10-22-2016, 07:44 PM
There have been some great reviews written already so I thought I'd pass along a few random thoughts from the Toronto Secret Path show last night for those that might be interested:
-Gord worked a space on stage that was only 12-15 feet wide, similar to the space he would have had when playing the opening four songs on the MMP tour this summer. He paced back and forth and used a few hand gestures but none of his "dance" moves. He got down on hands and knees for emphasis during "Haunt Them".
-Kevin Drew turned his back to the crowd and watched the animated film every time he played guitar (when not playing keys). Josh Finlayson would also often gaze above and behind to watch the film while playing.
-I watched Gord's face closely during "The Only Place to Be". I wanted to see his reaction when he delivered the lines "I've got lots of time, My whole life ahead..." He sang it with none of the knowing smirk or facetiousness that he did during the summer tour when singing lines of discussing mortality that had taken on new meaning.
-From my vantage point I could read Gord's teleprompter. In addition to the lyrics there would sometimes be little sets of instructions. For instance, prior to "Swing Set" it read "Band vamps, come in when you feel like it".
-Gord's voice was spectacular. No screamo-Gord at all. Admittedly he was a bit rough at times this summer (although overall it was as good as he's sounded in years), but last night he was as on as I've heard him sound since the 2000 "An Evening With... " M@W tour. He also knew the songs very well. I had listened to the album around 8-10 times prior to the show and I was unable to detect a single flub. He sung the songs very close to the studio version. There was no messing with phrasing, etc.
-Gord said very little during the evening. Mike did all the talking before and after the concert.
-People I saw: Paul and his wife Joanne, Strombo, and Ed and Tyler from the Barenaked Ladies. Also there were Gord's mom Lorna, his two sisters, and obviously Mike and Patrick.
-The band was incredibly tight. A true group of all-stars.
There were lots of tears around me. It was a beautiful moment to finish with Pearl Wenjack singing and then to hear "Ashes of Love" played, a song that she used to dance to with Charlie.
-Gord worked a space on stage that was only 12-15 feet wide, similar to the space he would have had when playing the opening four songs on the MMP tour this summer. He paced back and forth and used a few hand gestures but none of his "dance" moves. He got down on hands and knees for emphasis during "Haunt Them".
-Kevin Drew turned his back to the crowd and watched the animated film every time he played guitar (when not playing keys). Josh Finlayson would also often gaze above and behind to watch the film while playing.
-I watched Gord's face closely during "The Only Place to Be". I wanted to see his reaction when he delivered the lines "I've got lots of time, My whole life ahead..." He sang it with none of the knowing smirk or facetiousness that he did during the summer tour when singing lines of discussing mortality that had taken on new meaning.
-From my vantage point I could read Gord's teleprompter. In addition to the lyrics there would sometimes be little sets of instructions. For instance, prior to "Swing Set" it read "Band vamps, come in when you feel like it".
-Gord's voice was spectacular. No screamo-Gord at all. Admittedly he was a bit rough at times this summer (although overall it was as good as he's sounded in years), but last night he was as on as I've heard him sound since the 2000 "An Evening With... " M@W tour. He also knew the songs very well. I had listened to the album around 8-10 times prior to the show and I was unable to detect a single flub. He sung the songs very close to the studio version. There was no messing with phrasing, etc.
-Gord said very little during the evening. Mike did all the talking before and after the concert.
-People I saw: Paul and his wife Joanne, Strombo, and Ed and Tyler from the Barenaked Ladies. Also there were Gord's mom Lorna, his two sisters, and obviously Mike and Patrick.
-The band was incredibly tight. A true group of all-stars.
There were lots of tears around me. It was a beautiful moment to finish with Pearl Wenjack singing and then to hear "Ashes of Love" played, a song that she used to dance to with Charlie.
