four-member band. The emphasis was on gently flowing folk music, with occasional forays into pop and country.
Playlist: Included 1970s hits such as "Sundown," "If You Could Read My Mind," "Rainy Day People," "Carefree Highway" and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Lightfoot also sang "Triangle," "Cotton Jenny," "In My Fashion," "Blackberry Wine" and more.
Big problem: Unfortunately, Lightfoot's voice is shot. It sounded weak, nasal and cracked, as if he were having trouble getting sufficient wind. Fans who've closely followed his career might not have been surprised, but anyone who expected Lightfoot to sing as he did in his radio heyday was sadly disappointed. That signature sound no longer exists -- except on his recordings.
Compensation?: Despite his vocal limitations, Lightfoot drew robust applause from ticketholders at the Alabama. The show didn't sell out, but audience members filled seats well into the upper balcony. Faithful fans must have drawn pleasure merely from seeing Lightfoot in person, making one of his rare appearances in Birmingham.
Verdict: When an audience begins to clap, keeping time with a song, and nearly drowns out the struggling singer, something's terribly amiss. Lightfoot's band seemed to be holding back, as well, so they wouldn't overwhelm his fragile voice. Respect certainly is due to the veteran frontman, but this concert was for devotees only.
COMMENTS (7)Post a comment
Posted by iliveinbham on 02/17/08 at 7:22AM
Bummer.
Post a commentPosted by Dutchala on 02/17/08 at 9:24AM
The man is a legend...he is also 70 years old....so maybe his voice is a little weaker than 40 years ago.....and I am a devote. Clearly the lady who posted the review is not old enough to remember him from the 70's. Or maybe she does remember him and just has poor taste.
The bottom l line is that probably everyone in attendance was there to see an icon. My father is just a bit older than Lightfoot and he is not the man he was 40 years ago....but I still go to see him. I bet the writer on the review will not be writing as well in 40 years....if she is still writing at all!
The fact that he is still touring and singing should be celebrated....which it was on Feb 16th, 2008 by most everyone in attendance.
My wife is not even a fan but she thought the concert was fantastic!
Post a commentPosted by Floretta on 02/17/08 at 10:36AM
Considering they had to rebuild the man's diaphragm after an aneurysm blowout in 2002 it's a miracle he's still standing upright, much less singing. For those of us who have been following him for 40+ years, the voice is no surprise. All things considered he can mumble the phone book and I'll be there.
Post a commentPosted by Bama847 on 02/17/08 at 11:18AM
Mary can be very harsh.I have zero regard for her opinion and stumbled on this article accidentally.Thank you Gordon.Long may you live and thank you for Early Morning Rain.
Post a commentPosted by DrTalc on 02/17/08 at 2:27PM
Mary, I think you and I were at different concerts. Lightfoot was nothing short of outstanding last night. Stick to whatever else it is you do in the future and leave the concert reviews to someone else.
Post a commentPosted by Troubadour1 on 02/17/08 at 3:35PM
Mary, this is Jerre Haskew of The Cumberland Trio
www.cumberlandtrio.com and a close friend of Gord Lightfoot since our mutual days in the folk era of the '60s. In case you didn't know, Gord suffered a near fatal aortic aneurysm in 2003 shortly after receiving the Songwriter of The Century award from the Nashville Songwriters' Assn at thye Ryman upon his return to Toronto. He was in a coma for 30 days and had 7 surgeries plus a tracheotomy over the period of a year. SOOOO please cut him some slack on his vocals, as he is giving it his all!! I heard from a friend the audience in Birmingham was wildly enthusiastic, just as it was here in Chattanooga a few nights before. That he is out there at all is a testament to his love of performing for his fans, as he certainly does NOT need the money. Just wanted to post this about him so that you could know the circumstabces that caused his vocal chords to be weak relative to the past.
Play In Tune On Time,
Jerre
another blog:
http://ebassist.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18163
Birmingham review and comments
