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Review: Gordon Lightfoot vocals grow stronger throughout DeVos Hall show
Published: Saturday, June 12, 2010, 12:35 AM Updated: Saturday, June 12, 2010, 2:23 AM
Rachael Recker | The Grand Rapids Press
Katy Batdorff | The Grand Rapids Press Gordon Lightfoot performs with his band made up of bassist Rick Haynes, keyboardist Mike Heffernan, drummer Barry Keane and lead guitarist Terry Clemens at DeVos Performance Hall Friday evening. (Katy Batdorff | The Grand Rapids Press)
Gordon Lightfoot at DeVos Hall gallery (5 photos
Gordon Lightfoot, winner of 17 Juno Awards and five-time Grammy Award nominee, can do no wrong.
At 8:01 p.m. Friday, Lightfoot’s four-member backing band — lead guitarist and Detroit native Terry Clements, drummer Barry Keane, bassist Rick Haynes, keyboardist Michael Heffernan — walked on stage at DeVos Performance Hall, sharing a few waves. A crowd of 1,600 started going wild for what would be a 29-song set sung in almost two hours.
Soon after the band, the 71-year-old icon of the ’60s and ’70s folk/country/rock sort of ambled on stage into a spotlight toward the mic. The crowd of Lightfoot fanatics voiced their gratitude for the place his music about nature and life occupies in their lives.
The musician from Orillia, Ont., took to the mic and began with a lesser-know tune (at least in the States), “Triangle.”
The song began what was — at least from the orchestra seating — a first half that seemed to struggle with sound difficulties. Most of the band seemed to be un-miked, and Lightfoot’s vocals — now a bit more raspy, wispy and nasal — were barely audible during the 47-minute first half.
“Triangle” was followed by Lightfoot’s endearing and better-known song, “Cotton Jenny.” Besides having a bit of a time hitting the higher notes, the singer brought home one of the most melodious and feel-good songs of his catalogue.
“Thank you, Gord. We love you,” shouted an audience member. Requests and thank-yous for returning to the area and general comments of admiration came from the crowd, who gave standing ovations throughout the evening.
“We only get one chance to talk to you,” said another audience member after Lightfoot seemed slightly taken aback at all of the requests, especially for the “unreleased” “Echoes of Heroes.”
“It never came out the way I wanted it to,” Lightfoot revealed on stage of the early tune.
Following “Cotton,” Lightfoot launched into the catchy “14 Karat Gold.” Finally, in the fourth song, the band made its presence known. The group throughout the first half seemed to play quietly, practically invisibly, to accommodate Lightfoot’s light vocals.
Interestingly, the first half also was filled predominantlwith lesser-known hits. Lightfoot did drop his heavy hitters “Carefree Highway,” “Alberta Bound” and “Sundown.”
During “Sundown,” the audience could not help but sing along, albeit really softly so as to seemingly not drown out the quiet vocals. I felt Lightfoot could have benefited from a couple of backing vocalists.
Following a 15-minute intermission, Lightfoot and band came back to a more rocking, better-sounding second half. Lightfoot’s vocals — which he openly criticized on stage — possibly became stronger with use, but it was obvious the sound improved, too.
An enthusiastic version of “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” kicked things off, followed by “Ringneck Loon,” featuring a heavy bass that could have been toned down, “Baby Step Back,” “Winter’s Night” and “Don Quixote.” “If You Could Read My Mind” seemed to bring everyone back to the beauty of the original version. No “Rainy Day People” for this audience.
His epic “Trilogy” was the highlight of the evening, featuring its intriguing tempo changes and storyline.
As 52-year-old Cheboygan resident Vickie Bade noted, Lightfoot never performs the lengthy “Trilogy” and “Wreck” in the same evening. She should know. She has seen him 40 to 50 times in concert.
Besides sound difficulties and vocals that grew stronger throughout the evening, Bade summed it up: “This was great. Outstanding.”
E-mail Rachael Recker:
rrecker@grpress.com and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/rachaelrecker