Concert Review
Gordon Lightfoot
Seneca Niagara Events Center
Niagara Falls, NY
Saturday November 7, 2015
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
Gordon Lightfoot gave his fans another show that left them looking back and marveling at how fantastic of a career the Canadian legend has had. Most in the audience knew the singer’s voice may not have been what it once was but at 76 years old and having survived a few health scares over the years, they were glad just to have Lightfoot still performing his treasured songs from his vast catalog. During his 85-minute set he told a few stories as he played to a full house at the Seneca Niagara Events Center Saturday evening.
Sporting his usual red jacket Lightfoot grabbed his guitar and launched into “Sweet Guinevere” from his 1978 release Endless Wire. Expect the unexpected when attending a Gordon Lightfoot show, He will rarely play the same set. So far in 2015 he has performed fifty different songs from his discography sprinkling in rarely played songs such as “10 Degrees and Getting Colder” or “Now And Then”, (both of which were played this particular evening).
Lightfoot’s voice sounded best on his greatest hits. “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald”, “Carefree Highway” and “Early Morning Rain” all drew standing ovations. Other highlights included “Spanish Moss”, “Rainy Day People” and his top 5 smash “If You Can Read My Mind”. There is truly something special in the air whenever “Beautiful” is performed and this night was no different. Although it never charted high on the charts (only #58 on US charts) when it was released in 1972, it remains a vibrant song perhaps the pinnacle moment of the legendary Lightfoot ‘s career.
His band has been with him for quite some time. Bassist Rick Haynes has been around since 1969, drummer Barry Keane and keyboardist Mike Heffernan both joined in the early 80‘s making guitarist Carter Lancaster the newest member when he climbed aboard in 2011.
Gordon Lightfoot is in the twilight of his music career and he knows it. It is one of the reasons why he balances his set lists nightly whether it be the casual fan who is familiar with the hits or that first timer just discovering his work to the diehards who crave to hear some rarities, Lightfoot does his best to appease anyone who comes to see him perform. If you are like me you tend to appreciate the man and his songwriting more with each time you see him perform.
Set List
Sweet Guinevere
The Watchman’s Gone
Waiting For You
Never Too Close
A Painter Passing
All The Lovely Ladies
Spanish Moss
Rainy Day People
Shadows
Let It Ride
Beautiful
Now And Then
Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald
Ribbon Of Darkness
Sundown
Carefree Highway
I’d Rather Press On
14 Karat Gold
If You Can Read My Mind
Restless
Ten Degrees And Getting Colder
Early Morning Rain
Encore
Cold On The Shoulder
