Roanoke VA Notes

[Bill]

OK, kinda blearly here 'cause storms kept the dog barking and baby up all night after we got home...

Roanoke Performing Arts Theater is a great venue for acoustic music...typical stage with orchestra level and overhanging balcony. We were in row K off Gor'd right (where he seemd to focus his gaze all night). Crowd was mostly older, house 3/5 full.

Rough start after the band took the stage...Triangle was rough on his voice and he only got out wispers on some notes. He seemed to have nasal issues, which is pretty common for everyone this time of year around here (Springsteen had same Tuesday night). I felt bad for him with this rough start...and he didn't fare much better on Cottony Jenny. The high notes were going to be tough tonight, and you could see him taking obvious advantage of physical techniques to try and make it work out (chin drawn in/teeth in). I'm a thiryty+ year fan, so like all of us I cut him great slack, but I felt a little sad.

Then into 14K Gold (and I'll probably miss some tunes/set order since I wasn't taking nnotes). The band -- as usual -- was tremendous, and the sound balance was the best I've ever heard at any Lightfoot concert. Things were picking up. Next "Never Too CLose" off Summertime Dream, a particular favorite of mine, and his high range was improving. Then "In My Fashion" which I never liked on record, but finally "got it" at a Wolftrap show and have enjoyed since. Beautiful was slid in there somewhere, but perhaps not here -- wonderful rich rendition!

His coupling of songs mentioned in other posts was a very nice crafting of the pace and emotion of the show. Next was my show highlight: Mintrel of the Dawn flowing into Painter Passing Through. He has never been better than in that vulnerable moment pairing those tunes! There was a gravitas to his groansed emotional notes, coupled with the exquisite jangle of the guitars -- he laid himself bare in these moments and I've never seen him connecting with an audience better.

Next was an extended version of the Jerry Jeff Walker story inspiring Hangdog Hotel Room. He also mentioned hanging out with Kris Kristofferson, and how once at the Troubador Kris was asleep in the car and had to be awakend to go on stage (too much partying). After all these years Gord has finally realized (or seems to have) that the audience is there not just for the music, but to connect...he talked more than any show I've ever seen him in. He said for the Southeast US they added Spanish Moss, which flowed into Shadows -- another inspired coupling of emotional messges by flowing one song into the next. In these iPod days, playlists really matter!

Ribbon of Darkness flowed into Sundown (just as described in other posts). Finished the set with The Watchman's Gone.

Chatted with a work colleague during intermission who I hadn't known was a fan, but showed up.

Second set review is sketchier -- I jotted notes on Blackberry at intermission, but didn't get to do so for second half. He started by saying (with Rick as the fact checker) that it had been 32 years since they were last in Roanoke.

Started ith The Wreck with was proceeded by an extended version of his wrap on this, then he begins...but a few lines in he pauses and clarifies about the Indian tribes around that part of the Great Lakes! The crowd cracked up! Then launched back in for a very great rendition of the song. Several of these power tunes were played with more tender approach, perhaps in deference to his physicality these days, but it worked magic.

Next a request for some guy in the audience for Christian Island. Nice.

Alberta Bound came in second set, as did Don Quixote, If You Could Read My Mind, and Clouds of Lonliness (he said it reminded him of old girlfriend Kathy Smith). He had an extended story about first wife taking kids to France, and his riding on the Concord, and being so lonely for them that he wrote If Children Had WIngs (very touching cover with melody embelishments on this one).

He started to, got distracted, but never introduced the band. I think he did Shadows (sorry -- not sure).

Told about touring -- the band flies city to city on an Astra SPX 5 seater plane (Bill's personal not: OK small planes and singer/songwriters make me nervous). Mentioned the 18 wheeler driver Bill Taylor, the tour bus. Said the plane was a rental that doesn't eat much gas....and was the only way they can do what they do...fly out at noon everyday to the next town. Later in the show he told the Elvis meeting story, and got off on Elvis' plane...then said something about don't get him started on his canoe trips or that would it for the night.
Early Morning Rain was strong. Then encore of Song for a Winter's night, and Old Dan's Records...with a final return for just a bow (and he waved off autograpgh seekrs politely).
My cheap camera couldn't get a still image. I did manage low qulity video of 1st encore and part of Old Dan's Records...not sure how to get them here.
Fiteed red waist coat and black jeans/black boots with blue shirt...second half same except change to black hawaiian shirt with tan floral design. Suspenders...noticed wierd V-shaped expansion on sides of pants...perhaps can't fasten belts tight around?

Band was in great shape, the acoustic mix was exquisite, rough start voacally, great audience connection, inspired flow of songs, and voacals inproved. A most enjoyable concert even though I'd seen him in years past stronger...he let down the wall between him and the audience and made himself emotionally vulnerable more so than I've ever seen. A very satisfying night.

Walked out to a Tornado watch and drenching rains, so hanging about was not an option.

[New 12 String Mike]

Bill,

Nice report. Thanks for being open on the rough start. Fans will cut him slack, but we are also cautious and concerned. I'm glad you had a very good experience.

Don't sweat the small airplane stuff. As a private pilot, with plenty of time in small aircraft flying and photo shooting, they don't fall out of the sky as often as the news media makes out. Of course we know the history of performers and small planes, so there's always that, but if one thinks of all the flights that are conducted safely, that we never hear about, the odds are good. Besides I used to work in the news media, WDBJ-TV in fact, so I do know something of that too.

Anyway, glad it was a good show. Also I was glad to hear the theater is in good shape. My late father-in-law used to run the place.

Maybe we Virginian fans can connect some time.

[Bill]

Forgot:
Waiting for You...written on the plane from San Francisco to Toronto about ex-wife 2 (written after first tour after marriage).
Restless...he mentioned it gets back to nature.
He also mentioned what a great first wedding he had in Stockholm with pony cart.
Ribbon of Darkness.

[Bill]

And Baby Step Back in second set. I think that's it!

[jj]

Originally Posted by Bill

... The Wreck with was proceeded by an extended version of his wrap on this, then he begins...but a few lines in he pauses and clarifies about the Indian tribes around that part of the Great Lakes! The crowd cracked up! Then launched back in for a very great rendition of the song

lol, classic....alone, worth the price of admission...this doesn't sound like a false start as such but more of an 'intro after thought'

the past few GL concerts i've seen have had no false starts leaving me feeling deprived...some of my fave concerts have included the false starts, especially when an $%& or two have been thrown in

glad the concert blew you away, Bill... and not the cyclone

[Bill]

Yeah -- no false start, it was choreographed.

[Bill]

And Carefree Highway with story.

[Dave, Melbourne,Australia]

glad the concert blew you away, Bill... and not the cyclone[/quote]

Sorry to be picky, JJ, but cyclones only happen down here in the southern hemisphere (and they spin clockwise).

[jj]

Originally Posted by Dave, Melbourne,Australia

...cyclones only happen down here in the southern hemisphere (and they spin clockwise).

thx Dave ...ahhh, just like your toilet flushes...and eye rolls?

[charlene]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulfstream_G100
I think when he says it's a 5 seater he means there's 5 of them flying - himself and the 4band members. The rest of the crew travel by car/bus/18 wheeler.
He's had more than 5 in that plane tho.. There were two extra bums in the seats during the just finished western Canadian tour.
It must be summer - Gord broke out the Hawaiian shirt!
Hey BillW - time to get yours out of storage!

thanks for the report Bill!

[Bill]

That old "cosmopolitan hick" line from Newsweek came to mind as he retold the "rabbit's back" joke, and intro'd one of his songs by saying, "The title of this song is Meet Down by the Rock Pile Baby and I'll Get a Little Bo[u]lder".
That's our Gordo!

Thanks and great review/experience Bill!!

[Bill]

Article about concert:
http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/204170
Concert review: Minstrel's voice altered, but legend endures
By Seth Williamson
Special to The Roanoke Times

Stephanie Klein-Davis | The Roanoke Times
Gordon Lightfoot visited Roanoke for the first time in 32 years Friday night.
Gordon Lightfoot, the septuagenarian Canadian troubadour who may be the greatest living songwriter in North America, visited Roanoke for the first time in 32 years Friday night.
Dressed in a red bolero jacket and black jeans, the extremely thin singer told the crowd at the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre, which was about 80 percent full, "Sorry I took so long."
Fans who have kept track of the singer's most recent albums know that his voice has changed radically.
But anyone who is familiar only with the virile baritone of his biggest hits of the 70s and 80s, still in high rotation on American pop stations, may have been shocked by how hoarse he sounded Friday night.
Though he was in better voice after an intermission, in the first half of the show he was having trouble hitting and holding high notes. By the end of the first half of the show, his vocal trouble was obvious.
The ravages of age aside, traces of the old Lightfoot were there from the beginning in the singer's phrasing and vocal mannerisms.
And the songs! Lightfoot is one of that tiny number of artists who can do an entire show with nothing but certified classics and still not cover every one.
Among the songs he and the other four members of his band did in the first half were "Cotton Jenny," "Minstrel of the Dawn," "A Painter Passing Through" and "Beautiful."
"Carefree Highway," said Lightfoot, was a phrase he saw on a highway sign out West -- and the song became one of his biggest hits. "Hangdog Hotel Room" was the fruit of three sleepless days and nights spent carousing with Jerry Jeff Walker and fiddler Doug Kershaw.
After a 20-minute intermission, Lightfoot returned to explain the circumstances of another classic, "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Sounding as if he had gotten over he worst of his hoarseness, Lightfoot continued with "Alberta Bound," "Christian Island" and "Don Quixote."
Near the end of his concert was the song that catapulted him from folkie status to pop star, "If You Could Read My Mind," which was the last number this reviewer heard before leaving to make a deadline.
The applause for each number in the last half of the concert was successively bigger, and it was clear that the mainly baby boomer audience was happy to make his acquaintance again, hoarse or not. He has earned the status of legend, and his fans sounded like they are ready to turn out if he puts Roanoke on his schedule again.
Seth Williamson produces "Back Roads & Blue Highways" on public radio station WVTF (89.1 FM) in Roanoke.

[RM]

Originally Posted by Bill

Concert review: Minstrel's voice altered, but legend endures

That sounds like it came from someone who 'gets it'. I like it.

[lighthead2toe]

Excellent piece of work Bill.

The "cut him great slack, but felt a little sad" moved the "rush' up a fret or two.

Keep writing them this way.

Cheers, Ron J.

[Auburn Annie]

For years I've thought he should sing three or four songs full-on in the dressing room before hitting the stage, sort of warming up the ol' vocal cords. He always seems to start a little shaky then builds to strength as he goes on. But I suppose he has his routine and doesn't want to shake up the mix at this point.

[charlene]

that's what i've thought too annie..a couple of tunes to clear things up would be worth a try..yet some nights he's spot on right from the git-go.