The 2008 Massey Hall concerts

ran...@telus.net

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May 19, 2008, 11:29:55 PM5/19/08

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Gordon Lightfoot said when he came out on the stage: "It's hard to
find words to describe how good it feels to be here in the hometown
doing these concerts;" or at least something to that effect. I gave up
trying to remember things exactly how they happen, said etc.,
especially during such a monumental week of festivities. I'm still
floating around in the ozone layer waiting to come back down to
earth. But what he said is exactly my sentiment and it's been more
than a week since the concerts ended and so far there's a mental block
or something going on in my brain that hasn't filtered it's way
through yet, if it ever does. So I don't really know what to say
except for the fact that I was there for all four shows, sitting up
real close to the stage, and by the end of it all I think I ended up
in a somewhat hypnotic state and have as yet to come out of it. I know
it's wrong to end a sentence in a preposition but it sometimes is the
only way I can get my story out. Just what is it that brings an
overflowing crowd to four full house performances, applauding
profusely for more, clapping, whistling, shouting; people of all age
groups, wanting more and more? The answer is probably blowing in the
wind, but that wind is a warm one, a kind and gentle one, a wind that
wisps it's way through and touches the minds and hearts of some of the
most beautiful people I have ever met in my life. This is what the
music of Gordon Lightfoot does. It's been a blessing for me that each
time since I was welcomed into the world of Gordon Lightfoot fans by
my special friend Ed Mullen that the Toronto Massey Hall experience
has introduced me to several very talented, dedicated folks and
artists and they just to seem to keep coming. The risk of leaving out
the names is just too difficult for me to bear so I will close out by
reflecting on the musical end of things and the final memory of
sitting in a room the day before I left Toronto with a most dedicated
Gordon Lightfoot fan, trained by Red Shea and listening to him pick
out Johann Sebastian Bach's "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring." This left me
with many deep thoughts and based on the lengthy conversation we had
together, playing the tunes together and reflecting on the past forty
years or so, remembering the repeat full house concert performances
and the great tunes I am further convinced that Gordon Lightfoot will
go down in history as one of the "Great Composers." Thank you
sincerely, Ron Jones.

lightf...@rogers.com

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May 20, 2008, 11:31:26 AM5/20/08

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I too have been in a cloud Ron..with so much other stuff going on with
my life right now I've barely been able to get all the memories in
focus but I'll be trying to do so in a few weeks. Seeing Lightfoot
back on the stage at Massey makes so much of the chaos of my life
disappear..seeing all of the friends who come to share the love and
music of Lightfoot just adds to the experience, making it all the more
precious to me. Each successive night saw Lightfoot grow stronger,
more relaxed and talkative onstage! The band had themselves a grand
time every night and were perfection as usual. The pub jams that you
organized were great fun and a wonderful place to showcase the talents
of so many of the Internet fans..and the after concert gatherings at
the pub were a grand way to end the evenings after the concerts. Of
course we missed so many of the folks who couldn't make it this time
but we met many new fans/friends and showed them just what a fine
bunch we are!
Gordon stated onstage one night that 'if we're still standing in 18
months we'll all be back here" so all who want to make plans for
November 2009 can start now..!
Many of you will be attending concerts this summer and fall and I am
beyond green with envy..I had 4 amazing nights in May and will have to
be content with them and a few precious moments with The Man..
Char