Hello all. My wife and I came down to Phoenix to see Gord, since there was no Denver date this season. : (
Sorry, but I didn't do a set list, due to the fact that anyone carrying anything is apparently a terrorist threat in the Dodge Center. I had a clipboard with paper, a photo for signing, and was told that it, in addition to my "contraband camera" (their words) would not be allowed in.
It was very similar to the Anaheim set list, but the opener was Triangle. Another nice touch was the closing to Ribbon of Darkness. Gord gave the long pause after "...this ribbon of darkness ---"
and instead of "over me," the band went straight into Sundown. It was kinda cool and got a great rouse from the crowd.
Left out from the Anaheim set were Restless, In My Fashion, Sea of Tranquility, Song for a Winter's Night. We got All the Lovely Ladies, Never Too Close, I'll Do Anything, Waiting For You, Uncle Toad Said (especially good performance).
Carefree Highway was well received by the local crowd, with a healthy laugh going up around the room when Gord gave a wry look and sang, "I wonder how the old folks are tonight."
Gord was vocally lower a step in the first set, but went up significantly after the break. Mike was trying a few different things on the keyboards that I'd never heard before. He looked over to Rick each time and always got an enthusiastic nod or a big smile. Wish I had the knowledge to tell you what I mean here. Terry and Rick played their customary winning performances with all the licks we've come to know and love. Barry was effective in his usual way, although hobbled somewhat by the building. More on that later.
Gord made a comment about how rotation works, and said the band has a lot of songs they like to do. "The ones I don't like to do, well I don't do them anymore." (I bet a lot of artists wish they had the luxury of that kind of body of work!)
The one encore was CRT. The band came back out, and Gord said. "I guess the show wouldn't be complete without the railroad song. Problem is it's too damn long." The crowd responded in numerous ways that he was mistaken on this account.
All in all, a very good performance.
All my downers are from the building, not the act. I have to go on a rant about the Dodge Center. I understand that's its a brand new building, and there are growing pains. But security was overzealous about a few things. Despite my clipboard, I am no terrorist. There was a very young kid playing a (silent) video game near us. When someone complained about the glow, the kid and his (parents?) were escorted out instead of just being told to turn off the game. They made it seem like it was half-past closing time when the show ended, giving everyone but pass holders the bum's rush. I told one person that I wanted to wait by the stage to get an autograph, and was immediately told that if I didn't leave now, I would be arrested.
In the side sections, there was a noticable echo from Barry's snare drum. It was like "Bang ... dit-dit-dit" and was kind of distracting, and never got solved.
This building is about 200 feet high and 400 feet back. It's like sitting in an airplane hangar, and feels about as intimate. This is not a good venue for the kind of crowd GL draws. Audience reaction is muffled and must seem like the most uncaring audience to the band.
Maybe I'm just spoiled by the laid back attitude of Denver's Paramount Theater staff and the great acoustics. But I wouldn't see Gord at Dodge Center again, even if free Orchestra Pit tickets were given to me.
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