Orilla, Ontario

Don Henley will be appearing at the Casino Rama on July 7th. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster. If you will be going to the show or have questions about the show, hit the comments button below and add a message.

Comments

[Joanne]

Received my tickets for July 7th show at Casino Rama in Orillia!!!!!!!!!! Please note spelling ORILLIA, in case anyone is attempting to find it on the map. It is about 2 hours' drive north of Toronto, by the way.

I have 2 seats in centre section, 15 rows back. In a couple of weeks, I may be able to get something closer from a contact. If so, does anyone know how I might get rid of the 2 tickets I have?

I won't sleep a wink 'till July 7th. Henley solo, in Ontario, is a dream come true for me. I said that I could "die and go to heaven" after seeing the Eagles here in Toronto last year, but I'm glad I have stayed around for this concert!

[dave]

Hi, If you get new tickets. please let me know.

[Mary]

I can finally stop whining and pouting about all the fun I was missing with the Eagles tour this time around. I bit the bullet and got tickets for the Great White North show on the 7th.
I'm SO pumped. There's nothing like DON live!

[Mike]

Just wondering if anybody who is going to the shows in Florida in june could get back to us about any set list

[esperanza]

Info for out-of-towners: Unlike the Molson Amphitheatre, the Casino Rama auditorium is Indoors! If you're planning to tail-gate, you should be forewarned that Orillia is mosquito-country at that time of the day...I'll be the tall guy, 4th row with a lavender shirt and big stupid grin if anyone wants to say Hi!

[Penny]

Well, I attended the Don Henley concert last night at Casino Rama in Orillia. I had 16th row center stage. Here is a set list:
Dirty laundry
Sit Down you're rocking the boat
Everything is different now
Sunset grill
Taking you home
Witchy Woman
New York Minute
Last worthless evening
Heart of the Matter
Political Science (Randy Newman's song)
Boys of Summer
Life in the Fast lane....
1st encore
All she wants to do is dance
End of the innocence
I will not go quietly....
2nd encore
Hotel California
Desperado

I must say, overall the concert was great, just under 2 hours total. Don's voice sounded a bit harsh when he was speaking but he made no mention of being sick. End of the innocence was sung a bit 'rough', like he had a dry throat or something, but enjoyed none the less. After the first encore, I knew it wasn't over as Don had yet to sing Desperado. As the lights dimmed and he came out for encore 2, I bolted from my seat (leaving my husband behind to watch my purse) and managed to make it to front row for the last 2 songs. I had a rose to give to Don and waited for him to finish Desperado. I was shaking and my heart was pounding out of my chest!!! After the song, I ran up to the stage and was screaming "Don", "Don" and waving the rose. He was about to leave and at the last minute he bent down and took the rose. I had waited many years for that moment. No words were exchanged but it was magical!! When he left the stage, I was jumping up and down with excitement!! I am still on cloud nine.
I had a great time, mission accomplished!!!!!!!!

[esperanza]

Hey Penny...I saw DH take that rose! Congrats!! I can't believe all of the dummies who left after the first encore...before HC and Desperado! I agree DH's voice was rough on the accoustic songs...but just when you thought it would peeter out he would just nail something like I Will Not Go Quietly. Witchy Woman was another one he just nailed perfectly--even all the wailing at the end.

I cringed at seeing some of the same jokes/anecdotes I read on this site (Dead Sea reference, the Velveeta thing) but the uninitiated didn't seem to notice/mind.

He is so much more relaxed on this tour than the 2000 one. He seemed to enjoy the heckling/banter.

I wished he had done American Tune...maybe I'll catch that in Sterling Heights in August...

[marguerite]

Rama was a great show. I'd still love to know who the band members are (in addition to Stuart Smith). The other guitarist is amazing. He was also with Henly on the Inside Job tour a few years ago.Anybody know his name?

[L&M]

The other guitarist is Frank Simes who has been with Don for years.

[marshall katz]

I was at the Casino Rama concert last night. This is the third time that I have seen Don in the last four years. It was a far more relaxed and animated Don. I agree that a lot of the small talk is the same throughout this tour. I thought, though that the story of Sunset Grill (not a new one) was very well done. Though the Inside Job concert was a glitzier affair this concert was more intraspective. Last night acoustic version of The End of the Innocence was the best version that I have ever heard! Don"s voice started out a little rough. It strengthened throughout the concert. His voice is still in remarkable shape for someone pushing 57!!! I agree that Don should have introduced the band. Asside from Stuart Smith I did not recognize any of the band members. The gentleman on lead guitar, who was exceptional I think was the same person in the Inside Job Tour. The band was very tight. A great evening!!!

[Martin]

Just got back in from Rama. I live in London so we stayed the night in Barrie. The show was awesome. The venue is nice they have done a lot with the Casino. I didn't like the "no drinks" (even soft drinks) inside the seating rule and I thought the t-shirts were lame (first time I've never bought one).

Now the concert. Don was amazing most of the night. The set list was listed correctly above, but I'll give my reviews of some of the songs.

Dirty Laundry - great way to open the show. I've always had a problem with the lip-syncing at the close of the song and they were a little off as some (including Don) forgot to get back to their microphones for the parts.

Sit down your rocking the boat- One he should have done in previous concerts. I loved it. Now if only he would do Love Rules.

Everything is Different Now- very animated Don during this. After the song some of the banter started with the audience as he stated the song was about getting married and someone yelled out "and divorce" to which Don replied that was at the end of the show. Throughout the show Don handled the hecklers well.

Sunset Grill - same speech as listed in previous reviews (I think we need to remember concerts before the internet had the same speeches we just never knew about them, so they seemed fresh to us.

Taking Home - a great song. Don was a little rough on the high notes with this one.

Witchy Woman- a great come back by don on this one as everyone hit the notes great and played even better

New York Minute- I found Don started to zone out during this one. Good but not great

Last worthless Evening- nice to see it back n this tour

Heart of The Matter - I prefer the stripped down version of previous tours

Political Science - He hit it right on the money here. One of my favorite Randy songs (along with Rednecks, Short People, I love LA and Burn on)

Boys of Summer and LIFL- Stuart was amazing on this. My seats were third row and in front of Stuart's speaker so we got to hear him loud and clear.

ASWTDID- Always a crowd please
EOI- Don was a little rough here and I though he started to Zone again. I like the acoustic opening during the song

I will not go quietly- Frank stole this song. He was simply amazing

Hotel C.- Frank and Stuart were perfect. The best guitar closing I've seen on a Don tour.

Desperado - Great finish and Don's voice was on the money.
This was my sisters first concert (rock). She had a great time.

It may not have been his best show but any Don show is awesome.

[Jeff]

Are they still substituting the the trombone quartet for the guitar duet at the end of Hotel California? Is it a mix of both (like the DVD) or is it all guitar?

(It's the little things with me....) :)

What's the name of the bald bass player? He was on the last tour and he is GREAT...

[L&M]

HC has no horns on it.....at least not that I can recall. I was too busy watching Don shake his maracas. :)

The bass player is Lance Morrison.

[Jeff]

Good stuff... Great bass player. 4 more days until Chicago!!!! LOVE IT!!!!

Beer

[Louann]

Hi,

I too was at Rama, but haven't been home until now to post. It was worth the drive from hell to get there--terrible traffic in Toronto, a miserable thunderstorm where it rained so hard you couldn't see the road; arriving in the Rama parking lot at 7.50, circling, looking for a non-existent spot, finally giving up and dumping my car in the valet parking; bolting to our seats without dinner, with Don coming on five minutes later. Phew!

I have seen Don solo about 4 or 5 times, and I agree, he was "Chatty Cathy" on Wednesday night. Sure, same schtick as other places, but still nice to see Don so relaxed. He did sound a bit hoarse, and off on a few things, but still put on a good show. Wonder if the voice is why he dropped a few songs, and the show was under 2 hours (about 1:45 with encores)

I do wish he'd stop dying his hair. What colour is it naturally? I can't even remember. Nothing wrong with grey hair Don, let it go! (Folks, don't get upset, I love Don, I'm just making a personal observation.)

Anyway, a fabulous show, very different in so many ways from previous. Rama is an interesting venue, but I don't think I'd ever go up there on a week night from Toronto without leaving earlier.

[Jeff Poco]

i was at this show too.. isat 10th row centre..

henley's voice did sound a bit scratchy at times.. hope he's ok..

an excellent night of music nonetheless though...

i really enjoyed the storytelling as well as don's replies to the sarcastic comments.. someone yelled out Learn To Be Still as a song request, but Don's reply was "i'm trying!"

i was a bit disappointed that the other 2 cover tunes were cut off the setlist.. but hopefully he'll sing them again at other shows...

[Joanne]

Louann,
I love his red hair. I think he is naturally auburn (grey now of course) but this colour actually goes better with his very pale skin tone. I saw him from the front row at Rama and he looked fit and as gorgeous as ever. Keep on dying it Don!!!!!!!!!

[Tonia]

HI, I'm looking for tickets to the Orillia concert for Jul 7th for my parents 28th aniversary. My father is such a big fan. If anyone is selling any tickets please let me know. Thanks