Vancouver review

[charlene]

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertai...141/story.html article, pic and comments

Short of Stompin’ Tom Connors showing up in your living rooms for a “Good Old Hockey Game” jam session during the intermission on Hockey Night in Canada, there is really no less Canadian a musical experience than a Gordon Lightfoot show. The septuagenarian singer/songwriter, the manly-man plus ultra of Hinterland folk, is legend for a reason- few have done more to elegantly and artfully chronicle the history of the land and the peoples of our fair nation, and it is for this reason that throngs packed the Centre In Vancouver for the Performing Arts for the first of two nights with Lightfoot in Vancouver.


The remarkably fit and whippet-thin legend, clad in a blue velour bolero and what appeared to be a pair of grey Levi’s, ambled out in front of the mostly sixtysomething audience with little fanfare, launching into “Cotton Jenny” with a subdued back-up band of four.


Grey hair slicked back, Lightfoot, who tours rarely, seemed bent on a sedate evening, with the backing bass, drums, and keys all but a whisper. Indeed, for the first few songs, the wonderful “Carefree Highway” included, even those in the first rows could barely hear the singer himself.


Things got a little better after a few whispers to the soundman, and Lightfoot appeared to lighten up, cracking the kind of fabulously corny jokes that only 70-year-old men can get away with (“How long is the hair on a rabbit?” “About three seconds”).


However quiet the sound, and however aged the man and the crowd (one was complied to wonder: where were the young hipsters in love with Canada’s musical poet laureate?), there was no denying the pure power of Lightfoot and a guitar. The eternally groove-able “Sundown” stood the test of time and then some, as did the AM Gold hit “Rainy Day People.”


But where Lightfoot has always shone is as a chronicler of Canadian history. “The Wreck of The Edmond Fitzgerald”, no matter how many times you’ve heard it on CISL-650, still holds an incredible sentimental draw, as does Lightfoot’s famous “Canadian Railroad Trilogy”, which for anyone who has ever contemplated a trip cross-country on the CP, still draws goosebumps.


Indeed, the evening was more a late-night reverie with Canadiana than it was a rocking concert. Eyes closed reverently with each uncovered gem- not just the hits, but b-sides and forgotten tracks that stand confidently aside Lightfoot’s most famous tunes, the audience seemed more on a pilgrimage than at a concert. It was a love-in of the highest order, and indeed, no less than Mr. David Suzuki could be seen in the third row, gently bobbing his full head of white hair to “In My Fashion”.


Some of us in the crowd may have wished the sound could’ve been cranked a little louder, but in the end, you must bow to the will of the man. If he could read our mind, he might have cranked up the juice, but the audience was perfectly content to bear witness to the legend’s own mind, an archive of beautifully-written songs that both define a nation’s history and, as Lightfoot himself quipped, set your toes tapping.

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

[jj]

Originally Posted by charlene

Suzuki could be seen in the third row, gently bobbing his full head of white hair to “In My Fashion”.

cool...sorry, i still can't get the bobble head thing out of my head, ahem...i think there is already a David bobble head out there amongst the green followers...you know, for an unmodest fee one can get a custom one made:

http://www.youbobble.com/process.shtml

if a representative Gord facial pic were to be uploaded, i wonder what all would think was the one to go with?

...thanks char, sounds like a good time...nice article

Originally Posted by jj

cool...sorry, i still can't get the bobble head thing out of my head, ahem...i think there is already a David bobble head out there amongst the green followers...you know, for an unmodest fee one can get a custom one made:

http://www.youbobble.com/process.shtml

if a representative Gord facial pic were to be uploaded, i wonder what all would think was the one to go with?

...thanks char, sounds like a good time...nice article

LMAO can't away fron those bobbleheads

Apparently, David Suzukis' head was the only sign of movement in the audience.

Rarely tours? HA!

[T.G.]

Hmmm, the review again mentions the inadequate sound volume. That's been my big bugaboo about Lightfoot concerts the last few years; the sound is not loud enough to hear his voice and the music sufficiently. He really needs a new sound consultant. I hate to shell out big bucks to hear him and play and then don't LOL.

[charlene]

Suzuki Foundation fundraiser with Lightfoot prior to Fridays show in Vancouver:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Gordon_Lightfoot/

Up close & personal with Gordon Lightfoot and David Suzuki

JOIN US for a very intimate and exclusive opportunity to meet two Canadian icons, Gordon Lightfoot and David Suzuki, enjoy some amazing music and help raise funds for the David Suzuki Foundation.


Friday, April 10th at 8pm — Vancouver Centre for the Performing Arts

Meet David Suzuki at a pre-concert cocktail party with auction and draw prizes: 6:30pm – 7:30pm at the Westin Grand, Symphony Room, 433 Robson St, Vancouver
Enjoy Gordon's concert with special orchestra seating at 8pm
Get up close and personal with Gordon Lightfoot and David Suzuki after the concert
$500 per ticket, $900 for two (tax receipt included). Only 100 tickets available.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Gordon Lightfoot, one of Canada's most celebrated and accomplished artists, winner of 16 Juno awards, nominee for 5 Grammy awards, member of the Order of Canada, and Canadian Music Hall of Famer.

We are very honoured to have Gordon Lightfoot as our celebrated guest with David Suzuki at this event.

MORE INFO / TICKETS
Please contact Lorraine Tanner, event coordinator, for more information or to purchase tickets. Please call her at 604-732-4228 ext 274 or email her at ltanner@davidsuzuki.org.

Auction items include:
Gordon's favorite concert guitar the Martin D-18 and tab music to some of his most wonderful songs
4 back stage passes to the concert
The Westin Grand Hotel romantic get-away
Gordon Lightfoot box music set "Songbook"
Dinner for two
And other items, TBD

Gordon Lightfoot
As an individual, apart from various awards associated with his albums and singles, Gordon Lightfoot has received sixteen Juno Awards — for top folk singer in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969,[13] 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, for top male vocalist in 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973, and as composer of the year in 1972 and 1976. He has received ASCAP awards for songwriting in 1971, 1974, 1976, and 1977, and has been nominated for five Grammy Awards. In 1974, Lightfoot's song "Sundown" was named pop record of the year by the Music Operators of America. In 1980, he was named Canadian male recording artist of the decade, for his work in the 1970s.
Lightfoot was chosen as the celebrity captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the NHL's 75th anniversary season in 1991–1992.

Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 1998.

In May 2003 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honour. Lightfoot is also a member of the Order of Ontario, the highest honour in the Province of Ontario. In 1977, he received the Vanier Award by Canadian Jaycees.

[charlene]

Suzuki Foundation fundraiser with Lightfoot prior to Fridays show in Vancouver:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Gordon_Lightfoot/

Up close & personal with Gordon Lightfoot and David Suzuki

JOIN US for a very intimate and exclusive opportunity to meet two Canadian icons, Gordon Lightfoot and David Suzuki, enjoy some amazing music and help raise funds for the David Suzuki Foundation.


Friday, April 10th at 8pm — Vancouver Centre for the Performing Arts

Meet David Suzuki at a pre-concert cocktail party with auction and draw prizes: 6:30pm – 7:30pm at the Westin Grand, Symphony Room, 433 Robson St, Vancouver
Enjoy Gordon's concert with special orchestra seating at 8pm
Get up close and personal with Gordon Lightfoot and David Suzuki after the concert
$500 per ticket, $900 for two (tax receipt included). Only 100 tickets available.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Gordon Lightfoot, one of Canada's most celebrated and accomplished artists, winner of 16 Juno awards, nominee for 5 Grammy awards, member of the Order of Canada, and Canadian Music Hall of Famer.

We are very honoured to have Gordon Lightfoot as our celebrated guest with David Suzuki at this event.

MORE INFO / TICKETS
Please contact Lorraine Tanner, event coordinator, for more information or to purchase tickets. Please call her at 604-732-4228 ext 274 or email her at ltanner@davidsuzuki.org.

Auction items include:
Gordon's favorite concert guitar the Martin D-18 and tab music to some of his most wonderful songs
4 back stage passes to the concert
The Westin Grand Hotel romantic get-away
Gordon Lightfoot box music set "Songbook"
Dinner for two
And other items, TBD

Gordon Lightfoot
As an individual, apart from various awards associated with his albums and singles, Gordon Lightfoot has received sixteen Juno Awards — for top folk singer in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969,[13] 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, for top male vocalist in 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973, and as composer of the year in 1972 and 1976. He has received ASCAP awards for songwriting in 1971, 1974, 1976, and 1977, and has been nominated for five Grammy Awards. In 1974, Lightfoot's song "Sundown" was named pop record of the year by the Music Operators of America. In 1980, he was named Canadian male recording artist of the decade, for his work in the 1970s.
Lightfoot was chosen as the celebrity captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the NHL's 75th anniversary season in 1991–1992.

Lightfoot was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. He was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame in 1998.

In May 2003 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honour. Lightfoot is also a member of the Order of Ontario, the highest honour in the Province of Ontario. In 1977, he received the Vanier Award by Canadian Jaycees.

Well, there goes one guitar, disposed of