Hi All:

Running on fumes here with all the travel and dual excitement/concern over the concerts and then Gordon's condition the past few days.

Just returned from the State Theatre with my 17-year old son. (His first GL concert, for me it is over 30 now). My son actually thought he was cool for a 67-year old !!

No opening act was advertised but when the lights dimmed, Adam Levy from the HoneyDogs (local Twin Cities band) appeared on stage to perform an acoustic solo set of 5 songs. I guessed then that we were going to get the "casino" set rather than the two sets with an intermission format.

Gord looked far better than he did on Friday night but was nowhere close to normal. He still played intermittedly. He did explain to the crowd that he had a "transient" stroke on Friday and showed how his middle and ring fingers on his right hand are not working. There was a noticeable gasp among the crowd when he described this.

He said he had spent the last 48 hours adjusting to try to play with these limitations. I am no guitar expert whatsoever, but he was playing up higher on the neck of the guitar with his strumming and picking. Maybe someone else out there can help describe exactly what adjustments he was making. As on Friday, he was frequently having trouble gripping the guitar pick and switching grips several times during each song. Once he joked about holding the picks in his teeth.

He had a couple of humorous lines about Friday night that he was taken to the Escanaba, Michigan hospital after Friday's show and thanked the hospital staff. He asked the band, "Where the hell were we on Friday night?" He mentioned that he is scheduled to see a neurologist here in the Twin Cities on Monday's off-day and that he brought the x-rays and DVDs for the exam !!

Here is the set list:

Opening Act: Adam Levy from the HoneyDogs


1) Cotton Jenny
2) Carefree Highway
3) Sea of Tranquility
4) Never Too Close
5) 14 Karat Gold
6) In My Fashion
7) A Painter Passing Through
8) Rainy Day People
9) Shadows
10) Beautiful
11) Waiting For You
12) The Watchman's Gone
13) Ribbon of Darkness
14) Sundown
15) Wreck of E.F.
16) If You Could Read My Mind
17) Don Quixote
18) Baby Step Back
19) Blackberry Wine
20) Early Morning Rain
Encore:
21) Old Dan's Records

Very polite crowd but not subdued. There were several standing ovations. Gord remarked how he remembered playing at the old Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis 40 years ago. Hope someone mentioned to him that the old Guthrie was torn down and rebuilt in the past year.

Couple of more funny lines: He talked about the line from "Never Too Close" about the bonds of truth were not made to measure. He said he always thinks of a suit made to measure when he sings it and asked the crowd if we did the same !! He also had an extended intro before "Waiting For You" explaining that it was written for his wife that the inspiration was that he always found himself waiting for her to reappear from somewhere in the house. He mentioned that they interact like any family but they have lived apart for a number of years.

Anyway, that's all I know. I tried to get tickets to Wausau (Sept 19) but it sold out early the first day and I called two hours late.

All you folks in southern Wisconsin and Chicago, please let the newsgroup know how the shows go down there later this week. Much appreciated.

Regards,

John - Forest Lake, MN
aka: seafarer62

Hi All:

Running on fumes here with all the travel and dual excitement/concern over the concerts and then Gordon's condition the past few days.

Just returned from the State Theatre with my 17-year old son. (His first GL concert, for me it is over 30 now). My son actually thought he was cool for a 67-year old !!

No opening act was advertised but when the lights dimmed, Adam Levy from the HoneyDogs (local Twin Cities band) appeared on stage to perform an acoustic solo set of 5 songs. I guessed then that we were going to get the "casino" set rather than the two sets with an intermission format.

Gord looked far better than he did on Friday night but was nowhere close to normal. He still played intermittedly. He did explain to the crowd that he had a "transient" stroke on Friday and showed how his middle and ring fingers on his right hand are not working. There was a noticeable gasp among the crowd when he described this.

He said he had spent the last 48 hours adjusting to try to play with these limitations. I am no guitar expert whatsoever, but he was playing up higher on the neck of the guitar with his strumming and picking. Maybe someone else out there can help describe exactly what adjustments he was making. As on Friday, he was frequently having trouble gripping the guitar pick and switching grips several times during each song. Once he joked about holding the picks in his teeth.

He had a couple of humorous lines about Friday night that he was taken to the Escanaba, Michigan hospital after Friday's show and thanked the hospital staff. He asked the band, "Where the hell were we on Friday night?" He mentioned that he is scheduled to see a neurologist here in the Twin Cities on Monday's off-day and that he brought the x-rays and DVDs for the exam !!

Here is the set list:

Opening Act: Adam Levy from the HoneyDogs


1) Cotton Jenny
2) Carefree Highway
3) Sea of Tranquility
4) Never Too Close
5) 14 Karat Gold
6) In My Fashion
7) A Painter Passing Through
8) Rainy Day People
9) Shadows
10) Beautiful
11) Waiting For You
12) The Watchman's Gone
13) Ribbon of Darkness
14) Sundown
15) Wreck of E.F.
16) If You Could Read My Mind
17) Don Quixote
18) Baby Step Back
19) Blackberry Wine
20) Early Morning Rain
Encore:
21) Old Dan's Records

Very polite crowd but not subdued. There were several standing ovations. Gord remarked how he remembered playing at the old Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis 40 years ago. Hope someone mentioned to him that the old Guthrie was torn down and rebuilt in the past year.

Couple of more funny lines: He talked about the line from "Never Too Close" about the bonds of truth were not made to measure. He said he always thinks of a suit made to measure when he sings it and asked the crowd if we did the same !! He also had an extended intro before "Waiting For You" explaining that it was written for his wife that the inspiration was that he always found himself waiting for her to reappear from somewhere in the house. He mentioned that they interact like any family but they have lived apart for a number of years.

Anyway, that's all I know. I tried to get tickets to Wausau (Sept 19) but it sold out early the first day and I called two hours late.

All you folks in southern Wisconsin and Chicago, please let the newsgroup know how the shows go down there later this week. Much appreciated.

Regards,

John - Forest Lake, MN
aka: seafarer62

Thank you John and Claudia,
21 songs is not a bad concert, and fairly fantastic for someone who is in the midst of a medical problem. The Mayo is a fantastic hospital, if anyone can find out what is going on and what to do it is the doctors there. I found it surprising that Gord went to the hospital in Michigan after the show instead of before - how like him to "deliver" first. This certainly eases my mind. Nice of him to be so congenial with the crowd.
Sorry you can't make it to Wausau. Thank you both for taking the time to let the rest of us know what was going on.
Brink

Thanks for the update John. Gordon did the concert, but was not 100%. Hope things will get to normal for him. Your son saw a 67 cool dude eh?

Wow, you sure have seen a lot of Lightfoot concerts.

All the best,

~Jesse-Joe~ :)

Thanks for the update John. Gordon did the concert, but was not 100%. Hope things will get to normal for him. Your son saw a 67 cool dude eh?

Wow, you sure have seen a lot of Lightfoot concerts.

All the best,

~Jesse-Joe~ :)

Another Twin Cities follow-up:

Just heard a great account of the Minneapolis concert on the radio: WCCO-AM (830) is one of our large 50,000 watt stations in the Twin Cities (News/Talk).

One of the morning show hosts, Erik Eskola, I know is a big Gord fan and attended last night's concert. Erik hails from Duluth and I have seen him at past GL concerts, both here in the Twin Cities and Duluth.

Erik spent several minutes this morning during the drive-time show giving his review of last night's concert. He called it the most courageous performance he had ever seen by any entertainer. Erik reflected on much of what I did about the painful grimaces in finding a position to hold his picks and his attempts to strum more than twice before pain or lack of muscle control forced him to stop. He described Gord's honesty to his audience about his condition and said the concert was simply excellent and was his most memorable over the 30 years that he had seen him.

Something Erik added that I forgot to what that the State Theatre was sold-out last night and there were several heartfelt standing ovations. He also added that Gord was picking up guitar picks off the stage almost as if he was cleaning up after himself. Ever the gentleman.

I couldn't concur more with Erik. I've seen GL in concert since 1977, some 35 concerts or so. Different venues. Different songs from other phases of his career. I think he said as much about perservance last night through his actions than his songs.

I think the most emotional moment for many in the crowd last night was some woman several rows in front of us said during a quiet moment very politely "We love you Gordon. Thank you for coming back (to the Twin Cities.)" Gord heard and was geniunely moved since this was his first Twin Cities appearance since his earlier illness.

I am sure Gord will see a top-notch specialist here in Minnesota and will be given sound advice about the upcoming tour. I definitely want to see more concerts but what we saw Sunday night in Minneapolis took the person of Gordon Lightfoot to another level. Certainly an inspiration for all of us to press on and never give up.

Sure glad I took the day off of work today. I'm wrung out and what a past few days !!

John / Forest Lake, MN

John, thank you so much for your reviews and information. You have no idea how much it means to the rest of us that weren't there. I helped to know that we had a "friend" in the audience.
One just has to be in awe of Gord's work ethic. It is remarkable. With so many artists that get press for behaving badly, it makes us admire Gord even more.
John, was the last concert at the State theater the one I met you at? Seems like so long ago, and just yesterday all at the same time.
My husband goes in for some fairly major surgery tomorrow. Oddly enough, I find myself more worried about Gord! I'm going to assume it's due to the lack of info and control, and the fact he's been through so much.
Thanks again to Claudia dn to John for taking the time to describe the show so well.
Jenney

John, thank you so much for your reviews and information. You have no idea how much it means to the rest of us that weren't there. I helped to know that we had a "friend" in the audience.
One just has to be in awe of Gord's work ethic. It is remarkable. With so many artists that get press for behaving badly, it makes us admire Gord even more.
John, was the last concert at the State theater the one I met you at? Seems like so long ago, and just yesterday all at the same time.
My husband goes in for some fairly major surgery tomorrow. Oddly enough, I find myself more worried about Gord! I'm going to assume it's due to the lack of info and control, and the fact he's been through so much.
Thanks again to Claudia dn to John for taking the time to describe the show so well.
Jenney

I'm sure Gordon will be in the best hands - medical wise. The Mayo clinic is one of the best hospitals in the States and has top notch Stroke/Neurologist specialists.
I would think he spoke with his own doctor's in Toronto before and they made the joint descision to see a specialist here in or near the Twin Cities.
But I can't deny it. After seeing him struggle yesterday evening, I'm sick to my stomach with worry.
While in the concert, I suddenly realized that I somehow tried to use my own willpower to help him regaining enough muscle control to hold firm to that damn piece of plastic and just strum along without pain - silly? Probably, but I just couldn't help it.

John, I'm sorry I missed you. I saw you sitting in Row W and wanted to say hello at the intermission. But since there was no intermission, I couldn't get up fast enough after the concert.

Claudia

I'm sure Gordon will be in the best hands - medical wise. The Mayo clinic is one of the best hospitals in the States and has top notch Stroke/Neurologist specialists.
I would think he spoke with his own doctor's in Toronto before and they made the joint descision to see a specialist here in or near the Twin Cities.
But I can't deny it. After seeing him struggle yesterday evening, I'm sick to my stomach with worry.
While in the concert, I suddenly realized that I somehow tried to use my own willpower to help him regaining enough muscle control to hold firm to that damn piece of plastic and just strum along without pain - silly? Probably, but I just couldn't help it.

John, I'm sorry I missed you. I saw you sitting in Row W and wanted to say hello at the intermission. But since there was no intermission, I couldn't get up fast enough after the concert.

Claudia

If there is one thing we can always count on from Gordon it is his honesty....sometimes very painful honesty and sometimes humorous honesty. The comments above seem to bring that out again.
I'm sure Gord took some comfort and strength from the crowd on both Friday and Saturday night.
We will wish him very well.
Thank you, all, for the fullness of your reports.

If there is one thing we can always count on from Gordon it is his honesty....sometimes very painful honesty and sometimes humorous honesty. The comments above seem to bring that out again.
I'm sure Gord took some comfort and strength from the crowd on both Friday and Saturday night.
We will wish him very well.
Thank you, all, for the fullness of your reports.

The problem is, a TIA, trancient aschemic attack, in about 1/3 of the people who has them, is a precursor to a major stroke. They're usually caused by blood clots. I would suspect, because of his prior illness, they're a little hesitant to give him blood thinners.
Medicine is amazing these days, though. If he watches his diet and gets plenty of exercise, maybe he'll be one of the lucky ones.
Generally, the effects of a TIA are temporary. Because of that, many ignore them, which is mistake #1.
Hey folks, I've officially lost 20 lbs since being diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes! Wha-hoo!

I had read the news from Harris before heading downtown last night and was prepared for anything. Obviously at 5 minutes passed starting time, with no guitars on stage, something wasn't right. Out popped Adam Levy who (must have gotten a surprise call earlier in the day) was probably as surprised as the rest of us that he was out there on stage Sunday night at the State. The "casino" set was obviously in store. I decided to bury my immediate disappointment and just hope the boss was feeling good. He was indeed. With the exception of the missing famed guitar chops, the show was actually pretty good. What Gord couldn't provide with the 6 and 12, he seemed to make up for with a thoughtful and emotional vocal. The real keys to the evening were A) Gord was in a good mood, and throughout the set lauged off and made light of the situation, which made everyone relax and B) the Minneapolis crowd (sold out on a Sunday) who have always loved him here, were overwhelmingly understanding and supportive; several standing ovations as noted elsewhere on this blog. He mentioned he was slated to see a neurologist here in the Twin Cities on Monday to another round of applause. No CRT, which I think is the first time in my 27 shows, but a spendid evening in the end. The guys were especially grand in toning down the sound in some places and filling it in more in others; real quiet for the most part (think Lightfoot unplugged; if there can be such a thing).. It occurred to me late in the program that maybe Gord will end up going out as just a vocalist on a stage, like the kid on the Country Hoedown, and I decided this was good enough for me. But all told and having said all that, I believe the boss is probably suffering a temporary "mechanical" problem, which hopefully will pass in the days and weeks to come. To the folks down Wisconsin way and into Aurora next Saturday I say, come out with a good attitude, have fun, and enjoy the evening, for none of us know about tomorrow.. and that I suppose, is as it should be.

[ September 18, 2006, 10:31: Message edited by: RJ ]

RJ, was he able to do any fingerpicking at all?

Cathy,

from what I observed, he was only picking a very basic pattern - mostly just alternating the bass strings with an occasional "fill in". It was very obvious when he played Don Quixote but Terry took over some of Gordon's part there - compliments to him.

He played the bottom lines with thumb on E-A, or A-D strings only on the 6; 1-2, 1-2, 1-2 etc.. (it made songs like Shadows and Painter especially moving I thought)..

[ September 18, 2006, 13:31: Message edited by: RJ ]

Cathy,

from what I observed, he was only picking a very basic pattern - mostly just alternating the bass strings with an occasional "fill in". It was very obvious when he played Don Quixote but Terry took over some of Gordon's part there - compliments to him.

Gordon Lightfoot....
Thanks for coming to Minneapolis.
What a fun and energized show you put on last night.....it was like visiting with a long time friend!
I hope that you are feeling better and will soon be recovered from the mini stroke.
There has been for 30+ years and always will be a Gordon shaped place in my heart.
Love to you,
Sheryl Denise

re: compliments to T.C..

Indeed.. he was a real trooper..

Congratulations Cathy on losing the 20 - that's SO hard to do.

Congratulations Cathy on losing the 20 - that's SO hard to do.

I think it is amazing that he carries on so well despite the stroke. I talked to him this morning and he is about the same, just concerned about getting better so he can finish the tour! Such a great, humble guy. I hope he takes the time to take care of himself, however.

PJP

It's a lot easier now that my thyroid has kicked back in and is at normal levels.
Of course, the type 2 Diabetes scare probably had something to do with it, too.

I think it is amazing that he carries on so well despite the stroke. I talked to him this morning and he is about the same, just concerned about getting better so he can finish the tour! Such a great, humble guy. I hope he takes the time to take care of himself, however.

PJP

You talked to him?? Out of couriosity - where did you see him?

You talked to him?? Out of couriosity - where did you see him?

I am so worried about GL! I hope he recovers soon and is back on tour. However, I have a feeling that will not be the case. So many of our musical icons are aging...GL, John Stewart, Paul Simon and Arty, Ian Tyson, Meat Loaf, Don McLean to name a few. It's enough to make a girl feel sad and old. :(

We saw and heard Gord last night at the State Theatre in Minneapolis. You're all right. "what a trooper he is." He made light of his lack of dexterity in his hand, and just forged right ahead.
The reaction of the audience was especially touching. The feeling of empathy and "oneness" was
palpable. I've never quite had that experience before. It was if all the audience was willing his arm and hand to be able to work. Gord, may you be well, and your health be restored.
My husband has this year undergone major health problems, and last night I looked at two men, who in spite of all odds are still alive. There were two living miracles, and I just thank God for that. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, but God can work miracles.

Hello! I'm new and I cannot tell you how happy I am to have found this site. I was at the Gordon Lightfoot concert in Minneapolis on Sun. night, Sept. 17th, and before I go on, let me apologize for repeating information that may have already been posted. I have not read through all of the posts yet.

It was my first Gordon Lightfoot concert. I am a huge fan but I just haven't been into the concert scene that much other than when performers come to my home town, which is small and about a 3 hour drive from Mpls. I will spare you the details of how I came to know about this concert, but suffice it to say it was a very big deal for me to be able to attend the concert on Sunday night.

When Gordon came out on stage, I was not expecting to see the young man who graces the covers of my CD cases, and was not surprised to see a thinner, aging man in his late 60's. However, I recognized him immediately even from my vantage point of balcony seating. He began the concert with Cotton Jenny, and his voice was weak and he appeared to be having difficulty hitting the high notes, and I thought to myself, oh no. But...he found his voice in the second song, and his singing became stronger and stronger with each passing song. There were a couple of songs he did which sounded identical to the albumn recordings from 30 and 40 years ago. And except for the time when I was moved to tears as he sang Early Morning Rain, I found myself at the edge of my seat and smiling the entire time.

I know you've all discussed his health issues of recent days, which is heartbreaking after all he's been through, but I really believe he was having a good time, and in fact he said so more than once. It was awesome to see him smile, and he was actually really funny and had us all laughing at times. At one point he turned to look at his band members to pick up the tempo, and we were all clapping along you know, and so we thought we'd help pick up the tempo so we started clapping faster, and then he had to tell us to bring it down again. It was a very special and funny moment. It made me feel for an instant that I was a part of his music and that in some small way I had made a personal connection with him.

Forgive me for being sentimental, but you could really feel the love in that beautiful theater on Sunday night. The applause after each song was intense and long. The concert was interrupted several times by shouts from the croud of "I love you Gordon!" and "You sound great!" There were several small standing ovations, but at least three times the entire crowd was on their feet applauding.

But what struck me the most, I think, was his humanity. He did not try to hide any of his frailties, and in fact made light of them several times. He sounded excited about his right hand and the fact that the feeling was "coming back." In fact, he was very upbeat about everything, including the fact that he's been able to be productive the past few years, i.e. making music and touring. He seemed very humble to me and handled everything very gracefully.

I will never, ever forget the experience of hearing in person the voice which I have heard a million times on my car stereo, my office boombox, and at home relaxing in my back yard... the voice which has soothed me during many rough times in my life and the voice which I feel is itself a special friend all my own. Gordon's music has touched my heart deeply and I now have a very special memory which I will never forget of the man himself. Thank you, Gordon, for sharing with the world your wonderful gift of song. You are a treasure!

playing higher up the neck might be cause the frets are close together and requires less finger movement?

Hi Gitchigumee, and welcome to Corfid. I like your handle name, when I joined, I was going to take it, but it told me it was already taken. I guess I was spelling it the way it is in the song.

Thanks for your update, Gordon Lightfoot is the best. Regards!...~Jesse-Joe~ :)

Hi Gitchigumee, and welcome to Corfid. I like your handle name, when I joined, I was going to take it, but it told me it was already taken. I guess I was spelling it the way it is in the song.

Thanks for your update, Gordon Lightfoot is the best. Regards!...~Jesse-Joe~ :)

that's the Gord we know and love!

glad to hear you had such a memorable time....
I'm hoping all goes well for him and he comes back home without any further medical events..

Char

that's the Gord we know and love!

glad to hear you had such a memorable time....
I'm hoping all goes well for him and he comes back home without any further medical events..

Char

Thanks, I didn't look up the spelling. But the obvious reason I used it is because of Gordon. In fact, a month ago I spent a week in the Apostle Islands which are in Lake Superior, and when I told a park ranger there that I had tickets to see Gordon Lightfoot, she was so jealous. Everyone knows him up there, he's a part of their lore and will be forever because of Edmund Fitzgerald.

Sorry Joveski, we seemed to have type together, but you are right about the higher frets, less finger movements.~Jesse~ :)

Sorry Joveski, we seemed to have type together, but you are right about the higher frets, less finger movements.~Jesse~ :)