Massey Night One
Ianthe46
picture taken under the Massey sign, but tonight when I came around the corner,
on Shuter Street, the sign was lit up. I lit up, myself. Wow. Andy laughed
at me, when I let out a whoop. This night would be my first night at Massey
Hall, ever, and I was going to see Gordon LIghtfoot. I'm sure 'you' all
understand, in a way the rest of the world cannot.
What a place. It sort of reminds me of a beautiful woman who has weathered the
awkwardness of middle age, and now is considered 'handsome'. there are no
tatters anywhere in Massey, she is warm and wonderful and welcomes you with a
scented hug. Oh.....
I was going to tell you about meeting everyone earlier. We did meet, in twos
and threes. We drifted into various constellations, and eventually all went
out the door of the hotel to walk the five blocks to Massey. When we got
there, and found our seats, the next person we met was Barry Harvey. he gave
Jenney the welcome news that she would be allowed backstage. Alone. I think
she was sort of relieved at nothaving to pick a favorite to go with her. I was
certainly tickled, since she has worked SO hard on this get together.
And then the houselights went down.
What follows is the set list. I was sitting between Doug and Darin, and they
were both wonderful concert mates. The shirts Darin designed caused lots of
comments, and he got offers...but then, I'll let him post about that after he
gets home.
Don Quixote
Anything YOu Say
Uncle Toad Said
Beautiful
Frgive me Lord
Sea of Tranquility
Heaven Don't Deserve me (A rarity, quothe he)
Sundown
Drifters
Same old Obessions * (the asterisk for Jenney, who will have a few words to say
about that later)
Boat house
Cotton Jenney (is that spelled right:)
Carefree Highway
And
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
Second set
Never too close
Restless
Prove my love to you
(he introduced the band here)
Waiting for you
Shadows (which destroyed me, utterly, I sobbed almost audibly)
If YOu Could REad My Mind
APPT
Make way for the Lady
(and here he switched to his 12 string and played
Early Morning Rain
Song for a Winter's Night (after noodling around with a few Christmas Carols)
Baby Step Back
He came back for an encore
Canadian Railroad Trilogy.
Massey was nearly full and everyone was delightful. Gordon was warm, and in
wonderful voice. That's a lot of superlatives, but to be honest, when Doug
told me I should post the review tonight I told him I'd never be able to
because I was flummoxed. I still feel that way. I loved it, and I know I
have two more nights, but this was the first one. This will always remain with
me, this night with my new friends, and of course thinking of those who
couldn't be with us one way or another (like Shirley, who was there in spirit I
know). I"m weeping again, so I'd better go before I short out Doug's laptop
computer. Oh, and BTW, today was Doug's birthday. I can't think of a better
way to spend a birthday...
I have to go now.
lilymarlena, Ianthe46, Lynn O.
Mostly, I"m just the Emotional Mess.
Tcquinn1
the details will come out from other NG members more eloquent than I am, Lynn
touched on a point that is worth repeating.
Getting to know the newsgroupers really drove home the point that Gordon has a
classy bunch of fans, all over the world.
That speaks volumes about the caliber of his music.
Tim
Valerie L. Magee
guess Shadows really wiped you out - you missed the two songs right before it!) and
a couple of other notes.
First, Gord performed Red Velvet and then Blackberry Wine after Waiting For You and
before Shadows. He used his 6 string for Red Velvet. I think that the recording is
12 string (can anyone confirm?). He also retuned a bit before it which may have
simply been a correction, but seemed to be more. (Don't feel bad about missing the
songs. I missed a song in a review last year too, but luckily Jenney got it right.
When you are enjoying a concert and also trying to write down the set list, strange
things happen).
Also, at some point during the concert somebody called out for I Used To Be A
Country Singer. Gord replied that Steve McKeon would be coming down from Barrie
tomorrow night (today, Friday, that is). Then he called out his name, asking if he
were there. No one replied, and he went on to another song. I'd say it's a good bet
that Gord will do "Country Singer" tonight and acknowledge Steve's presence. Mind
you, it was a real strain to catch what Gord was saying about Steve - it didn't
click for me until about 60 seconds later and I suspect a lot of people missed it.
He said Steve's name, but not clearly, and didn't say he was the songwriter. I
heard him say Barrie, and remembered reading that somewhere, and then I understood
what he had said.
And, I'm sure everyone already knows that I was very happy indeed that Heaven Don't
Deserve Me has made it securely into the set list. The audience reaction was very
enthusiastic. The song is a real crowd pleaser and people who I think were hearing
it for the first time laughed audibly at the amusing lyrics.
Ianthe46 wrote:
--
Regards,
Valerie
Visit my Gordon Lightfoot web site at http://gordonlightfoot.com
jd...@my-deja.com
us in the hinterlands about a Gordon concert. He has been in D.M
several times and I have never missed his concerts and have never been
disappointed. I wonder, though, in talking to friends in town where his
fans in this area are, since almost noone appears to have heard any but
his biggest hits, until I play on my guitar & sing a few for them.
There certainly are virtually none played on our local radio stations
(and none from the last 15 years or so). I want to thank one of the
members of this site for turning me on to the web site which has words
& chords to virtually all of Gord's songs. I was 'dying' to be able to
play 'If Children Had Wings', 'If You Need Me' and one other song. I
will respond directly to that person also. Kim.
In article <382C8832...@mindspring.com>,
"Valerie L. Magee" <vlm...@mindspring.com> wrote:
> Thank you for the beautiful review, Lynn...
>
> Visit my Gordon Lightfoot web site at http://gordonlightfoot.com
>
>
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
David Voeltz
>I love Massey Hall. I have been to Toronto a number of times and even had my
>picture taken under the Massey sign, but tonight when I came around the corner,
>on Shuter Street, the sign was lit up. I lit up, myself. Wow. Andy laughed
>at me, when I let out a whoop. This night would be my first night at Massey
>Hall, ever, and I was going to see Gordon LIghtfoot. I'm sure 'you' all
<snip>
What a wonderful post. thanks for sharing. And I'll look foward for
to the posts for day 2 and 3.
Dave in Pierre, SD
Mcarl4444
>12 string (can anyone confirm?).
I think he used his 6 on the CD studio version. I don't have to CD near me at
the moment, but mt recollection is the 12 was used on RNL and YS only on the
CD. My guess, only his hair dresser knows for sure. (Am I old or what?)
Thank for the great reviews! We all wish we were with the you all "on Younge
Street"!
Matt
DRBUDD
a
classy bunch of fans, all over the world.
That speaks volumes about the caliber of his music.
Tim
Here, here!!!
donnie
>>
JenRivard
cents (1 cent Canadian) to the concert. I just got home a little while ago. I
did run into a couple of people at Saturday's concert that wanted to know what
happened to me, and if I'd calmed down a little since my arrivial! The answer
is I was having too much fun to post, and I finally wound down by Sat. night.
Before the concert started I hunted down, I mean looked up Barry Harvey to
plead one more time for a personal appearence by GL. I knew there really was no
possibility, but as many people in Toronto discovered last week, I have no
pride! He greeted me and was very gracious to all of us. He posed for a group
photo with all of us and talked for awhile. He pulled me aside and told me I
would be going backstage, but only me as there were a great deal of people
going back. I looked at my 24 new best friends and was mildly relieved that I
didn't have to chose just one. Of course Darin was very helpful on this issue.
When i mentioned to Doug, Lynn and him that it would've been hard to choose,
his answer was "forget about them, take me!" What a guy!
Thursday night's concert was fantastic! I don't think it was just my euphoria
of being there eiither. Lightfoot came out and started singing wonderfully, no
2 or 3 song warm up needed. As he sang, I began to relax for the 1st time in
days. Unfortunately for Darin, I also had an overwhelming flood of emotions hit
me. I sat there with tears streaming down my face, so glad that I was finally
there, that I was able to be there, did I leave the iron on at home....you name
it, it hit me! By the 2nd song, I was able to get a grip. Poor Dareott had Lynn
going on the other side of him, and was probably trying to figure out how to
move to another seat!
I had wanted to hear 2 songs, Forgive Me Lord, and Never Too Close in
particular and got both of them. When he started singing Same Old Obsession, I
felt 16 years old again, playing my vinyl records and wallowing in my teen age
angst. What a beautiful song, and he sang it magnificiently! I always feel that
in every concert there is one song that shines above all others, and that night
it was Same Old Obsession.Sigh.
It was most definitly the best concert musically of the 3 nights. Unfortunatly
I don't believe they were taping that night.
I lined up with the others to get backstage at the end of the concert. What a
feeling when they ask you if your name is on the list, and you can assurandly
say YES! I looked out at the "little people" :-) and sort of wished that I was
going with them, as I was sure they were going to have fun whereever they were
going. That feeling passed quickly as I moved backstage. Right after I got
through the door, the guard asked me which person was my guest. I looked in
horror out at the newsgroupers who were fairly far away by now. Then I realized
that John, Susan and Diane were directly behind me. Diane and Susan pushed John
forward, and the backstage of Massey Hall swallowed us up. Since John is from
England, the chances of him getting backstage again are pretty slim, so it was
a good choice. Also since everything happened so fast, I didn't have time to
have to decide who to take. I felt a little like Meryl Streep in Sophies
Choice!
We were escorted downstairs, and to the area where the bar is set up to sell
concessions. John and I met a woman named Ann who was back there by herself and
convinced her to accompany us to Orillia the next day. I doubt she will ever be
the same! There were about 60 people back there. The band came out and bit by
bit John and I got everyones autograph on the front of the Songbook in a white
pen that John brought. We got pictures with everyone. I asked Mike Heffernan if
he felt like Mickey Mouse at Disneyworld. He asked if his ears were sticking
out. I guess he never lined up with kids to get autographs and pictures at
Disney. He asked if John's camera was digital and if that meant his picture was
going to be plastered all over the internet. I told him it wouldn't if he
stopped by on Saturday! He replied that was blackmail, to which I replied
"Well, Yah!" Remeber, i have no pride! I asked every member of the band if they
would stop by, but they all politely declined. Rick Haynes said they would feel
akward if Gordon wasn't there, and he couldn't make it. I told him our group
appreciates the band just as much as we do Gordon, but I could understand that.
John and I waited for GL. I must say I was surpriseed by the people back there.
They crowded him, and a few took him by the arm and turned him around a few
times. We had been surprised during the concert by some very vocal people
shouting at him, and a woman that ran onto the stage! We had never seen that
before, and that's how I felt backstage. Imagine having people crowding and
grabbing you after you just got off work!
After awhile Barry Harvey told me that he needed to clear out the room. I told
him that I had not had a chance to speak to Gordon, and I just wanted to get
his autograph. Barry went over to GL and took him by the arm. He escorted him
over to me and said, "Gordon, here's someone I want you to meet, Jenney Rivard.
She organized the internet meeting in your honor". Gordon gave me a little bow,
and thanked me for everything that I had done. I looked around casually for the
paramedics that were going to have to treat my cardiac arrest. Not finding any,
I proceeded to ask for an autograph.
When we planned the Orillia trip, it took me a long time to trasck down someone
that knew where his boyhood home was. I had 2 possible addresses, and since one
was given to me by a couple of people, I thought that was probably it. Keep in
mind, it took a long time to find that out. I told GL that we were having a
great time, and had even rented a bus to tour Orillia. He said "Oh, are you
going to go past my old house at 283 Harvey Street?" :-l
Who knew it was that easy!
I did ask GL if there was any possibility that he could come by the hotel to
meet with us. He said it was difficult when they were in town, and asked me
what time. Barry Harvey told him that he had all the information, and would
review it with him. I left with the hope that he might still make it, but
knowing that I was very politely and nicely told no. It was quite obvious that
all of the band, and GL were quite aware that we were meeting, and that they
were invited. I was happy to know that at least they knew we were there, and
that they seemed flattered by our interset. They were all very polite and
friendly about it.
It was a wonderful end to a wonderful day! I'm sure that I will think of many
other things from Thursday, but I still have Friday and Sat. to post about! I
may not get to all of them in one day. Thursday was a concert I wil always
remember. Musically and emotionally for me, it was the finest.
Jenney
Darerott
>would be going backstage, but only me as there were a great deal of people
>going back. I looked at my 24 new best friends and was mildly relieved that I
>didn't have to chose just one. Of course Darin was very helpful on this
>issue.
>When i mentioned to Doug, Lynn and him that it would've been hard to choose,
>his answer was "forget about them, take me!" What a guy!
Well....what would you all do? :-)
>Unfortunately for Darin, I also had an overwhelming flood of emotions hit
>me. I sat there with tears streaming down my face, so glad that I was finally
>there, that I was able to be there, did I leave the iron on at home....you
>name
>it, it hit me! By the 2nd song, I was able to get a grip. Poor Dareott had
>Lynn
>going on the other side of him, and was probably trying to figure out how to
>move to another seat!
At the rate the tears were falling there, I would have just had to paddle my
Canary Yellow canoe to another seat.
I was starting to think that maybe the tears were because you two had to sit by
me! :-)
Really it was my pleasure to act as a kleenex for you two.
Darin
"Bless you all and keep you with the faith to let it pass"