Saturday February 25, 2006
Hugh’s Room –Toronto
THE WAY WE FEEL – Lightfoot Tribute show
This year I attended with my 18 year old daughter Lisa. She has seen Jory and Aengus perform in concert but not attended a Tribute show....although she has seen and met The Man himself many, times. To my great disappointment Sparky (Jenney) couldn’t make it this year. We have entirely way too much fun not only at the shows but in our jaunts around Toronto so the fun factor was minimized quite a bit without Sparky and her RAV. Kenyon attended the Friday night show and didn’t make it to the Saturday show. Nor did Ron from Vancouver and Dan and Nanci from Hamburg NY. So it was up to me and Lisa to enjoy the evening on our own!
We took the GO train from Whitby into Toronto’s Union Station and the TTC subway took us to within a block and a half of Hugh’s Room on Bloor St.West in Toronto.
The lovely and talented and way too adorable Jory Nash greeted us after we got in from the cold, windy street and immediately warmed us with his big hugs and fabulous smile. He then proceeded to tease me by not telling me what songs he would perform or what a few others would be singing later that night. He and David Newland (emcee and performer) had been teasing me in e-mails for some time so I was ready to smack the pair of them!
Lol
I knew that whatever they performed would be perfect but a part of me wanted to know what to anticipate!
Jory mentioned that Kenyon was in the night before and said to say hi to me! Hi Kenyon, sorry we missed each other! Jory also said that Lightfoot hadn’t shown up Friday night.
Handsome David in his dapper suit strolled on over and mentioned he had said something about me the previous evening when talking about how many of the Tribute shows people had attended. I’ve only missed two of 10 at Hugh’s Room since they began in January of 2003. Sorry guys!
Lisa and I had dinner reservations so we sat down at our table and ordered our food. It sure was different without Sparky and the rest of the gang. I had no reason to order a bottle of “our” merlot Sparky so only had one glass. After we ate Lisa and I moved to a pair of stools closer to the stage and right beside the stairs the performers descend to get to the stage. The show started around 8:45 p.m. to a full house of around 250 people – standing room only as usual.
David Newland was the emcee once again this year and looked smashing in his suit and new short, short haircut. David is so articulate and uses words magnificently so it’s always a pleasure to listen to him talk about the performers as he introduces them. He told us that the shows were conceived by Jory Nash and Aengus Finnan before Lightfoot took ill in September 2002 so this wasn’t a get it done before it’s too late effort.
www.davidnewland.com
First up was co-producer Aengus Finnan
www.aengusfinnan.com who is opening an art gallery in his hometown of Grafton, Ontario at the end of May. Aengus told me, much to my surprise that he does not read or write music. This is amazing considering the beautiful songs he has on his CD’s. Gee – I don’t read or write music either….I told him I’d write him a song…LOL
He sang a soulful “Early Morning Rain” and mentioned the note sent home from his teacher when he was in Grade 2. He had been singing about “hard liquor and fast women” in the sandbox. Poor Aengus. LOL !
His second song was “The Way I Feel” and it was wonderful to hear him singing live on stage again. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge fan and think he has a writing style like a young Lightfoot. He sings with emotion and passion and I hope his art gallery endeavour doesn’t keep him from writing, singing and performing. He also keeps busy with his Shelter Valley Folk Festival which he’s founded and organized for two years now and the third festival will be early this coming September near Grafton in Port Hope, Ontario.
www.sheltervalleyfolkfestival.com
Melwood Cutlery
www.melwoodcutlery.com then took the stage. I saw him at a John Prine night several months ago at Hugh’s Room. Melwood had a different sort of interpretation of the songs he sang. “Did She Mention My Name” had a blues/John Prine sound and he played keyboards for “That Same Old Obsession.” Apparently he introduced it the night before as “That Same Old Obstetrician” and was afraid we’d all laugh through it with that intro! It too had a blues sensibility and a different phrasing than Lightfoot uses.
The house band had a change this year – Anne Lindsay who was remarkable on fiddle/violin in previous years was not available this year so Dave Matheson (Moxy Fruvous) played keyboards, accordion and guitar. The bass player, David Woodhead played a small set of drums and bass and Jason Fowler had his array of guitars as well. They are all award winning musicians in their own right.
Lori Cullen was next.
www.loricullen.com I saw her with Jory Nash several months ago and she is a blues/jazz singer with a smooth, funky take on Lightfoot music. She gets completely taken with the song and is a treat to watch and listen to. She sang “Pussywillows, Cattails” with Jory and Kurt Swinghammer on guitar. “I’ll Tag Along” was done in a faster pace than Lightfoot’s version and with Lori’s strong vocals it had a different power to it. She has recorded Pussywillows on her latest CD.
Listen at:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/cullen3
Terry Tufts
www.terrytufts.com was back this year but performed a couple of different songs. I was thrilled to hear “No Hotel” since Lightfoot no longer does it in concert. Terry ripped into it with a full, strong voice and a guitar playing to be believed. It was fast paced and even I was quite exhausted when it was over! He said “Who needs coffee?” as he tried to catch his breath!!
Terry then told of hearing part of a song that Lightfoot sang in a tv special in Ottawa in 1968. I hope I have this right. Part way through there were sound problems so the song was stopped. When it started again a string broke and the song was never finished. Hearing that song had Terry decide to get a 12 string and tell himself he didn’t need a pension. He told the audience he went on-line to a Lightfoot website where “Lightheads” (laughter from the audience) have a message board and he got in touch with a man from Britain and one in Vancouver who had recordings and MP3’s of “Face of a Thousand People.” Apparently someone had recorded the song on a reel to reel tape and Terry finally got to hear a song that had never been recorded. It was a powerful rendition that had the audience completely transfixed. Terry has an overwhelming voice that commands you to listen and along with the incredible guitar playing he blew us all away. He got a huge ovation when he was finished. I didn’t see him during intermission and since I had to leave before the end of the show I didn’t see him afterwards either. I wanted to say hi and get a picture with him for Sir John. When I see the Tribute Shows in April I will try again Sir John! I do have a pic of him singing it onstage tho.
Kurt Swinghammer
www.swinghammer.com was up next and sang “Affair on 8th Avenue.” He mentioned prior to singing it that we might not recognize it but he didn’t give a shit because he plays it how he wants. He certainly was right about that! It was barely recognizable with all the different guitar work and phrasing, tempo, part talk/part singing etc. The whole song was not the version Lightfoot did. It was unusual to say the least. Dave Matheson played accordion in the background.
Kurt did invoke MY phrase when he said thanks for coming to “The Church of Gord” except I mean Massey Hall when I say it. He also added “Praise Gord.”
He then sang “Talking In Your Sleep” with the accordion playing softly in the background. It too was a different take on this beautiful Lightfoot song.
Mike Ford
www.mikeford.ca and Dave Matheson
www.davidmatheson.ca (members of Moxy Fruvous) were back again this year. They described “Black Day In July” as “a news report” from Lightfoot. House band bass player David Woodhead played a small set of drums with Ford and Matheson on guitars. It was a faster paced version but still dramatic and thought provoking all these years later.
And no performance of Ford and Matheson at a Lightfoot tribute show is complete without the ever popular “Peggy’s Hide-away.” And as usual this little ditty they say was written by Lightfoot received a huge laugh. Mike Ford does a great impression of Lightfoot’s voice and mannerisms and along with the lyrics and their earnestness it is hilarious.
Lyrics: Peggy’s Hide-Away
She had that disposition
Sent all the boys a wishin'
As we trickled down the coast of Peggy's hide-a-way.
We loaded up the cube vans,
The days were steeped in Ray-Bans
That reflected love's embrace from which I shied away.
And I wouldn't know her ass from a deep hole in the ground,
Lined with bushes and a fence that the neighbors placed around;
Make a child with me.
From the Liner:
1993- There's nothing like a good ol' folk song.
Matheson and Ford then sang “Minstrel of the Dawn” saying that Lightfoot was the “blueprint of an artist.”
Emcee David Newland then introduced the next artist as the “Minstrel of the Evening” and that he and Aengus Finnan had come up with the idea of the tribute shows before Lightfoot took ill in Sept.2002.
Jory Nash
www.jorynash.com sang “Summer Side of Life” with the house band singing backup. When Jory sings he becomes the song…he moves with it and feels it so profoundly that as an audience member you find yourself “in” the song with him.
He related that as a young boy his family traveled only by car as his father had a fear of flying. Between his older and younger sisters and his parents there were only 3 artists they could tolerate listening to in the car – Pete Seeger, Gordon Lightfoot and ABBA! He said he’d let us know the dates of the ABBA tribute shows! LOL –
His second song was one of Lightfoot’s “toe-tappers – “Old Dan’s Records” and the audience participated in the sing-along. Jory had a lot of fun singing it and we ended the first half of the show on a high note! I did miss Jory’s version of “Mother of A Miner’s Child but perhaps one day he will record it and then I can listen all I want!
I can’t wait for his next CD! Hurry up Jory!
David Newland
www.davidnewland.com took the stage and introduced himself! He rhymed off all of his accomplishments and accolades that I might add are well deserved. It was very funny when he said his own name. He then sang a beautiful version of a song not heard very often - “Stone Cold Sober.” His interpretation was very human and personal. Very, very lovely.
Jason Fowler
www.jasonfowler.ca sang a song from the “obscure ’82 Shadows LP” – “Baby Step Back” His exemplary guitar playing was evident all evening and in this song as well as the next one he did after he recounted the “Boiler” story. This is the story of Lightfoot telling him about how to boil steel guitar strings. We all had a good laugh again as he recounted how Lightfoot phoned him from home to tell him not to boil his classical guitar strings “cuz they’re plastic and they’ll melt!”
Jason then sang one of my favourites – “Fine As Fine Can Be.” This was done much as Lightfoot does it – soft and feathery like a lullaby should be. This song says what I feel about my daughter Lisa and what Jason must feel for his little girl. Lightfoot melts a parents heart with this one.
Before David introduced the next artist he shared the story about how he and Rachel (super organizer of the tribute shows) played a little parlour game last year when Jason told his “Boiler” story. Whenever Jason said “boil/boiler” they took a swig of beer and it was quite surprising how quickly they finished off a couple of pints!
Digging Roots was up next.
www.diggingrootsmusic.com This was a duo of a beautiful woman and striking looking man, both Canadian aboriginals who proceeded to sing and interpret “Bend In The Water” and “Don’t Beat Me Down.” Their voices harmonized into one and then there were individual moments when each exhibited the passion they felt for the song. Shoshona emphasized words with her arm and hand movements while Raven played guitar like I’ve never heard before. The guitar was all silver/chrome and amazing to look at but the sounds were even more so. These two artists were mesmerizing to watch and listen to. Shoshona referred to “Bend In The Water” as “racy, but in a sweet way.”
Gregg Lawless
http://www.gregglawless.com/index.html was up next. He has a terrific CD called “Songs in the Key of Canada” and he has a teaching programme in schools called Literacy Through Music. Gregg told the story of how he acquired a hand made upright bass that once belonged to John Stockfish. He was rummaging through an antique store looking for guitars/mandolins etc. but the woman who owned the shop wanted him to see the bass. It was cracked and broken so he didn’t want it. She said he could have it for free and he thought that was a good deal since he’d just prop it up in a corner of his house anyway. When he was leaving she asked if he ever heard of John Stockfish. Of course he had and she then said she was his sister and that John had made the bass himself! It is still holding a place of honour in Gregg’s home. Gregg sang “Carefree Highway” and “Sundown.”
Gregg really enjoys himself and the interaction he has with the audience. He has an easy going demeanor that makes you sit back and enjoy the ride with him.
Well it was time for me and Lisa to head out even though the show wasn’t over. We had said our goodbye’s to Jory and Aengus at intermission and David had a hug for me when we left as he was heading to the stage to introduce the next act. On our way outside we said one more goodbye to Aengus and walked to the subway in a beautiful snowfall. In my head I was hearing Song For A Winter’s Night, not knowing that one of the last two performers would also be singing that same song.
David Newland e-mailed me with the rest of the show:
Caitlin Hanford
www.quartette.com/caitlin.htm is a member of the group QUARTETTE. (Sylvia Tyson (of Ian and Sylvia) is another member and an original member was the late Colleen Peterson who opened for Lightfoot a few times at Massey Hall) – Caitlin did marvelous versions of “Ten Degrees and Getting Colder” and another beautiful lullaby “Ponyman.”
Garnet Rogers
www.garnetrogers.com was the last performer of the evening. His older brother was Stan Rogers and I was really looking forward to hearing him. Another time I hope.
Garnet blew everyone away with “Song For A Winter’s Night” and “Canadian Railroad Trilogy.”
The group assembled on stage for the finale of “Rich Man’s Spiritual.”
Unfortunately The Man himself did not attend either night...I'm sure he was spending some quality time with family, otherwise he would have been there as he has in years previous.
We missed you Gord! lol
Lisa and I made it to the train with minutes to spare and just over an hour later we were back home. Another Hugh’s Room evening full of amazingly talented artists who love the music of Gordon Lightfoot to fondly recall with all of the other magnificent nights I have tucked away…..
If you could read my mind…..
Char
The Tribute shows are on the road with the full ensemble in April and I will attend one near me in the town of Port Hope.
There will be one right here in Whitby in May with Jory, Aengus, Suzie Vinnick and Katherine Wheatley.
Between now and then I will attend a Kris Kristofferson concert in Toronto. I thought the last time I saw him was May 1973 but I saw him again in July 1982! Thank goodness for photographs I’ve taken!
I have photos from Saturday night and will confer with Sir John about posting them at a link he will provide. I hope. Unfortunately I did not get the yearly customary "Charwich" photo with Aengus and Jory. I had to settle for individual pics this year but that's fine with me. I did get a bonus by getting a hug and pic with David! They are all super people and super talents! Thanks guys!See you in April!
