Opening
with the title track of his Long River album, a loving tribute
to Gordon Lightfoot, Cormier delivered a beautifully balanced
evening of music.
For all his gifts as a soloist, Cormier never lets the razzle-dazzle
outshine the song.
Dapper
style
The
big man looked dapper last night, dressed in a dark brown
western-styled suit and a short-brimmed Stetson. He brought
his earthy humour to the stage, telling stories and jokes
as if standing in his kitchen in Cheticamp.
Cormier was named musician of the year last week by the
Music Industry Association here, and his jaw-dropping guitar
and mandolin soloing proved the point.
But equally as impressive is Cormier’s maturing as
a songwriter, clearly influenced by his hero, Lightfoot.
Early in the show, he showcased a gorgeous new tune, Great
Harbour Deep, a poignant story-song about the forced clearance
of a remote Newfoundland output. While that sad episode
has been well told, this incident took place only a few
years ago.
Cormier was moved to write about the situation, turning
a brief news clip into a powerful statement about upheaval
of rural values. >>
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