Music Hall-Tarrytown,NY.Sat.Sept.15,2012

[charlene]

Gordon Lightfoot @ Music Hall, Tarrytown, New York
Saturday September 15, 2012

Planes, Trains and Automobiles – The Music Hall, Tarrytown, New York episode- PART 2

After a restful sleep on the clouds that the hotel calls beds, Jenney and I packed up and started Day 2 of our latest adventure. It was another stunningly gorgeous day made for train and car travel. First stop was Grand Central Station after a muffin and coffee. We took the train back to Greenwich and along the way went thru many of the boroughs of New York and then the countryside of Connecticut. Thankfully the car was still in the lot and we were then on our way to Tarrytown! The drive was a grand time of chatting and laughing and re-living the day and night prior. Could tonight meet our expectations and possibly be above and beyond them??

We checked into another lovely hotel just as a gorgeous wedding party and bride prepared to leave for the church and their wonderful day ahead. Another bit of unpacking, settling in, and getting tarted up we were ready for dinner in the hotel lounge dining room. Jenney had been to concerts at The Music Hall before and knew the parking was going to fill up quickly so we headed out early and it’s a good thing we did. We both like to get to the venue of the concerts early so we can sit and take in the ambience, talk with old friends and possibly new ones and not be hurried. We had to drive around a very hilly town several times looking for lot and street parking before finally finding a spot a few blocks away up a rather long and hilly street. We still had plenty of time and were happy to meet up with a friend, Diane from New Hampshire who also attended the Ottawa and Montreal shows I was at in June. Sir John and Susan were also in attendance and ready for night number two to start. Jenney introduced me to a friend she sees at many of the shows in that area, it’s always nice to meet more fans!

The Music Hall was absolutely adorable and charming venue. Gorgeous ceiling alcoves painted with silhouettes of people and birds and gorgeous light fixtures had me taking pictures. Along the walls were alcoves with silhouette cutouts that were illuminated and a beautiful mural was above the stage. The woodwork and trim and mouldings were part of the charm too. Some refurbishment was needed here and there and hopefully it will get done in a timely fashion to preserve this sweet spot before age overtakes it. The show started on time and tonight the band would not be in so tight a space.

The band came out and to a standing ovation Lightfoot took centre stage. As was the case the night before, Gordon, when introducing the band made mention that the reports of their deaths were greatly exaggerated. He was referencing the article that states his bass player Red Shea had just died and his own Twitter death rumour from a few years ago. He expressed his thanks for folks coming out and that he loved the theatre and the sound there. By the night’s end it was clear that he had good reason to say that and Soundman Bob had worked magic again after a difficult setup the night before at B.B.King’s Club. Gordon is stepping right up to the mic and the sound is so precise that even when he steps away to get a drink he can still be heard. When Rick and Carter chime in on a few tunes their voices are picked up as well. Awesome. The first half was over far too quickly with 14 songs with a new sound due to ‘new’ songs and new instruments.

The lights dimmed and it was time for the second half to begin. I was looking at my camera and Jenney nudged me, whispering something like, “he’s going to sing it.” I looked at the stage and Lightfoot was there, on his own, strapping on his guitar. The band was nowhere in sight. Omigawd. Could it be? Would he? Was he going to sing ‘my’ song, “I’ll Tag Along?”….yowza..I switched the camera to video and pressed record hoping the damn thing would focus and the woman in front of me would sit still and stop flicking her hair around as she did in the first half! He told the audience that the next song was one he had chosen to sing at The Songwriters Hall of Fame event but ended up doing another one but would sing it for us now. And then YES, When Gordon sang Drink Yer Glasses Empty after the break the only other band member onstage was Michael.he was singing it!! Omigoodness I couldn’t believe what I was seeing or hearing. WOW. Some of the video is shaky but I got it all! Lol. Because he sang ITA he didn’t sing “Drink Yer Glasses Empty.”

After singing “If You Could Read My Mind” he received a standing ovation again with a big smile and bow. The songs kept coming and then in a flash it was over. He didn’t really talk much, a quick mention of a song title and the band intro was about it. It was nice to hear some of the tunes he has now included into the mix and hope that a few others will show up in time for Massey Hall in November.

After the show only those with passes were allowed to stay except for a couple of very insistent people. After most had taken their pictures and received their autographs with Gordon I had a moment with him. I thanked him for singing ITA and that I would pretend that he did it for me. LOL. Well he leaned back and said, “I did!, I knew you were coming!” Well he got himself a big hug and another thankyou! I also told him he was very sweet to do that for me. My goodness he sure likes to surprise me! I told him I thought he should put it in the rotation. He said well I can’t do it every night! Lol. I said he didn’t have to but once in a while would be terrific. So….we shall see.. Jenney spent some time with him as well and also Rick who had come out. We chatted for a bit with a few folks and before we knew it we were walking thru town and up the hill to the car. Night Number 2 was over… the singing and playing was so wonderful I thanked Soundman Bob for the terrific job he did at the shows I’ve been to – 2 in Ottawa, then 1 each in Montreal, Kitchener, Manhattan and Tarrytown and that online fans are really appreciating it. He said it was nice to hear and thanks! He reminds Gordon before each show to step closer to the mic…..

We drove back to the hotel still gobsmacked about Lightfoot singing ITA. It’s very surreal that he would alter his setlist to sing a song that he rarely sings in concert. He receives requests for songs that he normally does almost every night – the huge classics, the hits, the ones he really feels comfortable singing with the band behind him. To step out of his comfort zone and do that shows what a class act he is. I am very thankful and extremely humbled by it.

After another evening of chatting, a few drinks and snacks it was time for another perfect sleep on a cloud..The later morning hour to get up would come quickly and we were pretty tired!

And wake up time came fast..We packed up and had a lovely breakfast to reminisce about the previous two days and nights. Jenney and I always have more fun than should legally be allowed so as we drove towards the Hartford airport we talked about our families and kids, her grand-daughter and the upcoming concerts in November @ Massey Hall. It was so wonderful of her (as it was with Gwen in June in Ottawa and Montreal) to be my driver, friend and fellow fan. Sparky and I have enjoyed many, many adventures over the years in several locations, for many events and I know there will be many more to come.

There’s 8 weeks and one day until the first night at The Church of Gord in Toronto. Lots of us will be in attendance and you all know that I’ll Tag Along.

SETLIST – Saturday September 15, 2012 - Music Hall. Tarrytown, New York
1. Sweet Guinevere
2. The Watchman’s Gone
3. Waiting For You
4. All The Lovely Ladies
5. I’d Rather Press On
6. Wild Strawberries
7. Spanish Moss
8. Shadows
9. Let It Ride
10. Beautiful
11. Carefree Highway
12. Hangdog Hotel Room
13. Ribbon Of Darkness
14. Sundown
BREAK
15. I’ll Tag Along
16. The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
17. Race Among The Ruins
18. Restless
19. Clouds Of Loneliness
20. In My Fashion
21. A Painter Passing Through
22. If You Could Read My Mind
23. Blackberry Wine
24. Canadian Railroad Trilogy
25. Song For A Winter's Night
ENCORE
26. Cold On The Shoulder

video of ITA is a few posts below this one..

[charlene]

pics

[charlene]

video - I'll Tag Along -

I'll Tag Along - Gordon Lightfoot - YouTube

[niffer]

Absolutely wonderful write-up. It sounds like you had the perfect trip.

The only cause for concern is that Don Quixote appears to have been removed from the rotation...something that should never happen.

[johnfowles]

Originally Posted by niffer

Absolutely wonderful write-up. It sounds like you had the perfect trip.

The only cause for concern is that Don Quixote appears to have been removed from the rotation...something that should never happen.

I would not worryJennifer.I caught a few minutes of the late afternoon
warm us/sound check at the B.B.King Blues Club on Friday and heard parts of two songs
DQ and Clouds of Loneliness

[charlene]

I don't have a setlist for Cleveland but the Charleston show on the 17th that has all the videos @ youtube doesn't show any DQ....keep watching for it!

[formerlylavender]

I like DQ too but am happy for the change up. Unfortunately he can't do everything.

Great report and pics - that theater is beautiful!

[Melissa]

Wonderful report, Miss Charlene! Sounds like you and Sparky painted the town red and lived to tell about it. Excellent.

The setlists are awesome and watching the videos from the Charleston show was a real treat. Thanks to whomever the person is who did that.

Wow, Tag Along solo was amazing. Glad you got video of that one!

Gords sounds terrific. I'll bet singing some new (old) songs has put some new energy into shows. After all, we know they "love the work."


Melissa

[Tim]

What a great vid, thanks for posting ITA Char. Gord's voice sounds great!

[jj]

char, its a great pic of you and the mighty tall, kind and ultra-talented Bill!

now, that one of you and Gord is iffy...you look great and beside yourself, but Gord looks like the librarian from Hilarious House of Frightenstein! LOLOL (RIP, billy van)

[charlene]

That's what I get for letting the usher take the pic! Where the hell was Sparky?!?!?

Our Billyboy is all of those things for sure. It was so great to see him and his buddy Frank again.