Tucson, Az

[RM]

There's really nothing new to report. Lightfoot and the band's performance was stellar as usual, the set list was routine (although it was nice to hear ICHW and "Me and Bobby Magee"), the jokes were the normal ones, and I think I counted 5 hair-flips. Lightfoot appeared in good spirits, and was quite animated with his facial expressions.

One oddity : The lighting change for "Shadows" resulted in Lightfoot's shadow being cast upon a small wall section in the theater. It was rather surreal to watch his shadow while he was performing "Shadows". That was the only song where it was present.

[sunshine]

Yes, I agree, that Me and Bobby McGee is a wonderful addition, seems particularly well suited to Gordon's voice. Also gives Rick and Terry a third song to sing. One unusual thing happened last night, though. The encore was Blackberry Wine and about one quarter of the way through it, something happened to Rick's guitar. It sounded like a broken string but I was way down front and think I would have been able to see a broken string hanging but I didn't. I don't know that much about electric guitars. Do they get short circuits or blow fuses? Anyway, Rick and Terry communicated the situation via eye contact, Terry picked up the pace on his playing, Gordon never skipped a beat or turned around to see what was up, just finished the song, then all of them left the stage and didn't have to deal with it any further that night. The absence of bass in any song, but particularly that one, is substantial, but they are all pros and the show went on. Just returned home from the Phoenix concert; whatever the problem was, it has been corrected.
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[Jesse Joe]

Very interesting Sunshine...

Once again it shows what a professional Gordon Lightfoot is, by not letting whatever happened distract him.

[jj]

Originally Posted by RM

I think I counted 5 hair-flips.

hmm, i think it's time our ponyman went for the ponytail

i wonder if that 'shadows' ambiance is standard, have never noticed

hope it was a fine night, thanks for the feedback, folks

[RM]

Originally Posted by jj

i wonder if that 'shadows' ambiance is standard, have never noticed

I also wondered about that. If one were seated farther back, it might have been more noticeable. The only reason I spotted it was because I was looking for the patron who had decided that Lightfoot needed off-key back up vocals.

[Jesse Joe]

Thanks for your review RM, the Shadow thing is sure strange eh !

[jj]

Originally Posted by RM

I was looking for the patron who had decided that Lightfoot needed off-key back up vocals.

this supports my belief that ushers should be armed with tasers

[RM]

Speaking of ushers........

I inquired of one where a good locale might be to encounter Lightfoot and get an autograph. He gave a generic answer. Being the helpful soul he is, he informed me that "Sometimes they sign, sometimes they don't. A lot depends on how tired they are. He's our age, you know ? ". (so now I'm thinking, either this usher looks pretty darn good to be approaching 70, or I must look awful to be approaching 57) Thankfully, he then added (referring to Lightfoot) "Even older". I'm not sure tasers are a good idea.

[charlene]

Originally Posted by RM

Speaking of ushers........

I inquired of one where a good locale might be to encounter Lightfoot and get an autograph. He gave a generic answer. Being the helpful soul he is, he informed me that "Sometimes they sign, sometimes they don't. A lot depends on how tired they are. He's our age, you know ? ". (so now I'm thinking, either this usher looks pretty darn good to be approaching 70, or I must look awful to be approaching 57) Thankfully, he then added (referring to Lightfoot) "Even older". I'm not sure tasers are a good idea.

LOL
oh dear...at least he clarified it somewhat..
lol
Sounds like that's the pat answer an usher would give..

[geodeticman.5]

Originally Posted by RM

There's really nothing new to report. Lightfoot and the band's performance was stellar as usual, the set list was routine (although it was nice to hear ICHW and "Me and Bobby Magee"), the jokes were the normal ones, and I think I counted 5 hair-flips. Lightfoot appeared in good spirits, and was quite animated with his facial expressions.

One oddity : The lighting change for "Shadows" resulted in Lightfoot's shadow being cast upon a small wall section in the theater. It was rather surreal to watch his shadow while he was performing "Shadows". That was the only song where it was present.

Ron - Thanks for the info; notably the eerie effect of the "Shadow" during Shadows being played. Odd that was the only time. Would have REALLY liked to be there for THAT. It would be like geese flying overhead, a schooner flyin' by, and leaves turning to gold on the wall during one of my A-list songs - Restless. And any parent who has a dry eye at the end of ICHW.........

I happen to have it on threepeat right now is what made me think of it; coupled with little need to say it has substantive imagery I think most of us would agree.

One question Ron. during a little off-the cuff billiards angle and basic triangles in your mind: how precise (roughly speaking, to add to the self-defeating question of mine allready ..lol..)a spot did he have to move into, ostensibly unbeknownst to Gord I'm sure, do you think ?

Do you figure, by the angles and, well, distance, and what not, that most of the audience could see it or maybe just like 10 rows ? I see you allready commented briefly on the 'wonder who all could see it part', maybe just a little expansion on that, in light of the Q raised: could it be planned ? -

Common sense says to me I doubt it. Gord never seemed one for much light show biz in the concerts I have been to, but I can see how they could be done to tasteful and subtle "value-add". I do seem to recall one the lighting man having some fun to good effect with colours and what not during 'Sea of Tranquility'

For some reason this concert I am remembering brought back a very poignant personal memory, I wont maudle (is that a verb ?) into ...., other than to say that my wife.... was inDEED a rural ranch girl when I met her; she'd never been to a concert in her life , and the first one she ever went to was this one with the Sea of Tranquility lighting. She was overwhelmingly intimidated by the throng, the proximity and bunching of people as we entered the auditorium, etc as she said something like:

"It's sort of like the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, except those were during the day...and... its so dark in here...(that was OK with me, she just pulled a little tighter on my arm and seemed dependant one 'ME' after only a few weeks of dating ! YES !

- oh - and the Grandaddy of 'em all Rodeos DO continue into the evening, just her Dad had the foresite to not take a 'looker' like her(hoo boy) who had a habit of wandering off to go right to the horses she loved so, and the wranglers at THAT rodeo at night....well; lets just say the State's Prison System is the biggest employer in the state as a misc fact - 300,000 -odd citizens in that whole state.

The population of the whole state would rival the criminal count in some large cities, incarcerated and not, together) and Denver is, nearing 2 million ppl, and Wyoming is just 300,000 + people.....the wranglers come out of nowhere for the non-sponsored riders, and they ain't exactly known for their best of manners pilgrim....been up in the Wind River Range some of em a little to long...and that wind....hmmm

anyhoo it was all I could do when I took her to that rodeo in the DAYLIGHT when we were dating also - to keep the cat-calls to a minimum/avoiding dead-end dirtways near the trailers/move my wallet to my FRONT pocket and STILL -pat- do a wallet check/and PUFF my chest out the best I could and hold my arms out the way teenage boys do, usually around 13 - 15, when they look like a 10 year-old torso on 5 foot-high legs lol....the arms held out so as to convey the biceps were so big they would not permit the arms to rest straight down at the side..lol.... to show she was DEFINATELY MY GIRL .... oh and that shirt she wore.....Lordy Lordy...

Anyway the concert - after taking Merry to that, she said "I couldn't see his face at all, but his his hair looked nice.." (it was a packed house and we had distant balcony seats in a LARGE 'C.P.A' venue. She also commented (while we were on the COLD walk back to the car in December of 79 as I recall) "I sure do love ththththe song 'Beautiful" -which I took to mean a cue to hold her tighter -( for anti-hypothermia techniques I'd learned in R.M.N.P. Search & Rescue, see) -and that became "our" song for 30 years, just short

Funny how Lightfoot songs do that to people, as well as of course thoughts of all aspects of life as well, but....

Anyway, thanks Ron, for the memories...

[RM]

Originally Posted by geodeticman.5

Ron - Thanks for the info; notably the eerie effect of the "Shadow" during Shadows being played. Odd that was the only time. Would have REALLY liked to be there for THAT. It would be like geese flying overhead, a schooner flyin' by, and leaves turning to gold on the wall

Eerie is a fine choice of words. I have no idea if it was intentional or not. Lightfoot was doing his thing, and I just happened to notice it.

[charlene]

the lighting is synched to the music and the band is aware of the changes during the songs so it's possible it was intentional..
perhaps not..
At one point there was a problem during the Buffalo show with the lights that was probably not noticed by the audience but Mike mentioned it backstage that the band is aware of the lighting in each song..

[RM]

Originally Posted by charlene

the lighting is synched to the music and the band is aware of the changes during the songs so it's possible it was intentional..
perhaps not..

Well, that clarifies that.

[charlene]

glad to be of help..

[formerlylavender]

That is so funny about the usher. I like your dry sense of humor. I agree...definitely no tasers. Five hair flips makes it seem like Gord really wants people to notice his longer hair. I thought it looked OK in the pictures, but I guess I have to see it for myself in person(hopefully soon).

Thanks for posting.