GL at Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque NM

[Andy T.]

Okay, I'm back from the show!
10/25/08 - Albuquerque, NM, Kiva Auditorium

First of all, from the other thread where I mentioned I was going to this and had an "AA" series front row ticket... it was discussed it might be a balcony. Well when I got to the venue, part of the convention center here I guess - I learned it was already on the upper level of the building. So definately no balcony level.

The show was far from sold out, unfortunately. I'd guess the place was maybe a little over half full.

Now, my seat, it was about 10 feet from the stage, just one seat over from center - Gord was right there in front of me, slightly to my right. Nice!

Gord's long hair... actually, kind of scary looking actually. hah! My Dad's let his hair grow out too - might as well while he still has it, I'm thinking is his reasoning. I wonder if that's Gord's as well?

Albuquerque is the same elevation as Denver, so I thought Gord might be a little hoarse - that plus this being next to last stop on the tour this year. And I was right, he was.

I'll stop and digress a moment. I'm going to my Dad again for a bit -he is about a year younger than Gord - and he's had a number of medical problems this last year. Without going into all the details, he's had to go into the hospital for a lot of various procedures, some serious. This is my point - each time he has something done, his voice gets pretty hoarse for a while afterwards. Then about the time he has his voice back close to normal, he goes back in for something else. So I'm kind of used to hearing that thin voice.

Still.... Gord's voice was probably the thinnest I've ever heard it tonight. Even on songs I've gotten used to hearing him sing the last decade, it was almost a whisper at times. I'm not complaining, (yet) just observing. Some songs were definately better than others.

The songs - no surprises tonight.

1. Cotton Jenney
2. Carefree Highway
3. Sea of Tranquility - I've always thought the band does a good job in recreating the studio arrangement of this song.
4. 14K Gold
5. Never Too Close
6. APPT - The pauses between sythesizer "hits" were more noticable than I've ever noticed them being before. Maybe it was where I was sitting with mostly just one speaker not too far from me to my left providing a lot of the sound.
7. In My Fashion
8. Rainy Day People
9. Shadows
10. Beautiful. This is one song I don't care much for. The only thing I really like about it at this point is Rick bass-work. And sitting where I was, I got a nice view of it. And despite my disdain for this song, Gord sang it pretty well tonight I thought.
11. The Watchman's Gone - I like the song quite a bit, but I hate to say it, but I think Gord's past the point where he can sing it properly anyomore, and he should drop this one from the rotation.
12. Ribbon of Darkness... leading into
13. Sundown
14. Wreck

Intermission.

Set 2
1. Triangle. Maybe it was my ears or his whispery voice, but I thought he he pronounced Bahama "Bah HAH mah" one of the times it comes up in the song.
2. Hangdog Hotel Room
3. Restless
4. Clouds of Lonliness
5. Waiting For You
6. Make Way For the Lady. Has Terry always played his part on this live on the acoustic?
7. IYCRMM
8. Don Quixote - No kick in the pause anymore?
9. Baby Step Back (Gord pretty much whispered this one - those who did not already know the song I'm sure would not have been able to understand it)
10. Early Morning Rain (pretty good job)
11. Blackberry Wine. At first it seemed to me like the song was a slowed down a little.

12. Encore - Old Dan's Records (what else?) When they exited prior to the encore, Gord's 6-string fell over. So GL and Mike had to do a bit of retuning before starting the song. Gord joked something like he'd just kick (or was it throw) the guitar "in the corner" after the show anyway.

I'm not sure if I missed any songs, this was one of the few GL shows I've taken notes during but I tried to get them all.

It was a decent show. I'm glad I went. (Every GL show I see I think may be the final one for me) It was a nice drive down here, and it should be a nice drive back to Wyoming the next day or two. Haven't decided my route yet to get back though.

and, well, that's about it!!

-Andy

[johnfowles]

Great to see you posting here Android and such a refreshingly honest revue too.Hope you make it to Massey next November for the grand 10th anniversary reunion that season just might have to be our entire GL concert experience next year after our second best total of 15 in 2008

[jj]

Originally Posted by Andy T.

Gord's long hair... actually, kind of scary looking actually

maybe he'll get out the clippers after Oct 31...Count Gordula?

or perhaps he's going trick or treating as Nick Nolte

thx for the review...remember meeting you 9 yrs ago, holy

[formerlylavender]

I enjoyed reading your review...thanks for posting. Gord's voice was much better when I saw him this past June than it was in April '07. He seemed to whisper/strain a lot last year. I was worried just watching him.

Glad you had fun...

[SherylKat]

Originally Posted by Andy T.

Okay, I'm back from the show!
10/25/08 - Albuquerque, NM, Kiva Auditorium

First of all, from the other thread where I mentioned I was going to this and had an "AA" series front row ticket... it was discussed it might be a balcony. Well when I got to the venue, part of the convention center here I guess - I learned it was already on the upper level of the building. So definately no balcony level.

The show was far from sold out, unfortunately. I'd guess the place was maybe a little over half full.

Now, my seat, it was about 10 feet from the stage, just one seat over from center - Gord was right there in front of me, slightly to my right. Nice!

Gord's long hair... actually, kind of scary looking actually. hah! My Dad's let his hair grow out too - might as well while he still has it, I'm thinking is his reasoning. I wonder if that's Gord's as well?

Albuquerque is the same elevation as Denver, so I thought Gord might be a little hoarse - that plus this being next to last stop on the tour this year. And I was right, he was.

I'll stop and digress a moment. I'm going to my Dad again for a bit -he is about a year younger than Gord - and he's had a number of medical problems this last year. Without going into all the details, he's had to go into the hospital for a lot of various procedures, some serious. This is my point - each time he has something done, his voice gets pretty hoarse for a while afterwards. Then about the time he has his voice back close to normal, he goes back in for something else. So I'm kind of used to hearing that thin voice.

Still.... Gord's voice was probably the thinnest I've ever heard it tonight. Even on songs I've gotten used to hearing him sing the last decade, it was almost a whisper at times. I'm not complaining, (yet) just observing. Some songs were definately better than others.

The songs - no surprises tonight.

1. Cotton Jenney
2. Carefree Highway
3. Sea of Tranquility - I've always thought the band does a good job in recreating the studio arrangement of this song.
4. 14K Gold
5. Never Too Close
6. APPT - The pauses between sythesizer "hits" were more noticable than I've ever noticed them being before. Maybe it was where I was sitting with mostly just one speaker not too far from me to my left providing a lot of the sound.
7. In My Fashion
8. Rainy Day People
9. Shadows
10. Beautiful. This is one song I don't care much for. The only thing I really like about it at this point is Rick bass-work. And sitting where I was, I got a nice view of it. And despite my disdain for this song, Gord sang it pretty well tonight I thought.
11. The Watchman's Gone - I like the song quite a bit, but I hate to say it, but I think Gord's past the point where he can sing it properly anyomore, and he should drop this one from the rotation.
12. Ribbon of Darkness... leading into
13. Sundown
14. Wreck

Intermission.

Set 2
1. Triangle. Maybe it was my ears or his whispery voice, but I thought he he pronounced Bahama "Bah HAH mah" one of the times it comes up in the song.
2. Hangdog Hotel Room
3. Restless
4. Clouds of Lonliness
5. Waiting For You
6. Make Way For the Lady. Has Terry always played his part on this live on the acoustic?
7. IYCRMM
8. Don Quixote - No kick in the pause anymore?
9. Baby Step Back (Gord pretty much whispered this one - those who did not already know the song I'm sure would not have been able to understand it)
10. Early Morning Rain (pretty good job)
11. Blackberry Wine. At first it seemed to me like the song was a slowed down a little.

12. Encore - Old Dan's Records (what else?) When they exited prior to the encore, Gord's 6-string fell over. So GL and Mike had to do a bit of retuning before starting the song. Gord joked something like he'd just kick (or was it throw) the guitar "in the corner" after the show anyway.

I'm not sure if I missed any songs, this was one of the few GL shows I've taken notes during but I tried to get them all.

It was a decent show. I'm glad I went. (Every GL show I see I think may be the final one for me) It was a nice drive down here, and it should be a nice drive back to Wyoming the next day or two. Haven't decided my route yet to get back though.

and, well, that's about it!!

-Andy

Another Thanks, Andy, for the refreshing review. I'm like you, every show I see I think will be his last. I wish he'd slow down with the touring - two weeks at a time might be a little too hard at this time of his life. With that aneurysm having been close to his diaphragm, plus the tracheotomy he had, I think his voice has been permanently compromised - some nights are better than others...Kris K's older than GML and his voice isn't as thin - so I don't think so much it's age or beating up his body earlier, because ol' Kris matched him there, for sure! Guess we should just be happy he's still here!

I LOVE WYOMING - particularly Cody and obviously Tetons! I've done lots of hiking there. I've got a poster with a gorgeous shot of Tetons that says, "God Bless Wyoming and Keep It Wild" - created a great deal of laughter at airport at Tetons because I lost it and they said "There's a lost poster that says ...." over the intercom!

[teherie]

My son and I went to the Buffalo show last month and I am already looking forward to Chautauqua Institution next July. I will continue to go to see Gordon Lightfoot as long as he keeps playing.

Gord's voice isn't the same as it was when I first saw him in 1975 at the old Syria Mosque Theater in Pittsburgh and the other 13 times between that show and the one I saw last month but then whose is? He and the band are still having a ball and I still love watching his finger picking and Terry's lead work but then I am a certified guitar nut.

FWIW, I watched Penn State Coach Joe Paterno up in the press box at Ohio State last night on TV. He's lost a couple of steps too since I shook his hand at a sports banquet in 1968. They are also working their way to a shot at an National Championship and he's still having fun too. Hopefully, I will get to shake hands with Gordon and his band someday too.

"I am long on ideas, but short on time. I expect to live to be only about a hundred." Thomas Edison

[sunshine]

Last Wednesday in Flagstaff, Gordon mentioned from the stage that he was tired. After a particularly lengthy round of touring, they had all just had two nights off after the California dates, but those appearances seemed to have taken a toll. The next night in Tucson, Gordon was counting the concerts down, saying that they did 60 this year and Thursday night was Number 57. The audience was impressed and applauded in respect and support. I think the physical demands and the emotional aspects of wrapping it up for this year are factors. When Mike, Barry and Terry arrived in Tucson after the 4-hour drive down from Flagstaff; they also looked weary. On stage, however, they all still give it their best, which is superior. The band has never been better and Gordon seems much more relaxed than in previous years. I personally don't know of any evening of entertainment that is better or more inspirational.

I think the writers on this thread are all correct; there is an issue with the voice quality; it's the most erratic part of the concert experience, ranging from excellent to weak. Presumably, Gordon's voice is what attracted most fans in the first place, but as the years have passed, I think many of the concertgoers have come to find meaning in other aspects of the concert; the poetry in the lyrics, the beauty of the experience, the orchestrations, the precision of the players, the role-modeling of how to stay actualized well past conventional retirement age. Maybe there's a little nostalgia and loyalty thrown in there as well.

Anyway, nobody is more excited than me to learn that they are planning an ambitious, as Dream Street Rose calls it, Gordquest 2009 because the players do seem to be enjoying themselves,and they've all still got it. I bet when they leave the stage tonight, though, they'll all be looking forward to a well-deserved time off before beginning again.
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herbalaire review