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charlene · 05-19-2012, 08:43 PM

http://www.masslive.com/entertainmen...pry_at_73.html

Gordon Lightfoot still spry at 73

Published: Saturday, May 19, 2012, 8:07 AM Updated: Saturday, May 19, 2012, 2:35 PM

By George Lenker
Gordon Lightfoot hasn't mellowed with age; he's always been that way.

That's not to say Lightfoot, 73, lacks passion—he clearly still cares deeply about the music he makes. More than once during his two-hour show at the Calvin Theatre Friday night he said, "We love the work." His heartfelt appreciation for his fans and his career is almost palpable.

But anyone who showed up expecting anything resembling wild excitement would have been disappointed Friday. This was pure, gentle folk and folk-pop. Based on the audience's enthusiasm for virtually every note, however, it seems as if the crowd was made up of diehard Lightfoot aficionados who knew his entire catalogue. And they were treated to a fine 24-song concert, split into two halves and one-song encore. There was no flash here, just rock-solid professionalism and playing.

The veteran Canadian singer-songwriter kicked things off with the gentle waltz feel of "Sweet Guinevere" off his 1978 album, "Endless Wire" and followed it up with the lilting "Watchmen's Gone." The first thing one noticed was the singer's lush baritone had lost a little texture over the years, most likely as a result of an aneurism he suffered in 2004, which put him in a coma for several weeks. But while he may not sound as strong as he did in his thirties (who does, except maybe Paul McCartney?) his vocal delivery and pitch were spot-on. And his voice was still distinctive as ever—just not as full.

A little later in the set, the tasty finger-picking bounce of "Let It Ride" featured a brief, pretty bass solo of Lighfoot's longtime bassman, Rick Haynes, who has been holding down the bottom end with the singer for more than 40 years.

Lightfoot touched on his lengthy career and the fact that he's still doing it by recalling a thought he had when he was younger: "When I was 40, I thought 'What the hell am I going to do when I'm 70?'" The audience laughed and showed it appreciated what he was still doing with a round of applause.

Lightfoot has a lot of sneaky hits—ones that, unless you're a big fan, you forget he did. One of these is "Rainy Day People" which he did flawlessly. But the lesser-known deep cut of "Shadows" drew just as enthusiastic of a response for the crowd just a few songs later. Another hit, "Carefree Highway" was introduced with Lightfoot saying, "Just when you least expect it, here it comes," and his mega-hit from 1974" Sundown" was launched without any fanfare at all. "Cotton Jenny" ended the first set.

After a short break, the band wasted no time in resuming the hit parade, swooping right into the sea chanty, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." This song threw into relief Lightfoot's usual economical performing style, as it was one of the only tunes that went over the four minute mark.

Other second half highlights included "Early Morning Rain," a Lightfoot tune that Elvis Presley recorded, and a cover of "Ring Them Bells" by Bob Dylan, whom Lightfoot called his "mentor." The night ended with "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" followed by a one-song encore, the muted mid-tempo rock of "Blackberry Wine." We all can only hope to be this nimble when we are 73.

05-19-2012, 08:43 PM	#1
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 15,886	Northampton MA review http://www.masslive.com/entertainmen...pry_at_73.html Gordon Lightfoot still spry at 73 Published: Saturday, May 19, 2012, 8:07 AM Updated: Saturday, May 19, 2012, 2:35 PM By George Lenker Gordon Lightfoot hasn't mellowed with age; he's always been that way. That's not to say Lightfoot, 73, lacks passion—he clearly still cares deeply about the music he makes. More than once during his two-hour show at the Calvin Theatre Friday night he said, "We love the work." His heartfelt appreciation for his fans and his career is almost palpable. But anyone who showed up expecting anything resembling wild excitement would have been disappointed Friday. This was pure, gentle folk and folk-pop. Based on the audience's enthusiasm for virtually every note, however, it seems as if the crowd was made up of diehard Lightfoot aficionados who knew his entire catalogue. And they were treated to a fine 24-song concert, split into two halves and one-song encore. There was no flash here, just rock-solid professionalism and playing. The veteran Canadian singer-songwriter kicked things off with the gentle waltz feel of "Sweet Guinevere" off his 1978 album, "Endless Wire" and followed it up with the lilting "Watchmen's Gone." The first thing one noticed was the singer's lush baritone had lost a little texture over the years, most likely as a result of an aneurism he suffered in 2004, which put him in a coma for several weeks. But while he may not sound as strong as he did in his thirties (who does, except maybe Paul McCartney?) his vocal delivery and pitch were spot-on. And his voice was still distinctive as ever—just not as full. A little later in the set, the tasty finger-picking bounce of "Let It Ride" featured a brief, pretty bass solo of Lighfoot's longtime bassman, Rick Haynes, who has been holding down the bottom end with the singer for more than 40 years. Lightfoot touched on his lengthy career and the fact that he's still doing it by recalling a thought he had when he was younger: "When I was 40, I thought 'What the hell am I going to do when I'm 70?'" The audience laughed and showed it appreciated what he was still doing with a round of applause. Lightfoot has a lot of sneaky hits—ones that, unless you're a big fan, you forget he did. One of these is "Rainy Day People" which he did flawlessly. But the lesser-known deep cut of "Shadows" drew just as enthusiastic of a response for the crowd just a few songs later. Another hit, "Carefree Highway" was introduced with Lightfoot saying, "Just when you least expect it, here it comes," and his mega-hit from 1974" Sundown" was launched without any fanfare at all. "Cotton Jenny" ended the first set. After a short break, the band wasted no time in resuming the hit parade, swooping right into the sea chanty, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." This song threw into relief Lightfoot's usual economical performing style, as it was one of the only tunes that went over the four minute mark. Other second half highlights included "Early Morning Rain," a Lightfoot tune that Elvis Presley recorded, and a cover of "Ring Them Bells" by Bob Dylan, whom Lightfoot called his "mentor." The night ended with "Canadian Railroad Trilogy" followed by a one-song encore, the muted mid-tempo rock of "Blackberry Wine." We all can only hope to be this nimble when we are 73.