Watch Rush's Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson perform a surprise tribute to Gordon Lightfoot
The evening at Massey Hall also featured Kathleen Edwards, Aysanabee, Allison Russell and more
Just a little over one year after Gordon Lightfoot's death, musicians gathered to pay tribute to the legendary singer-songwriter — and Rush's Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson did a surprise performance at the event.
Hosted by CBC Music's Damhnait Doyle at Toronto's Massey Hall on May 23, Celebrating Gordon Lightfoot was a star-studded tribute to the Orillia-born musician, featuring performances by Kathleen Edwards, Allison Russell, Aysanabee, City and Colour, Julian Taylor, William Prince, Serena Ryder, Tom Wilson and more. Lee and Lifeson weren't on the bill, but were instead listed on the setlist as "L+L," according to Variety.
The Rush members performed "The Way I Feel," which appeared on Lightfoot's debut and sophomore albums. Lee and Lifeson were backed by Blue Rodeo onstage.
"It was important for us to pay tribute to Gordon," Lee told Variety. "Not being folk or pop artists, Alex and I were looking for one of Gordon's songs that might better suit our style of play and we found that in 'The Way I Feel.' Its structure was loose and more open to interpretation than many of his more popular tunes."
"After the gig, Gordon's daughter Meredith [Moon] said to us, 'Leave it to Rush to make 'The Way I Feel' sound prog,' so I think we succeeded," Lee added.
The two also joined in on the ensemble finale, "Summerside of Life," which saw the evening's performers onstage together.
The full video of the evening will be released on CBC Gem on Canada Day as part of the series Live at Massey Hall. It will also air on CBC Music from 4 to 6 p.m. on Canada Day (4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in N.L.), and on Radio One from noon to 2 p.m. (12:30 to 2;30 in N.L.).