CONCERT REPORTS: Gent, Belgium, August 20, 21 & 22, 2010

[sturgess66]

Good video uploaded by "paglabijn" - August 20th show. Thanks!

"Ain't No Cure for Love" -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFSnKSsoV8Y

"Who By Fire"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlNeomq9QRE

"Bird on The Wire"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1wgjDX7UdA

[sturgess66]

And more good video! August 23rd show -

Uploaded by "glitterkindjes" - Thanks!

"First We Take Manhattan"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2TI8ttUUFA

[bridger15]

And more of my videos from the Friday, August 20 concert just come through. You tube seems to be behaving better today.

* Hallelujah *
I didn't come to the beautiful city of Ghent to fool you
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB4Y_MYQvRM

* Partisan *
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwWiPedl3HA

---Arlene

[LisaLCFan]

3rd concert:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7 ... b290736aa9

Maarten

Thanks, Maarten! Excellent photos, as always. Do you recall what Leonard and Rafael are laughing about?

[bluebell]

Here's Chelsea Hotel in Gent on Friday 20th August 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtWsnd6Juf4

[basecamp]

and here is my video of 'The Partisan', 22.Aug. 2010 Gent
What a wonderful weekend! We got 3 great concerts and met many nice Cohenites we hope to see again real soon!
- Hans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=843cMjgGado

[Maarten]

Thanks, Maarten! Excellent photos, as always. Do you recall what Leonard and Rafael are laughing about?

Nope, I wish I did...

Maarten

[Wybe]

Thank you all for the great weekend in Gent.

Here a picture of Bridger15 in action.

Arlene, Filip, Liesbeth, Maarten on the first row in Gent.

[Maarten]

Wybe taking pics of people in the front row:

[jeanne]

I am sorry that you were disappointed and somewhat bored.............I think Leonard would smile, apologize for wasting your time and mean it............HE IS TRULY A MASTER BUT HE IS HUMAN.....AND THANK GOD FOR THAT.........Jeanne

[bridger15]

Thank you all for the great weekend in Gent.

And thank you, Willy and Wybe for helping to make it such an incredible weekend, especially guiding me back to the "De Gruut" for drinks after the Friday concert. Wybe, you kept saying, we are almost there...and yet again...almost there...
Mmmm...I don't know if I can ever believe you again. I look forward to seeing your website album with your wonderful musical slideshow of this magical weekend.

[Mabeanie1]

I read in the forum more and more complaints about the fact that repeating the same thing over and over again may become boring? But what do You expect? Leonard changing the concert radically every evening? There seems to be a group of people addicted to transcendental moments (what is, of course, very human) and at the same time surprised if they do not occur when artificially repeated. Just go to one concert and then go on with your life, being grateful for that wonderful and unique gift you've got.

I think it is very unfair to pounce on those people who have the audacity to say that a particular concert was less than the most perfect experience for them, whether they go to one concert or twenty. Everyone has the right to their own opinion. Let them have the freedom to express it, good or bad. The world would be a very boring place if all we heard all the time was "it was perfect".

Speaking personally, I enjoyed the concerts but I was a little disappointed that there were no changes in the setlist from one night to another. Normally, where there is more than one show in the same place there will be some small changes between shows and - up to then - the set had been changing slightly from one country to another. Also Leonard seemed to be very tired by Sunday night, fluffing lots of lines and missing a cue or two so three shows in a row does seem to be too much. I hope they have a good break before the next show at the beginning of September.

It was wonderful to see everyone in Ghent. It was a great social occasion for forum members from far and wide - with meet ups at de Gruut, outside the venue and all around town generally. Sorry we didn't get a chance to say goodbye to everyone before we left early on Monday morning but we're looking forward to catching up with a lot of you in Lille!

Wendy (and Tony)

[basecamp]

I uploaded a few snapshots from the concerts and the meet ups:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 ... 07436b5fa4

Here another video:
Leonard Cohen: Susanne + Sisters Of Mercy live in Gent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySAnkeNt4E

[IrishAL]

The Gent weekend will always be special to me.

It was a beautiful location, Architecturally, visually stunning and compact enough that you could walk everywhere you needed to go. This facilitated many opportunities for chance encounters with Cohenites along the way.... There seemed to be someone to talk to every 200m ! ..It was really great to meet so many familiar faces from far and wide and to spend some time with them, share stories and emotions and have a good laugh.
The concerts (Saturday and Sunday ) were a joy to be at and we were blessed with the weather. Our seats for Saturday were on the side so video opportunities were limited. but Sunday night was front row and I shall be uploading some gems in the next few days.

It was Maries birthday (along with jarkko's) on Sunday and I know for her, it was a very special weekend. She had a big smile on her face for the entire weekend....and if she's happy then I'm happy too.! A big thanks to Astrid (Tinkie)for arranging the very nice cakes for after the concert. ( I hope i'm not leaving anyone out) they were a nice touch in celebrating the dual birtyhdays.

A special BIG thanks to Maarten for all his hard work and organisational skills, his company and warm heart.

Defintiely one for my memoires...

The last song of the Sunday night concert. Heart with no Companion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WejyLiSWc_w

Famous Blue Raincoat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hABe5rJMfjc


enjoy.

Albert

[tip of the lily]

I have been to the concert with 5 dear friends on 20th august.
It was so perfect, his voice, the voices of the beautiful 3 women, the musicians, all songs, new and old,
soemtimes sophisticated, sometimes solemn .....
I saw on the forum that some people attended all three concerts; at first I could not onderstand that, however now
I completely get it that you want to be at such a concert always....
Thanks for the foto's, Maarten, they are far better than mine ....

Lydia Mentink