One benefit of having gone to more concerts in the last few years is that I am now on various mailing lists alerting me to upcoming events. So I am no longer quite as oblivious to entertainment opportunities as I must have been for decades. For example, in all the years that I have been a Gordon Lightfoot fan, I somehow always missed hearing about his tours or live performances. Until now. In some recent Ticketmaster or Live Nation email I finally caught sight of an upcoming Friday night Gordon Lightfoot show in Aurora, Illinois in time to buy tickets! Aurora was almost 5 hours away, but not too far from my sister’s house so it was a perfect opportunity to plan a “sisters night out”. Since hubby was gone on a 5 day business trip there was all the more reason for me to travel as well.
The only glitch in my plan was timing. I couldn’t leave campus until my late afternoon class ended, so I would barely have enough time to get to Aurora by 8 pm.
I made good time to the Iowa border but nearly pulled out my hair in frustration went traffic was backed up for about 5 miles when Interstate 80 narrowed to a single lane due to work on the bridge across the Mississippi - ARGH!! Traffic was also pretty heavy as I approached the suburban Chicago area so I was glad I had emailed a ticket to my sister so she could get into the show even if I was late. I had not been clever enough to look into parking options near the Paramount Theatre in Aurora; Aurora had sounded ‘small town’ to me but it was crazy busy in the downtown district. After circling a few blocks I resorted to valet parking at the local casino and went off running (well, actually kind of hobbling fast after sitting in the car for all those hours) to the theatre. I walked in just as they turned out the lights! (a little too close for comfort since Gordon didn’t have an opening act)
The Paramount is a magnificent old theatre which had all its gilding and elaborate wall and ceiling decorations renovated some years ago - a very special venue along the lines of the Chicago Theatre on State Street but more showy. Judi and I were seated in about the 15th row of the mainfloor on the leftland aisle. The rows are nicely tiered and staggered so that everyone has a good view.
Gordon stood at a center microphone for his entire performance, with a four piece band behind him. I was really surprised that he didn’t opt to move between a stool and standing during the night (as had Jackson Browne and also James Taylor at their recent shows), but I guess every performer has their own routine. Gordon is slender and wiry, with longish straight, graying brown hair (didn’t he almost have a curly afro look at one time?) and actually did a change of clothes during the intermission : )
It was wonderful hearing so many of “Gord’s Gold” live - those songs bring back so many memories. And, as my sister commented, Gordon is so good at telling a story in each of his songs. He also sometimes shared personal stories between numbers.
His acoustic guitar work was sweet as ever as he plucked out the familiar tunes. His voice is no longer quite as strong and resonant as it was - how could it be after nearly forty years and some serious illness along the way. But he still commanded cheers and standing ovations and shouted requests and “We love you Gord”’s from the audience!
Here are a few highlights of the evening - sorry the lighting was not the best.
Sundown http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9P7ej54cug&feature=related
If You Could Read My Mind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTQM2NZg0nE
In the Early Morning Rain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZr1RtP0Vkg&feature=related
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuMYLN0ayHU
Postscript: I was looking forward to another Friday night show this week - another artist I have never seen perform, Richard Marx - coming to Iowa, no less! Sadly I just got an email that the show has been cancelled - no explanation given, : ( And he is off to Bulgaria next, so I guess I can't catch another show!
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