I knelt at the altar of Leonard Cohen and saw the light, the magical and mesmerising light that is Leonard.
Now I am not a religious person, but I am a
spiritual person and I believe in music, so a concert of this sort is some kind
of divine intervention for me.
And, according to thine own doctrine, many
miracles occurred!
Firstly, I actually attended an outdoor concert
at the vineyards, those that know me have heard my many (many) bleatings of my
distaste for such things. I am unsure whether I just had a lucky experience, or
someone such as Leonard Cohen is an anomaly to the rule, or I
was...wrong...either way I shall go with 1 or 2!!!
Secondly, the weather, which had been hideous,
behaved. L and I had light rain heading to Bimbadgen, and by the time we arrived
sun was peering through all the clouds. Not only did we have NO rain, wind or
any other kind of weather that would ruin an outdoor concert, we actually got a
bit too much sun.
And of course lastly, we got to see
Leonard!
Supporting Leonard was the amazing Adalita, what
a voice and she is also a great guitarist. We had time to find our seats, which
were in a decent spot and enjoy L's afternoon tea of Camembert, pear paste and
truffle salami. After Adalita, I took off for a bottle of something something,
which I found reasonably priced! And then the second act, Archie Roach, came on.
What a divine voice, truly Australian royalty. Such class and dignity, and
lovely tales to be told in between songs. We then had my zucchini pie for dinner
with more lovely bubbles.
As the sun started to slowly set, a voice
announced Leonard Cohen in 10 minutes, then 5. We gasped as the band entered the
stage, all in suits and looking suave.
And then he glided onto stage, in a suit, thin
tie and a stylish hat, and begun the first song, Dance me to the end of love.
One of my favourites, I had tears in my eyes but had no idea the places we would
go in the next three and a bit hours.
Yes! He played for roughly three hours, a first
set, a short intermission, a second set and three encores, it started just on
7pm and was finished around 10.15...not bad for a 79 year old!
His band was remarkable, a United Nations of
supreme musicians. To his left a trio of strings: a guitarist, Javier from
Spain, who played a mean flamenco on 12 string guitar and Bandurria (also 12
strings and sort of sounds like a Mandolin); Alexandru from Moldova, on the
violin; and Mitch Watkins on guitars. To his
right, Roscoe Beck, tour producer and Bass player, and the sublime Sharon
Robinson, song collaborator and back-up singer with the stunning Webb Sisters
and their beautiful harmonies, guitar and harp work. Behind them, Maestro Neil Larsen on keyboards and Mexican, Rafael
'keeping time' on drums. They were a tight and talented group of musicians and a
pleasure to behold their music.
And you could tell Leonard knew this, his grace
and awe of their musicianship was on display all night, as he doffed his hat and
held it to his chest as each of them took turns in solos and introduced them all
at least three times.
But Leonard shone with and without them, his
voice just gets better with age, those deep baritones with a thick timbre that
is unmistakably him! He was a powerful performer, dropping to his knees
constantly or slowly dancing in a style that is unlike no other. He had a jaunty
skip in his step each time he left the stage and then would almost immediately
float back on. He gave and gave, to us, his 'friends.' He knew how to linger on
a poignant line. And those words, poetry without the music, such beauty in every
syllable, such pain and love and loss and delight. Leonard knows it all I swear,
that face tells more stories than the words that exit his mouth and we were all
the wiser and happier for it.
I've since read a few reviews of previous
concerts and it would appear some of the sequences and schtick are replicated
each night, however watching it you would never know, it did not seem rehearsed
or perfunctory, just heartfelt and sincere.
It's difficult for me to select favourite moments
as the evening was so divine. It was incredibly special sitting outside on a
balmy evening (especially when those around us actually behaved!) looking
towards the stage with the sun setting behind us and the mountains in the
distance surrounded by the colours of the sunset. Hearing Dance me to the end of
love, Tower of song and Hallelujah - my three favourites - sung left me weeping
with joy. And of course just absorbing Leonard himself, his poise and grace, his
distinctive moves, his voice, his humour, his honesty and fragility and his
warmth and love of us, his friends.
It's a one of a kind experience, one you mustn't
pass on if you ever get the opportunity. He is just one of those performers that
radiates a god like presence that is remarkable and quite difficult to
describe.
Setlist
Set One
Dance me to the end of love
The Future
Bird on the wire
Everybody knows
Who by fire
Darkness
Amen
Come healing
Lover lover lover
Anthem
Set Two
Tower of song
Suzanne
Chelsea Hotel #2
Waiting for the miracle
In my secret life
The Partisan
Alexandra (performed by Sharon
Robinson)
I'm your man
A thousand kisses deep (recitation)
Hallelujah
Take this waltz
Encore 1
So long, Marianne
Going home
First we take Manhattan
Encore 2
Famous blue raincoat
If it be your will (performed by the Webb
Sisters)
Closing time
Encore 3
I tried to leave you
Save the last dance for me (The Drifters
cover)
Posts
4 comments:
How wonderful to share your experience. You only get to attend your first Leonard Concert once and there is nothing quite like that revelation.
If you are up for more of the story - some background on Save The Last Dance and why it is the only cover that Leonard sometimes - not often - gifts the audience. Might I say, he didn't share it in Sydney or Melbourne! http://1heckofaguy.com/2012/08/20/why-leonard-cohen-covered-save-the-last-dance-for-me-at-the-2012-ghent-concerts/
What a lovely post to read. I brought back my first time with Leonard, when he shared so much of himself with the audience. He spoke about many of his songs and poetry between songs at that concert. One thing he shared was indeed a revelation. On "The Chelsea Hotel #2" he spoke about his regret of sharing the story of this song publicly (in his youth), that he could have been so indiscreet as to name the lady involved. Janis Joplin. Oh, that song came alive! Thanks so much.
It was my first Leonard Cohen concert, hopefully not the last, and it was simply amazing. I bought my first record in 1968 and never expected to see him perform live. Sitting almost directly in front and a few rows back was also a blessing!
Never have I thought of a performance as a gift to such a degree. Thanks for your detailed account.
Thanks Lindy, mongrelsocks and John for your kind comments. It is a week later and I am still thinking about that special evening. Remarkable it was and lucky I am. Great back story too Lindy, I thought it was a great choice for a cover and a lovely way to end the evening.
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