The Way We Feel.
A Celebration of Gordon Lightfoot and his music.
8th year.
Hugh’s Room, Toronto
http://www.hughsroom.com
Saturday January 23, 2010 (2nd of 3 nights)
Another mild day in Toronto with a bit of drizzle but we’re heading to Hugh’s room for the second of three nights celebrating Gordon Lightfoot so all is right with the world!
We had standing room only reservations (thank you Jory) because we decided only last night to come back for one more show...with a little (it doesn’t take much) persuasion from Jory.
The two steps that lead to the dining and stage area would be a perfect spot to watch the show so I claimed it for my own while Lisa took the step in front of me.
David Newland started the evening off with his ukulele and Early Morning Rain saying that he had figured out what the song was about – a guy who gets dumped on the beach! Lol. Once again I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky ukulele version.
Jason Fowler and Brenley MacEachern (Madison Violet) sang Ribbon of Darkness. Jason then sang Baby Step Back with David Matheson and David Woodhead contributing some major guitar sound.
During this song Gordon and his long time friend and promoter, Bernie Fiedler came in and took their seats. The place was all a-twitter...
Lori Cullen sang Rainy Day People again and then said she chose one that really wasn’t all that good! And then she sang If you Could Read My Mind with a nice pat on the back from Gordon as she left the stage. He was enjoying himself!
The Good Lovelies sang Alberta Bound and Song For A Winter’s Night – although it was almost 50 degrees and raining out..(much like the weather was when it was written!)
Liam Titcomb is the son of Brent Titcomb who used to play at The Riverboat coffee shoppe in Yorkville. He sang Cotton Jenney and Carefree Highway.
Jory Nash sang Summer Side of Life and Mother of A Miner’s Child.
Dan Hill was up next.
http://danhill.com He told us that his first date was at a Lightfoot concert at Convocation Hall at the University of Toronto. Lightfoot songs are about 3 minutes long and it would take him almost that long to get the nerve to put his arm around the girl but the song would end and he’d have to pull his arm back! The guitar he bought and was playing was because John Stockfish played bass on his 1972 album back then and took him to a music store outside of Toronto. He paid 450.00 for it –his parents didn’t talk to him for a year. He thought he was pretty hotstuff but Stockfish would say don’t think you’re so hot – listen to this and he’d let him listen to some demos that Gord was working on. He was totally humbled. Before singing Beautiful he said he had heard that Gordon wrote it for his mother and that it makes sense when you listen to the lyrics. He then sang “Can’t Depend On Love.” It was nice to see him and hear him sing live after all these years of hearing him on the radio.
Jory came back onstage and said “last year when Lightfoot played my guitar it went out of tune on him but he gave it a great try but my guitar let him down.” “So it gives me great pleasure to let you know that he’s come back this year with his own guitar!”
Gordon had left his seat a bit earlier and gone to get his guitar and was standing a few feet behind me, beside Lisa, gently strumming his guitar while waiting for his turn to go on.
He strode through the crowd and onto the stage and began singing without any chatter. His first song was I’ll Tag Along, then Restless and then Let It Ride. I was so happy to hear him do I’ll Tag Along since I had missed him doing it for me a couple of years ago in Orlando. It’s so beautiful to hear with just the guitar and voice. He sounded strong and looked great up there during the three songs. When he finished he scooted back through the crowd and headed upstairs. It was a surprise to everyone that he played more than one song – it was much more than we could have imagined! WOW!
INTERMISSION
During intermission I chatted with some of the artists and checked out the CD’s that were for sale. After about 10 minutes Gordon came down the stairs and headed my way with a nice “Hi Char!” and hug. Then he surprised me by saying, “did you like that I played your song for you?” I said I was thrilled to hear it and then he said...”I knew you were coming.”..omigoodness... wow again! Then he leaned over and gave Lisa a big hug too!
It was time for the second half and it was opened with Richard Knechtel. David introduced him and said that Richard would always be able to say that he was the next act after Gordon Lightfoot. Richard did not break any strings while playing The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald but he did have Gordon Lightfoot get up from his table, walk to the stage, take his place behind a microphone and sing a few minutes with him as a duet!! Omigawd it was funny ...and amazing to see Gordon Lightfoot standing there with his hands behind his back, no guitar and trading off lines to one of his greatest hits!!
There’s a small clip at
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...1185325&ref=ts
Richard then sang River of Light. How he got through both songs is beyond me...but when he started River of Light he broke another string!
Suzie Vinnick sang I’d Do It Again and That’s What You Get For Lovin’ Me.
Old Man Luedecke did Wherefor and Why and Steel Rail Blues.
David Matheson sang Go My Way and Your Loves Return.
Brian MacMillan did his two numbers – Cold On The Shoulder and “Can’t Depend On Love”
Madison Violet sang Poor Little Alison and Sundown
Nathan Rogers sang Bittergreen (instead of Yarmouth Castle) and Canadian Railroad Trilogy
Group Finale – Rich Man’s Spiritual
Lisa and I headed up to the bar area and spent a few moments talking with some of the artists and saying our goodbyes to Jory and David. Jory was beaming and floating on air! What a truly magical evening. So many incredibly talented people paying respect to Gordon Lightfoot and his beautiful music was more than enough entertainment but the bonus of having The Man himself attend and get up and perform for us was more than any of us could have asked for or expected. He had as good a time as any of us in the audience or even the artists onstage. It really was incredible. I got a goodbye hug from Gordon and Bernie and we walked out of the building with them as they headed to their car and we floated along Dundas Street to the subway a couple of blocks away. Sleep would not come for quite a while even though it felt like I was dreaming.
videos- images are not great but sound is good. (more willbe posted asap)
Jory Nash - Summer Side of Life
Jory introducing Gordon Lightfoot
Gordon Lightfoot - Restless
more pics and videos inlcuding a few minutes of the duet "The Wreck" -
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/gr...1185325&ref=ts
and David Newlands thoughts over the years:
http://www.davidnewland.com/2010/01/...ot-and-me.html
Lightfoot Celebration at Hugh's Room - night two-Jan.23-10 NEW PICS ADDED
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...really enjoyed this! I didn't know Dan was still out performing
