Lightfoot birthday party and TWO concerts in Orillia-pics/setlists

[charlene]

Wow - two shows in one day and CAKE!
oh my it was wonderful.

more tomorrow.

[jj]

great stuff! Safe travels! Happy prelated birthday

Remembrance Day at Soldier's Memorial in Orillia is moving.

It was 60F today. Wow. Argoooos.....

[charlene]

http://www.orilliapacket.com/2012/11...oot-comes-home

[charlene]

2nd cake.

[jj]

nice article and terrific gesture by GL as always...what a toast to the hospital

wow, it was such summer-like weather...who put all those bad weather songs on that cake? lol

rainy day people.. early morning rain.. the gales of November

[charlene]

there was a cake for all who wanted to stay after the 7 pm show. But only those with passes (around 20 people) could stay for the more intimate 2nd cake and singing 2x of happy birthday..During the singing Gordon closed his eyes, bowed his head onto his chest and endured it..lol

[charlene]

Gordon Lightfoot
Orillia Opera House-Gordon Lightfoot Auditorium, Orillia
Sunday November 11, 2012 3:00 p.m. (show #1 of 2)

SETLIST

1. The House You Live In
2. Carefree Highway
3. Waiting For You
4. All The Lovely Ladies
5. I’d Rather Press On
6. Wild Strawberries
7. Christian Island
8. Shadows
9. Beautiful
10. In My Fashion
11. Sweet Guinevere
12. Cotton Jenney
13. Ribbon Of Darkness
14. Sundown
15. The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
16. Drink Yer Glasses Empty
17. Couchiching
18. Rainy Day People
19. A Painter Passing Through
20. If You Could Read My Mind
21. Baby Step Back
22. Canadian Railroad Trilogy
ENCORE
23. Cold On The Shoulder

Several mentions of it being Remembrance Day and a fact he had heard on the car ride to Orillia – since 1900, 112 years ago 116,000 Canadians have died in the wars. Drink Yer Glasses Empty was his song of remembrance. And later so was The Wreck which sunk 37 years ago on Nov.10. He wrote Drink Yer Glasses Empty in 1991 for our guys in Afghanistan during the first Gulf War.

On Sunday Nov.25 he will sing an abbreviated version of 2:40 of The Canadian Railroad Trilogy during the half time show of the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup. http://www.100thgreycupfestival.ca/en/the-game

Lightfoot played to a full (700 seats) house in the lovely old theatre named for him in The Orillia Opera House. He came out to appreciative applause and set right into the first tune in fine voice. He was, like me and many in attendance, wearing a red poppy on his lapel to show his respect for those who have given us and those who continue to give us our beautiful lives and freedom in Canada and around the world.

The concert was a straight through 90 minutes with one encore and was over in the blink of an eye! The weather was absolutely gorgeous – sunny and about 65. My friend Deb and I walked down the main street and did a bit of window shopping and had a bite to eat. After the 3 p.m. show was over and a chat with some other friends and a few moments with Gordon we had time to sit and relax in a lovely little restaurant that even had the sliding front windows wide open. I was looking forward to hearing what tunes we’d hear in the 2nd show and the little gathering afterwards to celebrate Lightfoot’s birthday with CAKE!

[charlene]

Gordon Lightfoot
Orillia Opera House-Gordon Lightfoot Auditorium, Orillia
Sunday November 11, 2012 7:00 p.m. (show #2 of 2)

SETLIST

1. Triangle
2. The Watchman’s Gone
3. All The Lovely Ladies
4. I’d Rather Press On
5. Let It Ride
6. Wild Strawberries
7. Never Too Close
8. Shadows
9. Beautiful
10. Carefree Highway
11. Cotton Jenney
12. Ribbon Of Darkness
13. Sundown
14. The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
15. Drink Yer Glasses Empty
16. Clouds Of Loneliness
17. Don Quixote
18. A Painter Passing Through
19. Waiting For you
20. If You Could Read My Mind-standing O
21. Baby Step Back
22. Early Morning Rain
23. Song For A Winter’s Night
ENCORE
24. Cold On The Shoulder

The 7 p.m. audience was a little bit more vocal and lively than the 3 p.m. crowd. Both shows had a definite ‘senior’ demographic. At both shows he mentioned how happy he was to be back home in Orillia and doing the shows for the Opera House and the hospital. It had been in the plans for a year or so when he thought, ‘it’s time to go back to Orillia!”

At one point during the night he laughed and said he’s only plagiarized himself a couple of times over the years… When he was going to start his Remembrance song, Drink Yer Glasses Empty he mentioned that at that time he had something to say about Desert Storm and what was going on in the U.S., he shrugged his shoulders in a sort of “oh well, what can you do?” way and said he had a green card and pays his taxes and there’s no monkey business down there. Lol Gordon also mentioned he had 3 uncles in the war so his family, like many others knew the sacrifices made.

And once again the concert was over way too soon. He didn’t do CRT but in its place, as usual, he sang Early Morning Rain. People with passes were brought into the lounge/bar area where slices of cake were on a table and at first the room was quite crowded with people who were allowed to finish their cake and drinks and then it was explained that only those with passes would be staying to meet Lightfoot. About 10 minutes later the room emptied and Gordon came in to applause and when a lovely 3 tiered cake decorated appropriately we all sang Happy Birthday to him. He bowed his head, closed his eyes and humbly waited for the song and the attention to end. He signed albums and pictures and an old school chum had a fabulous photo of the boys in Gords class dressed for Sadie Hawkins day…I’d say it may have been grade 8 or so. It was funny to see him dressed in cowboy gear.. At least I think that was the look he was going for. He named off some kids as did the fellow who brought the photo and sadly they mentioned a few who are no longer with us. Gordon was asked to ‘cut the cake’ and another round of Happy Birthday was sung. He finished up with everyone and headed home to get ready for the four nights coming up @ Massey Hall.

If these two nights are any indication we’re in for 4 awesome Massey Hall evenings.
Today in Toronto a weather record from 1964 was broken with 20C temps. Sadly the temps will be nowhere near that mid-weekend and into the weekend. So anyone heading to TO bring yer toque and long underwear along with a brolly and mitts.

Oh yeah...I once again thanked Gordon for singing ITA in Tarrytown and he said, 'oh yeah, I did it there for you!" "But I can't do it tonight!" lol.. I told him that was fine with me but I wanted him to know I appreciated it in Tarrytown..lol ...so regardless of him NOT singing it in Orillia i will still 'tag along' to Massey Hall...

[charlene]

no pic of me and The Man..I took pics of my friend with him instead...

[KHester]

Looks like you had a great time.
thanks for the setlist and the pics

[jj]

Originally Posted by charlene

a fabulous photo of the boys in Gords class dressed for Sadie Hawkins day…I’d say it may have been grade 8 or so. It was funny to see him dressed in cowboy gear.. At least I think that was the look he was going for. He named off some kids as did the fellow who brought the photo and sadly they mentioned a few who are no longer with us

tell him that you will need a copy of that one for the upcoming authorized bio you will be writing

great pics and nice that you took pic of your friend...how come these fancy cell phones don't have a self timer (so all 3 of you could get in a shot!) ...or is there an app for that?

I wonder if Gord was at the Soldier Memorial Hospital service earlier on...half my family was there....they weren't even aware of the Gord concerts but are aware of the Tribute night this Saturday in town across from Lightfoot Ave (alley)..I will post a link

Char, what was the 4th song title on that cake...i can't make it out...3 words?

[charlene]

I never got to that side of the cake and then they whisked it away to slice up!
lol
I don't have a camera phone...just my little digital.....
It was a long day for all of them. Crew stayed in Barrie the night before due to hockey tourney taking all hotel rooms in Orillia.

[MaryO]

Wow! Sounds WONDERFUL Char. Lucky, lucky you! Thanks for this update.

I hope The Man will consider a future concert date in SoCal... all his fans here are waiting. luv.MaryO