MASSEY HALL FOREVER-last 3 concerts-Summertime Canada Day Dream 2018
 

Well, it happened and what a Summertime Dream it was.
Three impeccable concerts with a significant burst of strength coming through in Gord's vocal output since his last appearance here in Massey Hall.

The vocal always seemed to continually strengthen following his return to performing after he recovered from his illness, but this time the voice came through with such added strength and clarity, it's like the pipes were fully open.

The audience picked up on it instantly and it showed in the applause. Gord just stepped back and bowed his head in appreciation. He was in fine form throughout all three sold out concerts.

Toronto Town was filled with folks who arrived en masse from all over to see Gord. Quite a few from the USA which included many friends who faithfully come to the Massey shows. Always good to see them and exchange warm greetings. Many of Gord's family members also attended.

He remarked how well things were going for him and pointed out that his Wife, Kim takes care of the health issues and it clearly shows. He looks great and worked hard throughout the complete weekend, making himself available for photos, autographs, etc.

He certainly would have to be tired but he did his work well and left a clean campsite.

The fun times back in the hotel following the shows sure sapped all my energy. Slept right around the clock! Not a stone left unturned.

There will be more from Char and others I'm sure but it takes a little time to process the turn of events.

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WATCH VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE in HD for BEST QUALITY:

GORDON LIGHTFOOT @ Massey Hall - 1st of 3 nights before shutdown for 2 year reno.
Friday June 29, 2018

SETLIST
1. Now And Then
2. Waiting For You
3. The Watchman’s Gone
4. Don Quixote
5. Christian Island
6. I’d Rather Press On
7. Let It Ride
8. Beautiful (for my wife Kim)

BAND INTRO

9. Carefree Highway
10.Did She Mention My Name
11.Too Many Clues In This Room (for the times we are in-written in Vietnam era)
12.Ribbon of Darkness
13.Sundown

BREAK

14.Race Among The Ruins
15.The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
16.Never Too Close
17.14 Karat Gold
18.Shadows
19.Rainy Day People
20.A Painter Passing Through
21.If You Could Read My Mind
22.Restless
23.Baby Step Back
24.Early Morning Rain

ENCORE

25.Cold On The Shoulder

Standing Ovation when he walks out:

RIBBON OF DARKNESS - partial

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SHADOWS

RAINY DAY PEOPLE

A PAINTER PASSING THROUGH

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IF YOU COULD READ MY MIND

RESTLESS

BABY STEP BACK

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EARLY MORNING RAIN

ENCORE:

COLD ON THE SHOULDER

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https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts...ll-closes-for/

Review: Gordon Lightfoot still stands as Massey Hall closes for renovations

I took a tour of Massey Hall late last month, led by Deane Cameron, the president and CEO of the place. When told about some of the Douglas fir that frames the building, I jokingly compared the wood, which has been there since the beginning, to Gordon Lightfoot. Cameron laughed, before quickly cautioning, “Careful, he’s our boss.”

Humble submission and respect, then. You can think of Lightfoot, 79, as Massey Hall’s boss because of his history and standing with the venue. As such, the folk-rock icon was the obvious choice to close down the 124-year-old venue with three final concerts before it shuts its doors for two years of heavy renovation. He’s played the room some 165 times; if the walls could talk, they would probably need to shut up and listen to Lightfoot sing. Which is exactly what a sold-out audience did on a Canada Day evening, the finale of his trio of shows.

To be honest, Lighfoot doesn’t sing so well any longer; he hasn’t since an abdominal aneurysm wrecked him bad and nearly killed him in 2002, leaving him weakened and his diaphragm unable to carry notes of any depth or for any distance.

All is apparent on the country’s 151st birthday at Massey Hall, where a gaunt man in a burgundy velvet jacket addresses a standing ovation with a dose of self-deprecation: “I am Gordon Lightfoot, and the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

He begins what might be his final Massey concert with Now and Then, a song about things coming to an end. You say the song is about a personal relationship; I’ll say a relationship is exactly what audiences have with Lightfoot. On stage, he counts the song in for his four-man band and begins to sing: “I think this time you’ve said enough to make me want to leave this place / Still I keep coming back for more of the same, to fan the dying flame…”
The mellow lamenter does 26 songs in all, split into two sets.

He sings of a big lake that never gives up her dead; he broods melodically about human frailty. On a hit song about romantic paranoia, the sure-footed singer-songwriter rhymes “satin dress” with “what ya don’t confess.” Carefree Highway gets a shortened rendition. He changes into a blue velvet jacket during the concert’s intermission. And he sings Rainy Day People and Early Morning Rain on one of the hottest days of the year.

Between songs, he looks around the room. “The hall still stands,” says the man whose own demise, remember, was greatly exaggerated. “We wondered, but the hall still stands.”

Lightfoot had started the night with a song about a crazy game played out to the end. “Let us just pretend a while,” he suggested, “think about the good things now and then.” He ends it with the countrified Cold on the Shoulder: “You know that we get a little older every day.”

His band leaves him on stage, alone, for a wave goodbye. Lightfoot doesn’t so much walk off as bleed into the fabric of the building. The realization then hits: Lightfoot, for his troubadourial transmissions and cultural resonance, is indeed a boss, of the best, quietly stoic kind. And, yes, he still stands.

FOLLOW BRAD WHEELER ON TWITTER @BWHEELERGLOBE

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JAG GUNDU PHOTOS:
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1763/...656ab9a9_z.jpgjag gundu photo2 by char Westbrook, on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1822/...ce524a97_z.jpgjag gundu photo1 by char Westbrook, on Flickr

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GORDON LIGHTFOOT @ Massey Hall. 2nd of 3 nights before shutdown for 2 year reno.
Saturday June 30, 2018

SETLIST

1. Waiting For You
2. The Watchman’s Gone
3. Too Many Clues
4. Never Too Close
5. 14 Karat Gold
6. A Painter Passing Through
7. Shadows
8. Beautiful
9. Much To My Surprise
10. Cold On The Shoulder
11. Now and Then
12. The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
13. Carefree Highway

BREAK

14. Did She Mention My Name
15. Ribbon Of Darkness
16. Sundown
17. Christian Island
18. Don Quixote
19. I’d Rather Press On
20. Minstrel Of The Dawn
21. Let It Ride
22. If You Could Read My Mind
23. Restless
24. Baby Step Back
25. Early Morning Rain

ENCORE

26. Rainy Day People

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STANDING OVATION as he walks onstage

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TOO MANY CLUES

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NEVER TOO CLOSE

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14 KARAT GOLD

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SHADOWS

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BEAUTIFUL

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MUCH TO MY SURPRISE

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COLD ON THE SHOULDER

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NOW AND THEN

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CAREFREE HIGHWAY

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DID SHE MENTION MY NAME

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RIBBON OF DARKNESS/SUNDOWN

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CHRISTIAN ISLAND

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DON QUIXOTE

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I'D RATHER PRESS ON

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MINSTREL OF THE DAWN

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LET IT RIDE