[charlene]

The Way We Feel - Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Shows-Toronto-Jan.14-15-16, 2005 - Hugh's Room.

Sunday January 16, 2005.

It was a lazy day in Toronto. A short walk along Yonge Street, a shopping spree in SAM’S and we were ready to head back to Hugh’s Room for the last show of this great tribute event.

We were welcomed by young Garritt at the door who told us we had the best table in the place! And he was right! What a great spot to watch the show. Right beside the two stairs down to the lower floor and about 20 feet from stage. Our table was in a little nook with a “half-wall” on two sides – very quiet and private.

Another excellent meal and bottle of Merlot and we were ready to be entertained. Jory had come by with his love, the lovely Sarah. It was great to see her again after meeting her in May/04 at the Live CD recording that Aengus did in Grafton, Ontario. What a beauty she is!

David Newland took the stage and asked who was here etc. and pointed to us and said “You’ve been here 11 times!” LOL . No – just 7 for me and 6 for Jenney!
Close though!

Jason Fowler – “I’ll Tag Along”
Dave Gunning – “Carefree Highway” and “Shadows”
He had his guitar signed by Lightfoot on Friday night.

Mad Violet – “Poor Little Alison” and “If You’ve Got It”

Jenny Whiteley – “10 Degrees and Getting Colder” and “Fine as Fine Can Be”

Jory Nash – “Cotton Jenney” and “Mother of a Miner’s Child” which I KNOW he sang for me since that Lightfoot guy was nowhere to be seen. I’ve heard Jory do this numerous times but this performance had me wiping my eyes.

Rick Fines – “I’m Not Sayin” and “Ribbon of Darkness”.
He also thanked Gord again for showing up at the Peterborough flood relief concert. – “Peterborough – home of the blues.” This drew a lot of laughs as Peterborough is a hot bed of WASPS – White anglo saxon protestants and I’d think it’s safe to say that the only “blues” guy” in town is Rick himself. Pretty funny!

Intermission

Aengus came over for a chat and I said that I was intrigued by his version of “Did She Mention My Name.” He then explained what he thought about the song and what he took from it. He felt it was a guy in jail talking to an old friend who was now “seeing” his girlfriend. “And when the morning came do you remember if she dropped a name or two” – his friend and old girlfriend had spent the night together and perhaps in the morning she spoke of him, spoke his name? He was asking about his hometown that he hadn’t seen for a while and the people back home because he was away from things, sitting in jail. That Aengus is a deep thinker….his own beautiful songwriting is a testament to that fact.

David Newland sang a song of peace – “Leaves of Grass” to a very hushed audience.

Aengus Finnan – Jory Nash – “The Wreck”

Aengus Finnan – “Did She Mention My Name” – I know I listened with a new interest this time. Lovely.

David Newland then told us that the picture of Lightfoot in the Harmony booklet has Gord walking in Toronto, Queen St. I think he said, and in his hand he has a CD. It is a copy of the fabulous “North Wind” by Aengus Finnan. Pretty cool. (David was off to the side leaning on a fire hydrant…lol) I’d like to hear the story behind the picture….

Susy Vinnick – “IYCRMM” and “Cherokee Bend”
She spoke with Lightfoot on Friday night and he asked her what she was singing. She told him “IYCRMM” and “Cherokee Bend.” (a more obscure song but she didn’t say that to him!) When she said “Cherokee Bend” he sang some of the second verse with her and she can now put on her list of credits “sang with Gordon Lightfoot” ! LOL

Jason Fowler – “Cold On The Shoulder” with audience participation.

Justin Rutledge – “Sundown” and “Early Morning Rain”
I found his performance quite riveting…you have to listen carefully for each word. Absolute silence during his performance. Intriguing.

Dave Matheson and Mike Ford – “Steel Rail Blues” and the very funny “mock song” that Gord supposedly played for them in Denmark! Then they belted out “Summer Side of Life”

J.P. Cormier – “Home From The Forest” and “C.R.T.”
On Friday night he knew Lightfoot was at the back in the corner and even two pair of underwear didn’t help his nervousness when he sang his tribute song “The Poet.” After the show he asked Gordie how he liked the song. “Interesting” was Gord said and he was smiling. This song tonight made me teary – it is so heartfelt, much like “Lightfoot” that Aengus wrote. Words and emotions we all feel about Lightfoot put on paper and shared with all of us. Very, very nice.

The whole group assembled on stage, thanks were given and we all sang along to “Alberta Bound” and “Rich Man’s Spiritual”. Every night during “Rich Man’s Spiritual” David Woodhead the bass player made his way for his solo to the front of the stage and got up on a speaker to impress us even more. The first night was quite a shock to us in the audience. I don’t know if he’d done it before at other venues or not but it was quite something. He did it each night and got a bit of a needed boost on the last night. I can’t wait to see the pics!

I can’t say enough about how fabulous these shows are. I wish all of you could see them – the excellence in performances, the heartfelt emotions expressed in the words spoken and songs sung is truly lovely and quite breathtaking at times.

Aengus and Jory do themselves proud, do Lightfoot proud and really do Canada proud in bringing these magnificent songs and awesome performers together for this true labour of love in a grand tribute to Gordon Lightfoot. It just keeps getting better and better. Thank you Aengus, thank you Jory, thank you Gordon Lightfoot.