by RainDog1980 on Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:52 am
This was our second concert for the 2009 leg of the tour, the first being the Boston show in May. Not too much of a difference in sets, and while I was hoping to see "Heart With No Companion" added in, I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY by "The Partisan." I particularly loved the marching beat and accordion. I also could have sworn we were getting Avalanche, but it turned out to be Suzanne.
With it being our second show, it gave me a chance to really focus on the more subtle aspects of the show, and the two big screens allowed the audience to see the performers faces. Dino Soldo is absolutely awesome. He was pumping his fist in the air when everybody was clapping along with the beat during "First We Take Manhattan", and he was just going nuts playing the wind synthesizer. Truly a consummate performer.
You can tell there is a true appreciation for Javier Mas on Leonard's part. I loved being able to see Javier's face while he was playing, and the way he would look sharply back at Leonard when they were doing a call/response type of thing (I forget which song it was on). Neil Larson is just amazing, I really enjoyed being able to get an overhead perspective of him while playing the organ. He adds so much, and quite the expressive player.
There is certainly something to be said for being at Madison Square Garden, and hearing "First We Take Manhattan." I mean, really... it just doesn't get any better than that, as well as getting "Chelsea Hotel", hearing the crowd erupt during the line "Those were the reasons, and that was New York." Just surreal. Leonard really does appear to still be enjoying himself, and The Future, I'm Your Man, Tower of Song, So Long Marianne, and Hallelujah really captured that Friday night.
I think my favorite part of the night was the crowd itself. The standing ovation for "I'm Your Man" has already been documented, but for being an audience of almost 20,000, everybody was very respectful (except for the dude who kept shouting "Death of a Ladies' Man!!!!"). I was sitting in Section 5, just a row or two away from the dividers, and there was a few people in that row who were just cracking up at Leonard's dry wit, cheering their hearts out, and just having a good time. There were many times where groups were just cheering and laughing, and I remember looking around, taking it in, and thinking "This is such a great thing to be a part of." Truly. I heard one woman shout "BEAUTIFUL!!!" as he finished reciting 1,000 Kisses Deep. It was so great to be around other people who share this appreciation and admiration for Leonard and his work, and man, did that audience show it.
This was a special show for us, as my wife and I got married on October 17th, and Leonard's music played a big part in our wedding. I performed "If It Be Your Will" as a prayer for blessing during difficult times, "Dance Me to the End of Love" from Cohen Live was our cake cutting music, and our final song of the night was "So Long, Marianne" from FCC. Seeing Leonard perform it this time, was a very emotional moment. And of course, "Bird on the Wire" brought me to tears (again!!). But it wasn't just this that made it special. It's the connection that Leonard has brought to all of us, by bringing us together. As I was watching them, I began to think about it, and I have no doubt that some incredible friendships were formed on this tour, both audience and performers alike. When all is said and done, if this is Leonard's final tour, I'm sure that final night is going to be the most bittersweet moment for all involved. Because from where I stand, all of those who have been touched by these performances... we have witnessed history in the making, and I can honestly say that I believe none of our lives will be the same again because of it.
Thank you, to all of you involved, who have made this happen.
. Looking forward to more from you here.
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