Cleveland Welcomes Back Gord Big Time!

[Wes Steele]

10:56 PM ET.

Just got home from the concert.

Hi Lights...
Could not believe how many songs Gord sang. Even Joey's favorite "Minstrel Of The Dawn". After all the shows that I have been to, that is the first time I heard him sing it live.

The set list was pretty much like Char's review from Buffalo last week. I am bad at writing in the dark. Was happy to hear "If Children Had Wings" with the new line...."There were things that were said, there were things that were done, In a life that I could not explain"... This guy is a genius....but you know all that.

A number of people were coming up to Joey (Joey had to be the youngest there) and asking "Does he know who Gordon Lightfoot is?"..... Our response was that Joey grew up listening to Lightfoot and HAS MET HIM ALREADY ONCE!".... You should seen the looks on their faces!

As Char said in her Buffalo post, Gordon's voice got stronger as the night went on.

Very nice atmosphere (as I expected) compared to the concert at the casino in W. Virginia. It was like the old days with the focal point being Gordon Lightfoot....

Gordon mentioned that today the 24'th of September, forty years ago, Rick Haynes joined Gordon. Gordon also relayed the message from Haynes saying that Rich joined up when he was Five years old!

The band, as usual was very tight.... All Pros'.

Gordon also mentioned the old Folk Club "LaCave" here in Cleveland and that he met "Step-N-Fetch-it" across the street in the club where he was performing.

Gordon mentioned writing "Song For A Winter's Night" here in Cleveland, in August, in a Thunder Storm....but you all knew that already.

Gord hasn't been to Cleveland in about ten years or so and The Cleveland fans were VERY appreciative with his return. They gave him a standing ovation at the end of the night. Gord came back with the band for an oncore with "Blackberry Wine".... They all left the stage with their guitars but the fans were still standing...still applauding....still screaming.... Gord came back by himself and the place really went nuts... Gord called the band back again for another oncore (Old Dan's Records)... As they all left after that one, fans were STILL standing and screaming.... Gord came back one more time... took a few bows... place still going crazy..... and Gordon left.

Never saw that before in all the Lightfoot concerts I attended....

Lo-Lights - You all weren't there to enjoy it with us....

[Blackberry John]

Originally Posted by Wes Steele

Gord came back by himself and the place really went nuts... Gord called the band back again for another oncore (Old Dan's Records)...

Cool - thanks for review, Wes... sounds like a good one!

[charlene]

dontcha just love that final onstage swagger, the wave, the grins and the bow?

glad to hear it was so great for you guys..wish i'd been there to enjoy it too!

[Tim]

Nice review Wes. I love your informal, yet very informative way of writing! Your experience in Cleveland reminds me of St. Louis. Gord has not been here in a very, very long time. Next Wednesday I'm going to the Fox Theater in downtown St. Louis to enjoy Gordon and the guys for yet another time. I'll be with my two kids (ages 15 &13) who grew up hearing, and later loving, Gord's music. They have also been to Gordon's concerts quite a few times, but at far more distant locations. While we will go a long way to see a concert it will be nice, this time, to drive less than an hour.

Like your Joey, my kids have met Gordon and they hope to do so again sometime. They just love the Man. Being that it's a school night next Wednesday, I tried to shape the expectations by saying "We'll have to wait after the show, outside, by the backstage door for a really long time, we probably won't have the time to do that." But they are not very receptive to the thought of passing up an attempt to meet him again -- so who knows?

Thanks again for the review!

[BILLW]

Thanks Wes, great review !

Bill

[Wes Steele]

On Stage Swagger... IT WAS BACK!

Char, I did not see that "swagger" in June in W. Virginia but it was there last night. I was waiting....and hoping it would be there and it was.

It was a very special night for us. It will be a nice memory for Joey.

[Wes Steele]

Tim, thank you for the nice comments. I am not a good writer...or reviewer. I just mentioned the things that happened.

I was very happy for Gord, knowing what he has gone through the past years.... I got a little emotional when he was walking off stage, with the place going NUTS....he looked VERY happy....and I had a tear in my eye.....was thinking Joey going thru the open heart surgery and many of you here praying for him....seeing how happy Joey was....me thinking I would never see Gord again when he got sick. The place going crazy for him. Gord had to be thinking it was well worth it coming back.

Yes, my friends, it was a special night.

Tim, your kids can stay up late once during a school night. The memories of Gord will last a life time. It is nice you won't have to travel too far to see him.

Thank you again for the comments.

[Jesse Joe]

Fantastic review really happy to hear about the encores... Yes the guy is a genuis, and a very talented one at that.

Thanks a bunch Wes Steele !

Originally Posted by Wes Steele

Tim, thank you for the nice comments. I am not a good writer...or reviewer. I just mentioned the things that happened.

I was very happy for Gord, knowing what he has gone through the past years.... I got a little emotional when he was walking off stage, with the place going NUTS....he looked VERY happy....and I had a tear in my eye.....was thinking Joey going thru the open heart surgery and many of you here praying for him....seeing how happy Joey was....me thinking I would never see Gord again when he got sick. The place going crazy for him. Gord had to be thinking it was well worth it coming back.

Yes, my friends, it was a special night.

Tim, your kids can stay up late once during a school night. The memories of Gord will last a life time. It is nice you won't have to travel too far to see him.

Thank you again for the comments.

Nice to know that you've had a triple dose (at least!) of happiness The BEST always, is seeing our own and all children happy