Canadian Icon and folk music legend Gordon Lightfoot is currently celebrating his 50th year touring. The tour is called the 50 Year Carefree Highway tour and the fans at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, NY, got to see him perform all of his hits. Some of his band mates have been on tour with him for nearly the entire 50 year duration. Bass player Rick Haynes joined in 1969, drummer Barry Keane joined in 1976, keyboardist Mike Heffernan came on in 1981. The only new addition has been guitarist Carter Lancaster who completed the ensemble in 2011.
Lightfoot took the stage at 8:05 PM and the band went into “The Watchmen’s Gone.” A man of few words, Lightfoot joked about his death having been overly exaggerated before the band played “Christian Island (Georgian Bay).” Lightfoot is a true poet and his deep meaning lyrics were taken in by the audience. They were hanging on every note being strung and every lyric being sang. I think everyone realized the treasure they were witnessing! Lightfoot switched acoustic guitars a lot throughout the night. I believe he really came into form by the start of the second set. Both “Sweet Guinevere” and “Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald” were highlights of the evening. He got a standing ovation for “If You could Read my Mind.”
It was a treat to see Lightfoot perform at Kleinhans. He remarked that even though the band has played there a few times in the past, it was the first time since 1989 that they had been there. He also talked about how Elvis covered one of his songs “Early Morning Rain” and how he got to see him live at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (1976). He said he was supposed to meet him but by the time he got back to the backstage area, it was announced that “Elvis has left the building.” So, in turn, Lightfoot said he never got to meet him.
It’s amazing to note that Lightfoot doesn’t work with a set list and that he changes up the list every night he plays. His band members need to keep on their toes because they have no idea what will be coming next. This keeps his shows fresh and exciting for his audiences night after night.
Set 1:
The Watchmen’s Gone
Waiting For You
Don Quixote
A Painter Passing Through
Christian Island (Georgian Bay)
Rainy Day People
Shadows
Beautiful
Carefree Highway
Cotton Jenny
Ribbon of Darkness
Sundown
Did She Mention My Name?
Set 2:
Sweet Guinevere
Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald
Never Too Close
All the Lovely Ladies
Sea of Tranquility
Wild Strawberries
In My Fashion
Fine as Fine Can Be
If You Can Read my Mind
Restless
Baby Step Back
Early Morning Rain
Encore:
Old Dan’s Records
We would like to thank Kate Mockler Jenkins from Kleinhans for the credentials to review the show.
