Have you ever made a wish and it came true in only three days? That hasn't happened to me too often, but it did tonight. It was only this past Wednesday after the Lakeland, FL concert that I posted a comment here wishing that there was some technology that could support Gordon better on stage. Tonight at the Sunrise Theater in Fort Pierce, Gordon sounded like it was 10 years ago. It was apparent from the first notes. His songs were clear, loud, and enunciated. (Even on the Watchman which I can hardly ever understand even though I know all the words.) I assume it was the sound system in the theater (otherwise, the magnitude of the improvement in three days would be a miracle) because I could also clearly hear Terry's vocal harmony on Sundown. I always see him singing but can hardly hear him. What I don't understand is how this little, granted excellent, theater in Fort Pierce can have better sound capability than Massey, Wolftrap, Town Hall in NYC and other premiere venues that Gordon plays. Don't know if it was his or the venue's equipment but tonight was the most awesome night ever, including Gordon's intonation, phrasing, confidence, and the audience's response. Immediately after he performed Sundown to thunderous applause, which isn't so unusual, people started yelling for him to sing it again. After the intermission, the audience continued shouting out for Sundown again. One can see why Gordon is motivated to keep the touring going when a mostly sold-out house on a Saturday night is as appreciative and enthusiastic as these folks were. Actually, I have seen that enthusiasm before from the devoted fans like us or the people on the nostalgia trip , but tonight was different because the excitement was in response to the technical excellence as well as all the other factors. The evening went so well that it dispelled the notions of the people who say that Gordon shouldn't be performing and the person who wrote that he/she can't stand to watch because Gordon looks like it hurts him to perform. Tonight it was all positive, strong and as close to the old days as it is ever going to be. Speaking of which, Gordon referred to the times partying with Doug Kershaw while waiting for his broken fiddle to be repaired and Jerry Jeff's jamming til sunrise with Gordon and Terry as the bad old days. He said that now is the good old days. Interesting. He mentioned that even he doesn't know what the meaning of The Watchman's Gone is, but that it is fun to sing. He also referred to his whole organization as like the Barnum and Bailey's circus, you take it down every night, put it up the next day in a different town, bring in the elephants and the buckets of water, but they enjoy it. Rick thought that visual about the elephants was very funny. This was Concert 10 of 10 and Gordon thanked the audience for allowing them to perform in the United States. Gordon and the band were leaving immediately after the concert to fly back to Toronto to what Gordon called their "squeezes." If you ever get the chance to hear Gordon at the Sunrise Theater, I would recommend it, and I bet they'll be back there. The theater manager LOVES Gordon , came on stage before the concert to say so, and so do the locals.
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