Hi Everyone

For those of you who have yet to see The Lightfoot Band, not only do we play authentic arrangements of Gord’s music (aided by singer-guitarist Andy Mauck who you can’t see because the computer cropped the picture), we also tell stories about life on the road and in the recording studio. Collectively, we have traveled and recorded with Mr. Lightfoot for more than a hundred and fifty years!  

How It Seems

Touring with Gord was hard work. Leave the hotel, drive right to the door of our private jet, eat the expensive catering on board, hop into the rental cars waiting for us when we land, check into our five-star hotel, drive to the venue, eat more catering, do a sound check, and then (thank God, we’re famished), dinner. 

And, oh yeah, the show. When that was over, we’d go back to the hotel for drinks and food, then repeat the process all over again the next day. 

The Reality

Sure, it sounds easy. What I didn’t mention was the fatigue, health issues, the expectations of perfect performances, equipment breakdowns, weather problems both on the ground and in the air …….

Cue The Violins

Try doing that every day for two or three weeks, go home for a week and a half and then back out again. Some years we were away for over 100 days. I’m not complaining, I’d do it all again given the choice. I’m sure the other guys in the band would agree and proof of that is the fact that even when we got a chance to go our own way after Gord’s passing, we chose to keep it going. 

Uncensored (well, mostly)

Considering all these years of travelling and performing together you can bet there are stories to tell. Some absurd, some sublime, some downright scary and some so funny I still laugh out loud when I think of them. 

At various points in the show, we are individually introduced by our bass player and emcee, Rick Haynes. After acknowledging a smattering of applause, we talk for a few minutes.  

I currently have a dozen or so anecdotes in regular rotation.

Examples:

1. Funny (not) stunt flying in the jet
2. Hobnobbing with celebrities
3. Falling off the stage during a performance in Toledo
4. Chasing (on foot) a departing jet (Ha, Ha, good joke)
5. Locked out of the room in my underwear
6. My audition with Gord
7. Not knowing that half a cheese and tomato sandwich was stuck to my shirt
8. Two thousand people at Massey Hall singing “Happy Birthday”
9. My initiation in Saginaw, Michigan
10. Falling asleep anywhere except my hotel room
11. Nice looking but opinionated bartender in Syracuse

In subsequent posts, I will put these stories into print and elaborate on them. Remember, though, these tales are much better ad-libbed in a live setting. There’s something earthy about the way I trip over words, laugh at my own jokes, and mangle the syntax. 

Come out and see a live performance. You’ll find our tour schedule here: 

https://thelightfootband.com/tour-dates

Meanwhile, keep tuning in.

THANKS

MIKE HEFFERNAN