OCR Text |
Show Stateline: A new force Lightfoot redux brings strange smiles possible. He had, it was quite clear, lost a lot of his to be reckoned with confidence. Although he released an album last year, By LARRY BAKER The showroom at Whiskey Pete's on the state line of California and Nevada has been open for just over a year and, in conjunction with two other such properties at the site, is starting to bring unique, diverse and interesting musical acts to the area at reasonable prices and without the hectic, rushed pace that usually accompanies acts at Vegas showrooms. The Whiskey Pete showroom seats 600, which allows for a great show with absolutely no bad seats, while the Prima Donna showroom is even more intimate at 300 seats. Buffalo Bill's arena, now under construction, will hold up to 6,500, according to entertainment facilities manager Phil Reynolds, to hold crowds for acts bigger than what has come thus far. Blood Sweat and Tears, with frontman David Clayton Thomas, will be in Sept. 30 and Oct. l (for $15 a seat), followed by such diverse acts as Rick Trevino, Loretta Lynn (the most expensive ticket at $26.50), Johnn y Rivers, John Anderson and Diamond Rio in the weeks to come. Along the way are free performances by such acts as The World Famous Drifters, The First Edition, Cornell Gunter's Coasters and Sound Investment. Of course, there's all the other recreational amenities to be found at a Nevada resort, plus the whiteknuckling Desperado, billed as the world's largest roller coaster. (Check out the incomparable baby back ribs at the Sky Diver steakhouse at the Prima Donna.) For information,call 1-800-826-4471. JOURNAL EDITOR As one of the most dedicated and rabid of Gordon Lightfoot fans, I was at the same time thrilled and somewhat saddened to see that he'd be at Whiskey Pete's at Stateline, Nev., for a three-show stint Friday and Saturday. After all, this is a man who has played virtually every major concert hall in the free world, released two dozen albums and has even had several Top-10 hits. He's • been around for a long, long time !he calls Mick Jagger "sonny"). While giving Whiskey Pete's its due, it's not exactly what Lightfoot fans-and there are legions of us old folkies-have come to • expect as a venue for the Canadian troubadour. I produced a Lightfoot concert myself in 1972just after the success of "Sundowr1," and marveled at the rider in his contract that demanded real cream backstage for his coffee. Management now told me there was no such demand and that he'd very politely turned down requests for interviews. "He's not up for them," we were told. "He's nervous. He hasn't been on stage for five months." Indeed, when he came out, he was gaunt and somewhat reticent. He looked like a man just out of rehab, which, considering his history, is quite c:::.11-::-'----~--..,..,,,,~- he hasn't had anything to approach a hit in years and there are many who will respond with "who?" when they hear his name. None of that matters, however, for this was Gordon Lightfoot on stage. He needn't have worried about these sell-out crowds, who were disappointed only in that the show lasted only an hour and left many hungering, clapping, stomping and shouting for whatever their favorite tunes might have been. Oh, he played "If You Could Read My Mind," and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," "Carefree Highway," the wedding song "Beautiful," and some of the other hits, but for Lightfoot fans, it was only a little tease and brought almost sad and nostalgic smiles over the halcyon days we all shared through his thoughtful and thought-provoking words and music. He had his old mates Rick Haynes, Terry Clements and Barry Keane as well as new keyboardist Mike Heffernan along and the music was smooth and seamless. Lightfoot turned some lyrics around a little, but then, he's always done that. His voice is still remarkably strong for his advancing years-he's got much more range than either Frank Sinatra or Axel Rose-and if he seemed a bit cursory in his delivery, that's the baggage one carries around when there are so many old favorite tunes that people demand. Lightfoot will never sing Rick Nelson's "Garden Party." He aims to please. He's off now on a 28-gig tour and although he may never have another hit, the lengthy standing ovations he received in that showroom without a town make it clear that he can still deliver and that there are plenty who will accept and relish those deliveries as long as he is willing to come around. |