Scott Mac
11-23-2010, 04:24 AM
Lightfoot Concert 11-8-10
It was just what the doctor ordered! The prior weekend had been extremely busy. I was tired and my wife had endured yet another day in a very dysfunctional work environment. When would there be a better time to sit and enjoy the music of my favorite songwriter?
Boise’s Morrison center is a beautiful facility for performing arts located on the Boise River. It is in the middle of Boise State University’s (home of the BSU Broncos) campus.
The cooler November weather and falling leaves outside the center made a perfect backdrop for an evening of music. Due to budget constraints our seats were in the mezzanine, but there is not a bad seat in the house. I took binoculars so that I could get a close up view.
It is always interesting to see who attends various concerts. People of all ages filtered into the auditorium, but the bulk of the audience was aging baby boomers. It was not a sellout but it was a good sized crowd.
The concert started on time at 8PM. Gordon and the band walked on stage to thunderous applause. The show began with a nice version of one of his songs about the sea, “Triangle.” I have to admit, it was a bit of a shock when he first started singing. I knew his rich baritone voice has been gone a long time and I was not expecting that. Still I had to face the stark realization that the years have taken their toll. The voice is thin and sometimes creaky. The band really had to hold back so that his voice could be heard.
However, it did not take long to get over the voice and become totally enthralled with his music. He sang songs that spanned his over 40 year career. As he meandered through his vast repertoire of self penned numbers, my emotions came alive. Oh the memories, oh the talent, oh the musicianship, oh, oh, oh…….
Although not a super verbose performer he seemed quite talkative. He cracked several corny jokes but his anecdotal remarks were most interesting. He shared that “Clouds of Loneliness” was written after his second wife left him for the second time. It was like he was poking fun at himself. He also shared that “If Children Had Wings” was about his first wife. He said he wrote “Hangdog Motel Room” after spending the weekend with fellow musicians Doug Kershaw and Jerry Jeff Walker. When introducing “The Watchman’s Gone” he said he did not know “what the hell” it was about. He truly showed himself as a great performer who does not take himself too seriously.
The voice and the sound did seem better following their break. After his encore when he sang “Blackberry Wine” it was obvious that both he and the audience thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
I did not want the concert to end, but he certainly left me hungry for more.
Set List:
1) Triangle
2) Cotton Jenny
3) 14 Karat Gold
4) Never Too Close
5) Spanish Moss/Shadows (Medley)
6) In My Fashion
7) A Painter Passing Through
8) Carefree Hi-way
9) Hangdog Hotel Room
10) Ribbon of Darkness
11) Sundown
12) The Watchman's Out
13) Alberta Bound
(Intermission)
1) The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
2) Ring neck Loon
3) Don Quixote
4) Clouds of Loneliness
5) Let it Ride
6) If Children Had Wings
7) If You Could Read My Mind
8) Restless
9) Baby Step Back
10) Early Morning Rain
11) Song for a Winter's Night
Encore:
12)Blackberry Wine
It was just what the doctor ordered! The prior weekend had been extremely busy. I was tired and my wife had endured yet another day in a very dysfunctional work environment. When would there be a better time to sit and enjoy the music of my favorite songwriter?
Boise’s Morrison center is a beautiful facility for performing arts located on the Boise River. It is in the middle of Boise State University’s (home of the BSU Broncos) campus.
The cooler November weather and falling leaves outside the center made a perfect backdrop for an evening of music. Due to budget constraints our seats were in the mezzanine, but there is not a bad seat in the house. I took binoculars so that I could get a close up view.
It is always interesting to see who attends various concerts. People of all ages filtered into the auditorium, but the bulk of the audience was aging baby boomers. It was not a sellout but it was a good sized crowd.
The concert started on time at 8PM. Gordon and the band walked on stage to thunderous applause. The show began with a nice version of one of his songs about the sea, “Triangle.” I have to admit, it was a bit of a shock when he first started singing. I knew his rich baritone voice has been gone a long time and I was not expecting that. Still I had to face the stark realization that the years have taken their toll. The voice is thin and sometimes creaky. The band really had to hold back so that his voice could be heard.
However, it did not take long to get over the voice and become totally enthralled with his music. He sang songs that spanned his over 40 year career. As he meandered through his vast repertoire of self penned numbers, my emotions came alive. Oh the memories, oh the talent, oh the musicianship, oh, oh, oh…….
Although not a super verbose performer he seemed quite talkative. He cracked several corny jokes but his anecdotal remarks were most interesting. He shared that “Clouds of Loneliness” was written after his second wife left him for the second time. It was like he was poking fun at himself. He also shared that “If Children Had Wings” was about his first wife. He said he wrote “Hangdog Motel Room” after spending the weekend with fellow musicians Doug Kershaw and Jerry Jeff Walker. When introducing “The Watchman’s Gone” he said he did not know “what the hell” it was about. He truly showed himself as a great performer who does not take himself too seriously.
The voice and the sound did seem better following their break. After his encore when he sang “Blackberry Wine” it was obvious that both he and the audience thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
I did not want the concert to end, but he certainly left me hungry for more.
Set List:
1) Triangle
2) Cotton Jenny
3) 14 Karat Gold
4) Never Too Close
5) Spanish Moss/Shadows (Medley)
6) In My Fashion
7) A Painter Passing Through
8) Carefree Hi-way
9) Hangdog Hotel Room
10) Ribbon of Darkness
11) Sundown
12) The Watchman's Out
13) Alberta Bound
(Intermission)
1) The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
2) Ring neck Loon
3) Don Quixote
4) Clouds of Loneliness
5) Let it Ride
6) If Children Had Wings
7) If You Could Read My Mind
8) Restless
9) Baby Step Back
10) Early Morning Rain
11) Song for a Winter's Night
Encore:
12)Blackberry Wine