Gordon Lightfoot Forums - Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013

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Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013

boys=kenny and ronny

(legendary duo. when i join them we are the ThreeTones. lol)

wow i thought you got honorary seating starting year two.
didnt know u did time standing or on those stools. next year, wheelchair seating for me. i'm starting to creak

will check out the full suite of vids again in the morn. off to bed. evening glory:whistle:

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by jj (Post 180688)

Ron came on Sunday-no Kenyon tho...

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013

THE WAY WE FEEL – 11th annual celebration of Gordon Lightfoot
@Hugh’s in Toronto on Frid.Jan.18, Sat.Jan.19 and Sun.Jan.20, 2013.
I didn’t attend on Friday night.

Sunday Jan.20, 2013 (nite 3)

Well after very little sleep and a slow start to the morning Lisa and I headed out into the very, very cold Toronto day. We did some some window shopping at the Eaton Centre, had some lunch and eventually made our way by subway back up Yonge St. and along Bloor St. to Hugh’s Room for the final night of the 11th annual 2013 Lightfoot celebration show.

We had reservations for 6 again and were taken to our table down front near the stage, just off the two stairs from the larger dining area. We’ve sat at this table several times over the years and it’s a great spot. Ron Jones had made his way back for the show and was biding his time near the lobby area so we spent some time with him waiting for the 8:30 start time after we had another lovely dinner.

Mr. Bernie Fiedler came in with Jane Harbury who was the manager at The Riverboat that was owned by Mr. Fiedler. She has continued being a major player in the roots/folk scene since those days as a publicist to many artists. http://www.rootsmusic.ca/2011/11/24/...-jane-harbury/ I spent some time with them talking about those days back in the 60’s and of course suggested they write a book! At the link there are 2 videos of some of her recollections. She is starting a showcase at Hugh’s of new emerging talent and her “Discoveries” shows will be once a month. http://hughsroom.com/2012/12/jane-ha...discoveries-7/ Tonight would be the debut at Hugh’s of just one such person.

The evening started off with Jory introducing David Newland and telling his story about how the shows came to be again…cuz he had so much fun telling it the previous two nights! Lol

DAVID NEWLAND – YOUARE WHAT I AM – besides being a talented singer/songwriter and emcee David is also a proficient harmonica, banjo, banjolele and ukelele player as well. These instruments bring a new and fun dimension to the Lightfoot tunes he chooses. I smile the whole time he’s onstage!

TREASA LEVASSEUR – THE WAY I FEEL and SUNDOWN

JOHN WORT HANNAM – EARLY MORNING RAIN and YOUR LOVES RETURN

ANDY MAIZE and JOSH FINLAYSON – SPIN SPIN and SUMMER SIDE OF LIFE
I think this was around the time that Lightfoot came in with Meredith and her b.f. and sat behind us with B.Fiedler and Jane.

LORI CULLEN – ANYTHING FOR LOVE and IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND

JORY NASH – MINSTREL OF THE DAWN and COTTON JENNEY. Jory sings like no one else, he embodies the tune and captures it for us to see in his body language and face as well as his voice. It’s always a ‘don’t look away’ time when he is onstage. LOVE him!
Jory proudly introduced the Minstrel himself, Gordon Lightfoot to a gasp and a standing ovation from those in the audience who had no idea he had been sitting amongst them. He eventually made his way to the stage with two guitars. He had been upstairs tuning them and had to make his way downstairs, thru the lobby/bar area and then through the tables on the main floor, down the two stairs by me and then onto the stage. He settled one guitar onto a stand and sat down with the other. The audience sat and held their collective breath.

GORDON LIGHTFOOT – sitting on a wood chair he sang WILD STRAWBERRIES with a few guitar challenges while laughing them off with a ‘should have rehearsed’ and shake of his head. He then introduced his daughter, Meredith Moon. On her way to the stage as she passed me I said, ‘yay/go Meredith’, she turned for a moment and when she recognized me gave me a nice smile. She came onstage and sat on the chair while her father left the stage to sit on the piano bench and lean on the piano with his eyes closed for the most part while she sang.

MEREDITH MOON – STEEL RAIL BLUES. Meredith was very poised and confident onstage asking for some adjustments on the sound board and mic and her dad passing instructions on to “go light on the low end, this is a very thick sounding guitar.” She asked her dad for something and he reached into his pocket and gave her a pick. Meredith said she had wanted to perform on the Hugh’s Room stage since she was 9 years old and started the song as her dad made his way to the piano bench. With one last look over to him she began a lovely version of this mid 60’s Lightfoot tune. Her voice was strong and clear and her guitar playing was fantastic. There was even some audience sing along happening! She received a rousing round of applause. Dad jumped onstage to do another tune as Meredith made her way to her table, recognizing me on her way and leaning down for a hug. Very sweet! No time to talk because dad was starting tune number 2!

GORDON LIGHTFOOT – RESTLESS. This is such a moving song with evocative images, and the ‘ethereal’ quality that is found in so many of the Lightfoot tunes we love. It really suits just a singer and guitar on a chair in a ‘hear a pin drop’ room of 200 spellbound fans. Especially when that singer is Gordon Lightfoot. Another standing ovation and The Man left the stage with a guitar in each hand. He would come back to see a few other performers before leaving with Meredith and her b.f.

BREAK – I sat with Meredith and her b.f. for a bit and talked about her performance and I made my way to the lobby area to get some fresh air and chat with folks by the bar and check out the merch table. As I was finishing speaking with David Newland, Gordon came down the stairs to head back to his seat as the lights dimmed twice to let us know the show was going to start again. As he got closer he said, “Hi there!” and reached his hand out as he passed to make his way to the stairs and back to his table. I figured I’d better get back too before David had to make his way to start introducing the next act but when I got to the stairs Gordon was still standing there looking into the darkness. I asked him if he wanted to go to his table or stay there. He said he was heading to his table so I said, “follow me!” It’s very crowded and tables and chairs are all turned around every which way so it’s a bit tricky to get through the crowd. He stayed right behind me and when I got to his table I pulled out his chair and he sat down saying, ‘thanks!”… I then sat on the step in front of his table, beside my dear favourite emcee and new daddy, David Newland after he opened the second set.

DAVID NEWLAND – TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP. – a totally charming rendition.

SCARLETT JANE – PROTOCOL and OLD DAN’S RECORDS

MATTHEW BARBER – DID SHE MENTION MY NAME and FOR LOVIN’ ME

JADEA KELLY – CAREFREE HIGHWAY and I’M NOT SUPPOSED TO CARE

AENGUS FINNAN – a surprise appearance by the talented co-founder always makes me smile! He performed PUSSYWILLOWS-CATTAILS and his own tune LIGHTFOOT that is the only song on the tribute CD not written by Lightfoot himself. You know I enjoyed these two tunes!
I think this may have been when Lightfoot and party left the building.

KEVIN FOX – CIRCLE IS SMALL and FINE AS FINE CAN BE. Kevin said he was glad to have got through his tunes without any interruptions and was really pleased with his performance - he really nailed them tonight. B.Fiedler was quite impressed as was the whole audience who erupted in a deafening ovation.

DAVID MATHESON once again did an impressive “OH LINDA and RACE AMONG THE RUINS. He is a perfomer who really enjoys himself onstage and loves audience interaction. Lots of fun!

RUSSELL deCARLE sang THE LAST TIME I SAW HER FACE and HOME FROM THE FOREST. What a great voice.

GROUP FINALE – RICH MAN’S SPIRITUAL

WOW. What a fabulous two nights of LIVE music! I am SO glad I got a lot of tonight’s performances on video. Jory has set the bar very high again and it will be interesting and exciting to see what he comes up with next year for the 12th anniversary shows.

We headed up to the lobby area to get the annual pictures with the boys who are so gracious and generous with their time after such a long and busy weekend. I can’t believe 10 years have passed since the first time I met them and found so much wonderful music and some lovely new friends. They are such thoughtful and kind souls, talented beyond measure and all are adorable beyond description.

I also told Kevin Fox how outstanding his performance of The Circle Is Small was and that it was Bernie Fiedler who yelled out when he was finished. He said Bernie had come upstairs to tell him how wonderful he thought it was. He was very humble and thanked me for the kind words. He really accomplished something remarkable sitting there with only a cello and performing a Lightfoot tune.

The community of artists that I’ve met through these shows is a wonderful family that make music, record CD’s, and tour their butts off all because they have incredible talent and a drive to perform that is partially influenced by one man who lived that same life as a young man. They pay homage to him in the most perfect way they can – writing, singing, playing their instruments and sharing their talent with us.

And once in a while they stop and sing from a different songbook to remind us that we need to, have to, should remember the remarkable Canadian troubadour named Gordon Meredith Lightfoot.

Because as Valdy said to Jory back in 2002, “it’s the right thing to do.”

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

hey, a few questions:

Fox has a nice voice... was that pre recorded tracks he was playing cello along with or was someone else playing strings and plucking as well? or perhaps it was some sequencer on a delay or whatever... i love his arrangement with the bow..i echo Bernie:)

unless the promo material is wrong for the upcoming Guelph and Meaford dates (which have fairly weak sales...$45) it looks like this years fresh talent is not along for the tour... it sounds like Rick Fines Oh Suzannah etc are on the bill instead... both also worth the price of admission, of course... just wondered

the Saturday night recording and performance and singalong of the finale is great! is that a Jamie McCoun (sp?) #34 that Barber is wearing? I hope his big name sister does the show one year.... he looks like he's related to Aengus!

...Dave Mattheson looks like a cross between TG and Gord Downie:) cool voice

never saw Jory without a hat on before... that's a great pic of the trio with yas!

Mer's gonna get better on guitar... yeah, that guitar they used is sure not Gord's ...what a nice moment with dad...looks like she's in good shape, pretty

i'm glad you got a it of Russel...what a lank...a great stage vibe with this clan...and nice to hear those brunette "Jane" gals with Cullen for that one verse...it sounded like old Chattenooga Choo Choo gal vocals, lol...cool

there are about 190 Gord songs left to tackle so many Celebrations yet to come!

many of these folks do the regular tributes at Hugh's (Tyson, Neil, Joni, etc) but I don't find good video of these on youtube...char, you do a great service:)

sometimes only one channel is recording audio...i don't know if your camera has two wee mics and that one of your fingers is covering one or the other as your juggle your position... you should use a mini table tripod and if video police give you a hassle about it then send them to Richard or Jory...or Gord:)

the mix of the backup band was sweet.... I'm sorry there wasn't a real piano there the years that I've dropped by....its too bad its not a more appealing location but it is subway accessible...im so glad that Hughs' lives on and the new Discoveries series should help...get it broadcast on CBC tv...yeah, put my tax dollars to good use and stop buying syndicated game and reality shows

ok, too much coffee...thanks so much, char...good luck on the road, Jory

(Ottawa to Guelph is a long cold haul, are they borrowing Gord's jet? :) )

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013

Very nice rendition!

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

ps) nice pic of Ron! always dapper and protecting the vocal chords too:)

...oh, those gals are called Scarlett Jane.... i think they backed up Lori on her cool version of SFAWN years ago...but perhaps they are different brunettes:kiss:

here is a taste of their sound ....what a cool bedroom ....a woman cave:cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlkMTsLSGGQ

and not to derail these amazing Hugh's live videos, but Andy Maize with BR:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIaYF8Lz7CA

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013

I really like all of Kevin Fox's songs.

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

Imay inadvertently cover the mic...totally possible cuz the damn things are on the top where I hold the camera! bad ergonomics...and the red button to start recording is microscopic...not always sure it's on as I centre on subject and try to watch LIVE and not in viewfinder thing..lolol So I miss seeing the red REC telling me that in fact it is recording.. add in the excitement factor and age and wine and things can get totally missed/screwed up! lol

easy peasy subway ride to HUGH'S from downtown..after the trek on the GO from whitby..lol

Fox had a pre-recorded setup..no one else was involved - it was breathtaking... even the 2nd nite when I knew what to expect.(other than the medical emerg that is)

I imagine some of the Hugh's folks on the weekend are off on their own tours etc. Suzie was at the Blues event at The Delta and won a couple of awards. We spoke with her in the lobby when we got back to the hotel..she's so terrific. I missed her and RickFines. ultra talented folks! I wanted to see Rick's new baby girl too!

I suggested that a Kristofferson night be implemented...

Russell deCarle has a fab voice - always loved it.

Jane spoke with Mer about the Discoveries showcases - hopefully she'll step onstage again...

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

it's always fun snapping pics with the boys...happy/serious/sleeping/whatever...we always take lots..LOVE those boys!
I never got any pics on Sat.of Ron/Marion/Eileen and K&J ! damn!
TOOO much going on!!!

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

THE WAY WE FEEL: A CELEBRATION OF THE MUSIC OF GORDON LIGHTFOOT

When that heading appears on the list of events at Hugh's Room in Toronto, anyone who appreciates the works of Gordon Lightfoot would be wise to catch one of these shows.

The artists who perform at those events are as appreciative of the works of this "great composer" as are the members of the audiences that come to see and hear them perform.

The interesting thing is what you get in return for the cost of the ticket is simply unbelievable.

This year I was fortunate enough to attend both the Saturday and Sunday Concerts.

Every time I see the words "Sunday Concert" in print I think back to 1969 when at Massey Hall the "Sunday Concert" album was recorded.

I swear I can hear some of my "whistle sounds" on that album each time I give it a spin.

A host of stars go out to Charlene Westbrook, a special lady with an unyielding will to provide us with information, videos of the performances etc. And thanks also to her loving daughter Lisa who surely does her fair share of the work.

Jory Nash, together with Angus Finnan are the two most instrumental guys responsible for bringing the shows to us and we give them a huge thank you.

The back up band is very tight and it's clear they are really into Gord's material.

This year's bill included Kevin Fox, an artist I was till now totally unfamiliar with.

Hugh's Room does not have a backstage area for artists to ready themselves so they enter the stage from the back of the room which is interesting as audience members have the opportunity to see each one walking through and when I saw Kevin Fox making his way to the stage, cello in tow, well I knew at that point we were going to hear something quite different.

After David Newland, the MC for the shows eloquently introduced Kevin, as he does for all others, I watched in anticipation how he readied himself when suddenly, in "pizzicato style" (with plucked strings) he started into "The Circle is Small."

Well, did this guy deliver with emotion! Really big time emotion, lyric by lyric!

"The Circle is Small" is just one of those tunes; well, when you sit down and have a serious listen, and maybe even depending on the mood at hand, could easily put you on an emotional roller coaster ride where you might just want to go and have that second cup of coffee or maybe even something just a little stiffer.

Luckily for me the waitress was just delivering my last glass of ale at the lime.

He worked his bow the way the lyrics demanded. Wow!

The audience just roared with applause.

Sunday night's performance was extra special of course as the show included non other than Gord himself and fitting it be for a proud Dad to introduce his talented daughter, Meridith who did a great job on "Steel Rail Blues."

Meridith is in leaps and bounds sounding better all the time. No doubt she has the guidance of her Dad being there to keep the home fires burning. He sure is a great Dad.

An interesting point that made me reflect to a comment Gord made in a recent interview about "leaving a clean campsite when he goes."

Well, where I was seated on the Sunday night it was close to the aisle way and when Gord was leaving his table to fetch his guitar to do his tunes he walked by me with his dinner plate in his hand and returned it to the counter.

Now there's a guy with class. What an example! Very very melting feeling it was for me watching that exercise.

To the dedicated folks who make these shows happen and that includes the staff at Hugh's Room as they most definitely are into the music as the rest of us, a huge big thank you!

Ron Jones.

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

uber talented Jory K. Nash - photographer:

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

Wonderful observation, Ron. The plate metaphor, the artist journey, the tip of cap to Lisa too. All class and so glad you made the Sunday scoop trek

I particularly like the first Mer pic with Gord onlooking, the first deCarle pic and the Bougie pic... what a visage...and a cool Pink hairdo. Gord should revisit APPT hair

Jory and his hat and grin and cheeks remind me of Jiminy Cricket

But I guess he's more of a Gepetto... Pulling all the strings

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

It was a weekend like non other JJ. I'm still riding on the high!

Hugh's Room is a treasured place to showcase events such as these and with the upcoming retirement next month of Holmes Hook as the booking agent it will be interesting to see how things unfold.

Holmes is sort of a low profile guy, very talented in many areas, especially poetry.

There's always a feeling of trepidation of course with change which would be considered normal when something of such importance is in the wind.

I would say that Jory Nash would be a shoe in for the job if he would be interested. Boy, if you could just see how he worked that room over the weekend you would be in awe.

Guys like me could learn a thing or two from guys like him.

We would hope that Holmes doesn't venture too far though and maybe even appear on the Hugh's Room stage from time to time.

Best to all.

RJ.

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

http://frfb.blogspot.ca/

Saturday, January 26, 2013The Way We Feel – The Songs of Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot was still in the relatively early stages of his career as a major folk-rooted singer-songwriter when my own musical interests began to centre on the folk scene. His third LP, Did She Mention My Name, was the first of Lightfoot’s albums that I bought new when it first came out in 1968 and I quickly acquired the first two and many of the ones that followed. His 1960s albums, and several from the ‘70s, still resonate particularly strongly with me.

Over the past decade, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Jory Nash has organized an annual tribute concert at Hugh’s Room in Toronto, in which a revolving cast of artists, and a house band, each do a pair of Lightfoot songs. Lightfoot himself has shown up occasionally and performed a couple of songs – including last Sunday, the third of a three-night stand.

Last night, Jory Nash brought The Way We Feel – The Songs of Gordon Lightfoot to Centrepointe Theatre in Ottawa. Interestingly, although there was overlap, the roster of artists was substantially different from the Hugh’s Room shows last weekend.

MC David Newland, who opened the show with a song and did a great job of keeping the show flowing, and the superb house band – guitarist Jason Fowler, pianist David Matheson, bassist David Woodhead, and Christine Bougie, who switched between drums and lap steel – as well as featured artists Lori Cullen, John Wort Hannam, Jory Nash, and Andy Maize & Josh Finlayson of the Skydiggers, were on the Hugh’s Room bill. The additional artists in Ottawa were Cadence, Rick Fines, Oh Susanna and Suzie Vinnick (fresh from winning a couple of Maple Blues Awards last week). Band members Jason Fowler and David Matheson also took turns in the spotlight with a couple of songs each.

In the hundreds of songs Lightfoot has written and recorded over his long career, the artists had a wealth of material to choose from and included several of his best known songs and several of the more obscure.

Certainly, the evening’s high point was when the entire cast gathered on stage at the end for gospel-style version of “Rich Man’s Spiritual,” which Jory Nash pointed out was the first song on Lightfoot’s first album. Each verse was led by a different artist or group of artists, with everyone else joining in and leading the audience on the call-and-response parts. It was a joyous moment and a perfect finale.

Among the other highlights were Jory’s solo version of “Mother of a Miner’s Child,” Lori Cullen’s jazz ballad version of “Rainy Day People,” Rick Fines’ soulful rendition of “Ribbon of Darkness,” which included some sublime slide guitar playing, Oh Susanna’s country version of “Early Morning Rain,” John Wort Hannam’s lovely solo rendition of "Your Love’s Return" and Suzie Vinnick’s electrified take on “If You Could Read My Mind.”

In all honesty, there were a couple of arrangements that didn’t work for me. Lori Cullen’s disco version of “Song for a Winter’s Night” robbed the song of the beauty of its quiet intimacy. And I really wished that a cappella quartet Cadence had just concentrated on the lyrics to “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” instead of also using their voices to imitate the musical instruments – the net effect was to lose much of the impact of the song’s story.

In a concert that included just 22 songs, there were so many great Lightfoot songs left unsung. No wonder this show can be mounted annually without losing its freshness.

Find me on Twitter. twitter.com/@mikeregenstreif

And on Facebook. facebook.com/mikeregenstreif

--Mike Regenstreif

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by jj (Post 180652)

this year I think Russell deCarle will bring a cool & commanding stage presence

oh that thought turned out to be very true it seems. thanks SO much, char!:clap:

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

I realized I hadn't posted those two clips..DUH... Did the DVD's work??

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are

Quote:

Originally Posted by charlene (Post 180956)

I realized I hadn't posted those two clips..DUH... Did the DVD's work??

just great. i just got mail package too to check out. you r d bestest, char!:clap:

Re: Lightfoot Celebration @ Hugh's Room-January 2013 - report/videos and pictures are