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Canadian Music legend Gordon Lightfoot plays the Essar Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont,, Monday.
Lightfoot lite
Few surprises, legend delivers classics with class; disappointing turnout
By Jeffrey Ougler
When Gordon Lightfoot last set foot on Essar Centre's stage, in April 2009, The Sault Star likened the show to a morning double-double.
"Both are somewhat sweet and, for the fan, a nice fix — but not necessarily a just jolt," read the review.
For anyone who agreed with that conclusion and happens to prefer the legendary Lightfoot that way, there's good news.
It appears shows now hardly measure up on the metaphor meter to the latest drive-thru temptation: Latte, made with espresso.
As witnessed Monday night at Sault Ste. Marie's Essar Centre, Lightfoot's set, not to mention comic repertoire — as before, references to 'ex-old ladies" abounded — has hardly revolutionized.
The Canadian balladeer delivered, with grace and conviction, many of his most revered commercial gems, including Carefree Highway, If You Could Read My Mind, Sundown, and The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, not surprisingly garnering the most applause from the mostly middle-aged and older audience.
And true Lightheads had little to complain about, with the set boasting such seldom-heard — at least on radio — tunes as Hangdog Hotel Room and Waiting For You.
Albeit this time around, Lightfoot's voice appeared somewhat stronger from the start — especially early on — at times he was barely audible. And his able band of Rick Haynes (bass), Barry Keane (drums), Mike Heffernan (keyboards) and Carter Lancaster ( lead guitar), could have had a few volts added to their amps.
Lancaster, who replaced Terry Clements, Lightfoot's long-time guitarist who died last February at 63, proved a valuable asset to this veteran squad, showing his chops, especially on Sundown's and Baby Step Back's solos, both of which clearly won the audience's approval.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much audience to please.
The 2009 show drew some 2,800, but this time around, only about 1,000 came out, according to Essar Centre officials.
Moving the stage to the centre ice area eased some of the pain, but there were sill many empty seats, even prime places.
Tough economic times aside, it's still surprising a city the size of Sault Ste. Marie couldn't show better support for this Canadian icon, who at 73, may opt to hang up the 12-string any day. Not to mention the fact he hasn't exactly been the picture of health, almost dying in 2002 after suffering a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
It's true anyone expecting a 2011 Lightfoot gig to mirror a 1975, 1985 or even 1995 concert would be sorely disappointed by Monday's show. To dig Lightfoot live these days, it takes more than a pinch of pragmatism.
And respect for reality.
Like all "road warriors" — as Lightfoot laughingly referred to himself Monday — the expected earmarks of age are evident.
The voice isn't what it was. Movement is a bit slower. And artistically, new, commercial hits aren't exactly gushing from the speakers.
There were some fresh faces in the crowd, but you would think those youngsters who rush off for guitar lessons after school would be a bit curious to see this master of the instrument perform. You'd think their parents would, at least, have put a bug in their ear.
Regardless, Monday's concert's second half saw the crowd liven up a bit, with a few hand claps accompanying Ribbon of Darkness.
Actually, it appeared the audience got behind Lightfoot more as the show came to a close, an encore performance of Song for a Winter's Night. Ringneck Loon even prompted a few bird calls.
There's no doubt shows are rehearsed to the note, but Lightfoot appeared totally spontaneous fielding a request for Canadian Railroad Trilogy from an anxious female near the stage. (He did play the classic a couple of tunes later.)
"Not tonight ... I only do that every other night," he said, getting laughs all around.
"I could try."
Saut Ste.Marie review
