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The Legend lives on at Essar
REVIEW: Iconic Canadian musician/songwriter starts out slow, but sets sail on Sault stage
Posted By JEFFREY OUGLER, THE SAULT STAR
Posted 1 day ago
A Gordon Lightfoot gig these days is somewhat similar to -- and perhaps as predictable as -- your morning double-double.
Both are somewhat sweet and, for the fan, a nice fix--but not necessarily a just jolt.
As witnessed Saturday night at Sault Ste. Marie's Essar Centre, Lightfoot offers no big surprises, at least musically. But he still has a knack for leaving the listener nourished.
His set list included about 25 songs, mostly testaments to his huge commercial 1970s successes -- Sundown, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and Carefree Highway are staples.
A few newer offerings were featured, each pulled off with the polished professionalism fans have come to expect from the iconic Canadian musician and celebrated songwriter.
But, at least during the first set of Saturday's show, Lightfoot's voice was no great shakes, especially during opener Cotton Jenny. The vocal chords didn't really recoup until The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the last song of the set before intermission.
Although the first portion of the performance boasted a number of Lightfoot favourites, including Carefree Highway, In My Fashion, Rainy Day People, Shadows, Beautiful and Ribbon of Darkness, as well as later offerings Sea of Tranquility and A Painter Passing Through, the usual excitement of hearing the master tell his tales was somewhat sullied.
In fact, it wasn't untilEdmund Fitzgeraldthat Lightfoot interacted much with the crowd, introducing what many consider his signature song by discussing the doomed ship's 1975 ordeal on Lake Superior.
He described flying over the area the previous evening on his way to the Sault from Thunder Bay, suggesting had the good ship and crew remained afloat for another 15 minutes, they might have reached the "relative safety" of Whitefish Bay. He said Mother Nature essentially tossed the Edmund Fitzgerald into what "would be called today a perfect storm."
Thankfully for Lightfoot, he sailed into smoother waters for his second set.
Swapping a jacket for a vest, the veteran performer reemerged with what appeared to be a second wind, both vocally and verbally.
Introductions to songs often contained witty personal parables.
"I wrote this after hanging out with Jerry Jeff Walker too long," said Lightfoot prior toHangdog Hotel Room,the 1978 B-side to hit singleDaylight Katy,which he didn't perform.
References to past relationships, such as "second ex-old lady" and a salute to first wife, Brita, "She was the best of the whole lot," drew loud laughter and applause from the some 2,800 in attendance (3,300 tickets were available).
"As soon as we hit puberty the trouble starts," Lightfoot said with a shy grin.
Lightfoot's 2002 brush with death -- he suffered a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm -- has, no doubt, left him frail.
He admits to now pursuing a healthier lifestyle -- and it appears to have paid dividends.
Lightfoot is still a handsome physical specimen at 70, rapier-slim with the even tips of his full head of hair touching his shoulders. In fact, with his fine, toned features, he has come to resemble an aging Marlboro Man.
And midway through the second set, the Essar Centre clearly lit up.
"Soo Greyhounds, eh. Pretty impressive alumni," Lightfoot said, although conceding, with a laugh, he couldn't recall any past players by show time, save for The Great One.
He challenged drummer Barry Keane's memory and was quickly reminded of Ron Francis, John Vanbiesbrouck and Bob Probert.
Along with Keane, Lightfoot was buoyed by very able veteran sidemen Rick Haynes (bass), Terry Clements (lead guitar) and Mike Heffernan (keyboards).
The second set also featured classicsIf You Could Read My Mind, Don Quixote, Baby Step BackandMinstrel of the Dawn, as well as the delightfully uplifting Triangle, from 1982's Shadows.
Lightfoot wrapped up the regular portion of the concert with Canadian Railroad Trilogy,returning withSong for a Winter's NightandOld Dan's Records("A perfect song for a Saturday night in Sault Ste. Marie") as encore offerings.
The mostly middle-aged and older audience -- members of the younger set appeared to be accompanied by a parent -- was polite and appreciative, especially generous with applause for well-known numbers. There were at least two standing ovations.
Every song played during the nearly two-hour performance was a gem, but it would have been nice for Lightfoot, who told The Sault Star recently he's not currently penning new material, to mine more into his United Artists catalogue for live performances.
Hearing him, alone on stage with just his trusty acoustic guitar, sing such early gems as Changes, Wherefor & Whyor Bitter Greet,would have been a treat beyond compare.
And the volume Saturday night might have been boosted a few decibels, especially for folks sitting on the sides, close to the stage.
But given Lightfoot's turbulent personal history of failed relationships, substance abuse and near-fatal illnesses, it's just great to see the legend living on and still appearing to enjoy his craft.
Lightfoot said it best Saturday night: "I just feel fortunate to still be doing this."
Sault Star newspaper review
