I didn't attend this concert but found this article from Butte's newspaper, it does not seem very kind.
Lightfoot light-voiced, but classic
By Tim Trainor - 10/13/2009 Sunday's sold out show at the Mother Lode Theatre in Butte featured Gordon Lightfoot, but his monotone baritone was nowhere to be found.
It was a stripped-down, whispery sound from Lightfoot, 70, who nearly had to relearn how to sing after suffering a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm seven years ago, which put him in a six-week coma and required a tracheotomy for him to survive.
It was the kind of event that knocks a man out of show business, but in less than a year he was once again playing music, even recording an album in 2004.
The start of Sunday's show was startling: Lightfoot walked stiffly to the microphone, looking old and gaunt, wearing cowboy boots and sporting a mullet haircut.
During the opening number his voice broke once or twice, and disappeared completely at times, as he struggled to be heard. There was a noticeable surprise from the audience, many of whom had certainly not heard Lightfoot since the coma and surgery.
But the songs kept coming with nary a moment of silence in between. From one to the next, old hits and lesser-known ditties, Lightfoot's voice gainied its legs with each one, and his fingers moved deftly over his 12-string guitar.
A woman nearby wept throughout the sentimental love song, "Beautiful," and it did take on extra poignancy and intimacy with the softer, subtler sound.
Lightfoot's backup musicians (on guitar, bass, keyboard and drums) were obtrusive at times, but necessary, and did well when given a few short chances to shine.
The spotlight was definitely on Lightfoot, however, who promised to get everyone home "by five after 10 at the latest" on the cold Butte evening.
It's not every day that musicians promise to have their audience home by their bedtime, but Lightfoot delivered on that, too. After a 20-minute intermission, he seemed to gather more strength, and sporting new white boots played a few up-tempo songs.
He sang most of his most well-known hits, including "Sundown" and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," the latter of the two ending with a thud after Lightfoot forgot two verses. He apologized profusely for that throughout the evening, and even later recited the two stanzas as spoken word — to warm applause.
The set design was spot-on, with high, hanging cloth catching colored lights that seemed to help facilitate a sense of daydream, which Lightfoot's music does well on its own.
He returned for a quick one song encore and then said goodnight. It was time for Mr. Lightfoot to get to bed.
Tim Trainor may be reached at tim.trainor@
lee.net or call 496-5519.
Butte Montana concert, Sunday Oct 11
