Alabama is not good to Gord, it seems. Any Lightheads in attendance? This is from Huntsville (maybe they need to adjust their expectations?)
http://blog.al.com/go/2009/05/gordon...ot_up_t_1.html
Gordon Lightfoot show not up to expectations
Posted by Chris Welch May 13, 2009 11:55 PM
Legendary Canadian singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot performed here for the first time since 1994 Wednesday night at the Von Braun Concert Hall and had many entertaining moments. His voice, unfortunately, also showed the effects of a near fatal aortic aneurysm in 2003 and being 70 years old.
Lightfoot looked gaunt as he took the stage, sort of resembling Billy Bob Thornton, who performed here last year at Merrimack Hall. As concert-goer Jann Holden observed: "He looks the same ... just a little older."
Dressed in a red jacket and grayish slacks, he and his four-piece band took the stage in front of a mostly older crowd of 1,500 or so - which probably included a few hippies who grew up on Lightfoot's ballads - on a sentimental journey of his 40-plus-year outstanding musical career.
The show started a little slow with songs like "Cotton Jenny," "Minstrel of the Dawn," "Triangle" and "14-Karat Gold," and although sometimes the lyrics were hard to decipher, Lightfoot's guitar-playing talents are still very obvious on both a 6-string and 12-string guitar.
"This is the third time I've been in Huntsville," Lightfoot told the crowd. "The last time was in 1994, that's been a while - 15 years. I just love being out here.
"We've got 10 shows in 11 days (he should fire the person who made this grueling schedule for a 70 year old) and this is the seventh show."
At that point, a fan in the crowd yelled, "We miss you!"
Most of the crowd seemed to enjoy the show and applauded his songs, but for the most part was pretty dead (it did give him a standing ovation at the end). There was very little clapping or any extra enthusiasm during the songs.
Of course, Lightfoot's long-time band didn't really do anything to get the crowd pumped. Terry Clements (lead guitar), Rick Haynes (base), Barry Keane (drums) and Mike Heffernan (keyboards) are certainly talented, but their role was obvious - play more of a background role to the star and not overshadow the star with any solos.
The crowd got excited when he finally played one of his more recognizable big hits - "Carefree Highway" - about 34 minutes into this show, then played "Spanish Moss," "Shadows" and "Beautiful" before taking a break.
Lightfoot returned to perform one of his biggest hits - and one of the highlights of the evening -"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." He really seem to shine on hits like this, his voice and lyrics rising to the occasion to match the caliber of the song.
He also sang "Sundown," "If You Could Read My Mind," "Don Quixote," "If Children Had Wings," and "Restless" before doing a tune Lightfoot seemed particularly proud of - a song Elvis recorded called "Early Morning Rain." He came back for one encore and played "Blackberry Wine" to end his nearly two-hour set.
For many in the crowd, just seeing and hearing Lightfoot was a thrill. And he certainly deserves respect for his career. Wednesday night's show just wasn't what I expected or hoped for.
Montgomery AL show cancelled
