Gordon Lightfoot Forums - View Single Post - TRIP REPORT & pics-Ottawa-2 nites, and 1 in Montreal..June 2012

charlene · 06-24-2012, 11:50 AM

Gordon Lightfoot
National Arts Centre-Ottawa, Ontario – Friday June 15 and Saturday June 16, 2012
Saturday June 16, 2012 – Night Two in Ottawa

Thankfully the Ottawa shows did not start on a Friday the 13th because there would not have been any show due to Lightfoot’s superstition!

After a very late night, and a bit of sleep Gwen and I headed out to see some of the city. Ottawa is the Capital of Canada and is gorgeous. We walked over to the Parliament Buildings which were 2 minutes from the National Arts Centre and walked around the grounds taking pictures of the beautiful architecture and surroundings. The back of the buildings look over the Rideau Canal and across to Hull, Quebec. The weather was amazing and we toured around the area seeing the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and walking along the pedestrians only streets enjoying the buskers and having a bite to eat. Our pal Ron Jones was busking in a different area of the city but unfortunately we never got over that far as a nap was desperately needed to get us through the night. Feeling refreshed after our nap we had dinner and headed out for the 10 minute walk to the theatre. It was a gorgeous evening and we were anticipating another fabulous concert. We talked with Ron and Diane and her husband who had come in from Boston. And I got a quick hug from Myk after the concert too!

The hall filled up again and before we knew it the band was walking out and to a standing ovation Lightfoot sauntered to centre stage with a definite spring in his step.

After the 3rd song, Sea of Tranquility he said it was ‘ethereal’ and that it got the adrenalin going! “Now something ‘delicate’ as he launched into 14K Gold.

He recalled opening the NAC back in 1969 and like the hall his songs have held up well. He worried about that, writing songs and performing them and how they would go over in front of a crowd. 4 – 5 years performing in bars and coffeehouses smoothed things out - “I like to perform!”

After Beautiful it was time to introduce the band. Well that’s when things got hilarious. Gordon stepped to the mic and said, “The aggravate, aggregggggg, aggravation ..he could not get the word aggregate pronounced properly and ended up saying, ‘The Aggravations are” and then introduced them after the audience and band burst into laughter and applause at this new name he had for the guys. He was laughing pretty hard himself. It was wonderful to see them all having a moment of levity like that and of course the audience loved it too. From now on it will be “Gordon Lightfoot and The Aggravations” will be performing at a venue near you! Band intros will never be the same. It would be interesting to hear how things would go at the next concert.

After Sundown Gordon turned to the band and had them take a bow after a huge reception from the audience. The first night in Ottawa was a bit quiet as far as the audience went but tonight was more vocal and appreciative.

If You Could Read My Mind received a standing ovation and the band rose again.
After song 26, Rainy Day People Lightfoot and the band left the stage but came back for an encore – “thank you…we were coming back anyway!”– he then sang In My Fashion.

They left the stage again but after sustained applause and cheers came back to do another tune – Old Dan’s Records. As he left the stage Gordon went along the front and shook hands with some very happy fans, waving to the crowd as well. Wow – it was quite something for him to do 2 encores, especially coming back after the first one. I’ve seen him do two songs while still onstage for the first encore song then launch into another but can’t recall coming back to do a second. It’s possible I have seen it but don’t remember!

After the show we talked with the band and watched Gordon greeting his fans, signing albums and pictures and getting his picture taken numerous times as he does after every show. The man has boundless energy at 73 ½! He kindly asked after my daughter Lisa (how’s the young one??) who did not make the trip and was genuinely concerned when I mentioned she was recuperating at home after a car accident 2 weeks earlier. The guys in the band all asked for her and told me to tell her they were thinking of her and hoped she felt better soon. Very, very sweet.

We snapped a few pictures and told him we’d see him in Montreal. “Well alright!” and he once again mentioned we’d be doing that interview soon!

Again the sound system was awesome and Lightfoot was sounding terrific. He was funny and really having a fabulous time onstage – he seems so happy and energized. The band was spot on and the dynamics between all of them as they play is lovely to watch. You can’t help but smile the whole time! The next night would have us at The Place des Arts in Montreal, Quebec and I was quite anxious to see him perform there. The two incredible nights in Ottawa would be hard to beat.

06-24-2012, 11:50 AM	#7
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,004	Re: TRIP REPORT - 2 Ottawa setlists -1 in Montreal Gordon Lightfoot National Arts Centre-Ottawa, Ontario – Friday June 15 and Saturday June 16, 2012 Saturday June 16, 2012 – Night Two in Ottawa Thankfully the Ottawa shows did not start on a Friday the 13th because there would not have been any show due to Lightfoot’s superstition! After a very late night, and a bit of sleep Gwen and I headed out to see some of the city. Ottawa is the Capital of Canada and is gorgeous. We walked over to the Parliament Buildings which were 2 minutes from the National Arts Centre and walked around the grounds taking pictures of the beautiful architecture and surroundings. The back of the buildings look over the Rideau Canal and across to Hull, Quebec. The weather was amazing and we toured around the area seeing the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier and walking along the pedestrians only streets enjoying the buskers and having a bite to eat. Our pal Ron Jones was busking in a different area of the city but unfortunately we never got over that far as a nap was desperately needed to get us through the night. Feeling refreshed after our nap we had dinner and headed out for the 10 minute walk to the theatre. It was a gorgeous evening and we were anticipating another fabulous concert. We talked with Ron and Diane and her husband who had come in from Boston. And I got a quick hug from Myk after the concert too! The hall filled up again and before we knew it the band was walking out and to a standing ovation Lightfoot sauntered to centre stage with a definite spring in his step. After the 3rd song, Sea of Tranquility he said it was ‘ethereal’ and that it got the adrenalin going! “Now something ‘delicate’ as he launched into 14K Gold. He recalled opening the NAC back in 1969 and like the hall his songs have held up well. He worried about that, writing songs and performing them and how they would go over in front of a crowd. 4 – 5 years performing in bars and coffeehouses smoothed things out - “I like to perform!” After Beautiful it was time to introduce the band. Well that’s when things got hilarious. Gordon stepped to the mic and said, “The aggravate, aggregggggg, aggravation ..he could not get the word aggregate pronounced properly and ended up saying, ‘The Aggravations are” and then introduced them after the audience and band burst into laughter and applause at this new name he had for the guys. He was laughing pretty hard himself. It was wonderful to see them all having a moment of levity like that and of course the audience loved it too. From now on it will be “Gordon Lightfoot and The Aggravations” will be performing at a venue near you! Band intros will never be the same. It would be interesting to hear how things would go at the next concert. After Sundown Gordon turned to the band and had them take a bow after a huge reception from the audience. The first night in Ottawa was a bit quiet as far as the audience went but tonight was more vocal and appreciative. If You Could Read My Mind received a standing ovation and the band rose again. After song 26, Rainy Day People Lightfoot and the band left the stage but came back for an encore – “thank you…we were coming back anyway!”– he then sang In My Fashion. They left the stage again but after sustained applause and cheers came back to do another tune – Old Dan’s Records. As he left the stage Gordon went along the front and shook hands with some very happy fans, waving to the crowd as well. Wow – it was quite something for him to do 2 encores, especially coming back after the first one. I’ve seen him do two songs while still onstage for the first encore song then launch into another but can’t recall coming back to do a second. It’s possible I have seen it but don’t remember! After the show we talked with the band and watched Gordon greeting his fans, signing albums and pictures and getting his picture taken numerous times as he does after every show. The man has boundless energy at 73 ½! He kindly asked after my daughter Lisa (how’s the young one??) who did not make the trip and was genuinely concerned when I mentioned she was recuperating at home after a car accident 2 weeks earlier. The guys in the band all asked for her and told me to tell her they were thinking of her and hoped she felt better soon. Very, very sweet. We snapped a few pictures and told him we’d see him in Montreal. “Well alright!” and he once again mentioned we’d be doing that interview soon! Again the sound system was awesome and Lightfoot was sounding terrific. He was funny and really having a fabulous time onstage – he seems so happy and energized. The band was spot on and the dynamics between all of them as they play is lovely to watch. You can’t help but smile the whole time! The next night would have us at The Place des Arts in Montreal, Quebec and I was quite anxious to see him perform there. The two incredible nights in Ottawa would be hard to beat.