On April 26, I paid a lot of money to see a 74-year-old Leonard Cohen sing for 3 hours. I've seen some good concerts in my lifetime: U2, Barenaked Ladies, Bob Dylan, La Bottine Souriante, Audio Adrenaline, Switchfoot, dc Talk, Sam Roberts, Howard Shore's Lord of the Rings, Burlap to Cashmere, Habib Koité to note a few of the best. I am amazed to say it, but Leonard Cohen blew everyone out of the water.
My mom accompanied me to the concert at Jack Singer Hall. Everyone in our area was giddy with excitement and the entire hall gave Cohen a standing ovation when he bounded onto the stage at 8 pm.
He began nearly every song on his knees. His band and back up singers were stellar. His voice was the best I have ever heard it, even comparing it to all of his albums. A month later, I can scarcely find words to describe the experience other than it was a holy time.
1. Dance Me to the End Of Love
2. The Future
3. Ain't No Cure For Love
4. Bird on the Wire
5. Everybody Knows
6. In My Secret Life
7. Who By Fire
8. Chelsea Hotel No. 2
9. Waiting for the Miracle
10. Anthem
11. Tower of Song
12. Suzanne
13. The Gypsy's Wife
14. The Partisan
15. Boogie Street (sung by Sharon Robinson)
16. Hallelujah
17. I'm Your Man
18. A Thousand Kisses Deep (recitation)
19. Take This Waltz
20. So Long, Marianne
21. First We Take Manhattan
22. Famous Blue Raincoat
23. Sisters of Mercy
24. If It Be Your Will (sung by the Webb sisters)
25. Closing Time
26. I Tried to Leave You
27. Whither Thou Goest (unison)
The highlights for me were Take This Waltz (an hommage to Federico García Lorca), If It Be Your Will, and The Partisan.
Listen to some songs and catch some video of the London concert.
