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LIGHTHOUSE LIVE !!

LIGHTHOUSE : LIVE 2000
I rarely do show reviews. But the opportunity to see a Canadian legend and fave a while back became a unique experience in concert going.

The show was part of Brock University's Arts program presentation and held in the Sean O'Sullivan Theater which held just over a few hundred. It was a rather formal affair, with myself in a concert shirt [along with my wife for the experience! ;-) ] amongst those dressed up much more formal; kinda felt like I was attending a Shaw play instead of a concert!

The band came on at 8pm to play the first of 2 sets. The first set featured the

band mixing up the classics like "Take It Slow", "1849", and "Sunny Days" with new tracks from the recent "Song Of The Ages" such as the Celtic flavored title track, and "TV Voodoo". Lighthouse, featuring original members Skip Prokop [drums/vocals], Ralph Cole [guitar], and Paul Hoffert [keys], as well as a 4 piece brass section, and singer Dan Clancy. For each of the tracks there was a story or antidote [usually given by Prokop] making the evening pretty intimate.

Clancy proved to be a fine replacement to the late Bob McBride, with a huge voice that enabled him to handle the classics at ease, and a stage presence to keep the audience alert [although i think reaction would've been different in a less formal setting, with perhaps err.. some younger fans in attendance]. Clancy also adds a youthful spark to the band that helps to show Lighthouse is not merely a nostalgia act pumping out old hits note for note, but making the classics come off fresh and the newer faves just as powerful

The band's big sound that came across more jazzier sounding than i may have expected, was highlighted by guitar spotlights by Cole, and keyboard and xylophone spotlights by Hoffert. After a break mid-way the band came back out with Prokop at center stage to handle vocals and a medley of tracks that he penned and sang such as "Pretty Lady". Clancy then re-took the vocal duties as the band continued on a number of other tracks before things came to a close with "One Fine Morning".

It was quite an event with the band leaving little that could've still been done [the hits were all there, and plenty of strong newer material], and extremely professional performances all-round [certainly no wherez near yer average bar gig!]. If you get the chance to see this band - don't pass it up - for the historical value [these guys were huge in Canada at a crucial time in modern history] and for the music [which you won't hear anything remotely similar anywhere else!].

For more on Lighthouse check out their web site http://home.istar.ca/~lghthse/home.html
And check out the CD releases "Live", Sunny Days Again [The Best of]", "Lighthouse" ['93 5 track indie], and "Song Of The Ages".