Duluth- Sept. 23: Set List

[seafarer62]

Hello group- wonderful evening in Duluth on a beautiful evening.

Debbie and I arrived early and decided to walk through the breathtaking Rose Garden in Leif Ericson Park. The park overlooks Gitche Gumme and two large freighters were anchored in the harbor outside of Canal Park. A wedding was underway in the gazebo. The smell of the roses was intoxicating. Started thinking of all the GL songs with roses: Your Love's Return, Tattoo, Watchman's Gone, 16 Miles to 7 Lakes. If you ever get to Duluth in the summer, by all means you have to go.

We then drove to Canal Park and found Claudia at Grandma's (bar and grill). We had a light meal and talked all things Gord. Claudia is a relatively new fan and her exuberance is as infectious as her German accent. For an old salt like me with 35 concerts over about 30 years, I felt her excitement about the concert. As she related in her post yesterday, she was able to get backstage after the Minneapolis concert. Another local couple from Duluth joined us as they had read our open invitation. Unfortunately, we were soon booted out as Grandma's was closing to host a wedding reception. (Maybe the same couple from the Rose Garden?)

We walked over to the DECC with a moderate breeze blowing off the lake. Many fishing boats and sailboats were taking advantage of the balmy late summer day. The lobby of the DECC was full but we were able to run into Darin Hogan. Darin was one of the "founders " of the Lightfoot newsgroup when it was on America On Line back in the dial up, busy signal days of circa 1995 era. Some of you may remember him as "Dareott" better. Darin is doing great these days just getting a major promotion to manager at a store in the major supermarket chain (Cub) in the Twin Cities. Darin is busy with a new job, new house, wife and 3-year old son so he doesn't get online as nearly as much as he once did. He said to send his greetings and all Corfidians owe a debt to Darin for what he did in those early days to get this community going.

Our seats were fantastic - first row, front and center behind the orchestra pit. Comfortable seats, extra leg room, yes, life is good. Claudia was nearby in the orchestra pit. There had to be 2000+ people in there but there were some open seats in the back of the balcony.

The lights dim. Here is the set list:

1) Cotton Jenny
2) Carefree Highway
3) Sea of Tranquility
4) 14 Karat Gold
5) Never Too Close
6) A Painter Passing Through
7) In My Fashion
8) Rainy Day People
9) Shadows
10) Beautiful
11) The Watchman's Gone
12) Ribbon of Darkness
13) Sundown
14) Wreck of the E.F.
Intermission
15) Triangle
16) Hangdog Hotel Room
17) Restless
18) Clouds of Loneliness
19) Waiting For You
20) Make Way for the Lady
21) If You Could Read My Mind
22) Baby Step Back
23) Sit Down Young Stranger (For Claudia)
24) Early Morning Rain
Encores:
25) Blackberry Wine
26) Old Dan's Records

Some observations:

Gord was more hoarse than he had been in Rochester and Minneapolis. Five nights in a row is a lot to ask. As the newspaper review indicated, he did improve as the show went on. Most of the first set was punctuated by a remark by an obnoxious woman about six rows behind me. Before "Painter" he started chit-chatting and this woman yells out, "Just do the songs." Gord shrugged and started what was perhaps the most forgettable version of Painter that I can remember. About 45 seconds into the song, I wonder if Gord thought that he should have had swig of water before starting. I don't know if the woman's comment affected him that much but he didn't say much the rest of the first set. The Fitzgerald was done pretty well with some of the phrasings slightly different than I have heard before. The first set was identical to the first set of Rochester.

During intermission, we finally found RJ (Bob) and Tracy. They weren't sitting that far away. Claudia, RJ and I shared our observations and travels - there is an immediate kindred spirit which Corfidians meet. Too soon, the house lights dimmed and the 2nd set started.

The second set and vocals were stronger and he was more talkative. He absolutely nailed Restless. He dedicated "Clouds" to his "second ex-wife" as he done in Rochester. On Friday night, he also added that he wrote it in 2000 as he could see it (break-up) coming. I immediately thought that it made perfect sense of where most of the down side of the Harmony album was inspired.

Before he started "Make Way", I thought he might do Ring Them Bells as Duluth is Bob Dylan's hometown but he made no reference to Bob.

Then the surprise of the evening: Claudia over dinner had told us that she had personally asked Gord for Sit Down Young Stranger on Saturday night. Well, he did it and did it exceptionally. As he was singing it I thought of the Iraq war, the song is a classic because the message is timeless. Claudia stood up in the orchestra pit afterwards clapping her heart out.

He told the Elvis backstage in Buffalo story prior to Early Morning Rain. Great performance and the guys left the stage. They returned for a two-song set of toe tappers. Great crowd response... Gord came back for a final bow and the house lights came on.

RJ, Claudia, Debbie and I shared final greetings and goodbyes. Claudia was going to stay to get backstage to greet Gord again. So maybe she will have more news when she gets back.

The long Minnesota Gord weekend is over. I'm glad I took the day off of work. I am pooped. Can't imagine how Gord feels at 68? It was fun and the weekend was a great Gord memory. These were concerts # 33-34-35 for me, but I never get tired of them. In one sense, I am disappointed in the "scriptedness" of the set lists but on the upside, there were only minor vocal flubs the entire weekend, few bad chords. This band is rehearsed and they can just look at each other and communicate clearly.

I hope the rest of Corfid enjoyed my rambling postings and that I painted a picture so you felt like you were here.

The other great part of the weekend was meeting the other Corfidians:

Dakota Rose (Nancy)
LouiseMNMpls (Louise)
GitcheGummee (Ruth)
MnMouse (Sharron)
Claudia (Claudia)
RJ (Bob)
and Darin Hogan (encouraged to hook up on Corfid again)

They are just ordinary people like me who just enjoy the music of Gordon Lightfoot.

Seafarer62 (John)

[charlene]

Nice to hear the news about Darin!
What an obnoxious, uncalled for shout-out from that woman..good grief she must have been elsewhere when manners were being taught. I don't doubt that it did set Gord back a bit..perhaps not what she said in particular but just that a person could be so blatantly ignorant.
Sheesh.
I love when he does SDYS - it is a timeless message..and unfortunately seems to b a song that has been apropos since the day it was written I'm glad he feels it is warranted to be included in the setlist.
When I first heard that much of the Harmony album was written back in 2000 and that he and his wife separated a few years later it made sense about the sadness in the songs. He's remarkably come back from so much physically and emotionally since that time. Amazing.
The venue and area sound lovely and meeting up with so many folks was an added bonus. It makes the Lightfoot event that much more special and memorable. Great review of the trip and concert!

[Gitchigumee]

Great, great post John. Thank you so much. I had Gord and band very much on my mind last night during what I knew was the time they would be on stage. How wonderful for Claudia to have the song she wanted to hear sung. I know she had brought flowers for Gord on Saturday night in Minneapolis. I can't wait to hear what she has to say about it.

[Claudia]

John basically already said it all, we had a great time in Duluth again. It was great meeting with so many from this newsgroup. It's always nice to have a 'face' to the name
For me, this last weekend was like a movie turned real and I still haven't quite realized everything.
I couldn't believe, Gordon actually did SDYS for me, I did not expect that at all. Gitchigumee is right, I brought a flower with me to the Minneapolis concert, attached to a card where I asked for that song. After the security guy didn't let me place it on the stage, I was kind of bummed. But than I spotted Gordon's stage manager bringing out the guitars. I thought I remembered Char saying that his name is "Chuck"? So I tried and called his name - he actually responded and I asked him to give it to Gordon. He took it but I never heard anything about that request again. But when I later managed to get Backstage, I asked Gordon directly if he could do that song for me in Duluth. "I might, I just might" he said and was smiling.

So when he said in Duluth "I met a young lady last night in Minnie who asked me to do that song..." I could hardly breathe. This was so awsome and very, very special for me - I will treasure that forever. This song always was a favourite of mine and hearing it live was just outstanding.

After the concert I was determined to at least try to see him again to say 'Thank you'. So I was hanging around and waiting with a bunch of others who had a backstage pass already. Everybody else was sent away. The security guy asked if I had one and with an honest look in my eyes, I said yes, I do! I couldn't believe he didn't check. And when the door was opened I saw Barry Harvey standing there. He saw me and smiled. I actually brought a little gift for him to thank him for letting me in last night in Minneapolis. He looked kind of surprised. I than asked him if he could let me in again so I get a chance to thank Gordon personally for that song. "Of course, just go ahead", he said and grinned.

That's when I found myself Backstage for the second time in two days - unbelievable Rick came in an spotted me and we chatted again, than I talked to Terry who looked really tired and ready to go home. Gordon came, saw me and smiled but got whisked away immediately from a bunch of other people. But I was waiting patiently and eventually he managed to come over with a big grin. I was all smiles too and made sure he knew how much I loved to hear that song. We chatted for a bit than it was time for them to leave, going home. He gave me a big hug and we said Good-bye.

Needless to say, how very special all this was and it sure will be in my memory forever.

[Gitchigumee]

That is just fabulous Claudia, I'm so happy for you! You naughty girl, lying like that to get back stage. Wish I'd have thought of that myself.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, what a warm and wonderful man. I wonder if he really realized just how many people he brings happiness to. And especially, the level of happiness he brings to us who are lucky enough to meet him in person. Wow is all I can say.

[SilverHeels]

John, thanks for a great report. I felt I was right there only I wasn't - and I so wish I had been. And great to hear of dear ol' Darin after all this time. Hope he makes it back sometime.
Bru

[RJ]

Great to meet you John.. you're a good guy.. Claudia?.. you're lovely.. We met all the guys out back as they were departing the DECC.. got photos with all (my favorite is me standing between Rick and Terry (arms around all! I look happy.. Rick and Terry? If you check in here; thank you for the photo; you were great sports late in the evening and at the end of the line etc.. Barry Keane.. you were warm and charming.. and you're a wonderful musician; thanks for the great weekend of great tunes fellas; not to mention 26 years worth of great musical evenings at the theater etc.)).. Now home in Minneapolis after a tiring drive down 35W this morning.. There's somethin about that lake.. and those big boats.. it just puts the life back in ya.. I really hated to leave.. If the woman who chatted with us behind the DECC after the show (with 15 year old daughter; lives in Park Point) makes her way to the Corfid site (she was unaware of it)).. drop me a line.. it was a pleasure chatting with you and your daughter as we all waited by the lake.. I apologize if I possibly sort of cut in front of you (if I recall correctly) to get a photo with Gord.. I was a little nervous right then.. Anyway.. 31 shows now in the book of life.. was last night the last of them?.. time and fate will tell out.. but ever onward.. and that's fer sure.. Hope to see some of you next year.. somewhere down a crazy river.. etc.. until then..

[louisemnnpls]

Originally Posted by Claudia

"I couldn't believe, Gordon actually did SDYS for me, I did not expect that at all."

~~~~~~


"But I was waiting patiently and eventually he managed to come over with a big grin. I was all smiles too and made sure he knew how much I loved to hear that song. We chatted for a bit than it was time for them to leave, going home. He gave me a big hug and we said Good-bye."

Needless to say, how very special all this was and it sure will be in my memory forever.

~~~~~~
Claudia,

He did that song just for you because YOU are one very special lady. Am so sorry that we didn't get to meet Saturday night in "Minnie". Next time, hopefully, but wasn't the concert absolutely magical? Every once in awhile I felt like I was being transported back to the 1970's. Hopefully, next time we can meet.

What a week you just had. You'll remember that forever.

[Claudia]

Originally Posted by louisemnnpls

~~~~~~
Claudia,

He did that song just for you because YOU are one very special lady. Am so sorry that we didn't get to meet Saturday night in "Minnie". Next time, hopefully, but wasn't the concert absolutely magical? Every once in awhile I felt like I was being transported back to the 1970's. Hopefully, next time we can meet.

What a week you just had. You'll remember that forever.

Yes Louise, I was sorry too that we both didn't meet in Minneapolis. We left home late and wanted to grab a bite to eat. So we didn't manage the Starbucks meeting.
I also thought the concert in "Minnie" was spectacular, he sounded very strong and I was so happy. I sure will remember the last weekend forever, it was so very special and makes me smile all the time I think about it - what is prettey much all day...