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Amidst all the excitement of a new show in London UK going on sale this morning, has anyone noticed that Leonard is playing a concert tonight at the John Labatt Centre in London Ontario?

I went to the previous show at the John Labatt Centre in May 2009. I hadn't intended to go to it but I was doing that obsessive thing of seeing what tickets were available when a seat right in the middle of the front row popped up. I couldn't help myself - I bought it and thought about the logistics afterwards. We were due to land (from London UK) in Toronto around 2.30 pm, intending to drive up to Ottawa the next day for the first of the two shows at the National Arts Centre. Instead, all we had to do was take a "slight" detour in the opposite direction for the show in London ON the same night. Oh was I glad we took that detour. The show at the John Labatt Centre, a small-ish hockey arena, was one of the best I have ever been to. I wasn't the only one who thought that. Ed Saunders thought it was pretty special too and he included a song from the show on the Songs from the Road compilation. If Ed's fond memories are shared by Leonard and the rest of the UHTC then tonight's audience are in for a(nother) special treat.

Wendy

The John Labatt Centre, which opened on October 11, 2002, was named after John Labatt, founder of the Labatt brewery in London. Labatt still has a large brewery in London to the present day, although its head office was moved to Toronto in the early 1990s. The John Labatt Centre's name was changed to Budweiser Gardens in Fall 2012, as approved by London City Council on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 with a vote of 12 to 3.
The JLC was built, in part, to be the new downtown home of London's Ontario Hockey League team, the London Knights, replacing the 40-year-old London Ice House in the south end of the city, near Highway 401. Since 2011, it is home to London's National Basketball League of Canada team, the London Lightning.

Leonard Cohen last passed through London, Ontario on May 24, 2009
http://bit.ly/12kcgLS


Some pictures from Camp Cohen /Notes From The Road / Joseph S. Carenza III
http://leonardcohen.tumblr.com/post/377 ... nd-of-love

Cut A Rug To The End of Love


Alex Heats Up the Hallway 15 mins to showtime.


Tune Up


Float On By

From London Free Press -

"Whoever said poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the universe should have had Leonard Cohen in mind."

http://www.lfpress.com/2012/12/11/canad ... ondon-show

CONCERT
Canadian icon Promises To “give everything we’ve got” In London Show

By James Reaney, The London Free Press

Tuesday, December 11, 2012 10:12:16 EST PM


Leonard Cohen performs at Budweiser Gardens on Tuesday night. (MIKE HENSEN, The London Free Press)

Maybe there was a corner of downtown London where a little bit of heaven prevailed on Tuesday night.

Whatever future generations make of the events at city hall on Dec. 11, 2012, it should also be recorded that on the same night a Budweiser Gardens crowd of about 5,500 fans stood up as a 78-year-old Canadian poet jogged briskly to centre stage to begin a concert expected to run more than three hours.

Whoever said poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the universe should have had Leonard Cohen in mind. When Cohen was done jogging Tuesday, it was time for a quick “thank you” and the man in the trademark fedora and suit to sing Dance Me To End of Love.

It also was a chance for Cohen to acknowledge his visits may become a rare thing in the future.

“If we don’t happen to meet that soon again,” Cohen said early in the set after expressing the hope that’s just what would occur, “we’re going to give everything we’ve got tonight.”

If that sounds like an admission mortality is on Cohen’s mind, there was many pointers in the opposite direction. Cohen moved around the stage, often getting down on one knee to sing.

“Thank you for that very warm welcome you gave us when came on to the stage,” Cohen said early.

If wasn’t just the audience, he saluted in the early going as The Future and Everybody Knows arrived in the first half hour.

Violin ace Alexandru Bublitchi was the first band member to receive a nod. Then Cohen doffed his fedora as electric guitarist Mitch Watkins took a lovely, Robbie Robertson-esque solo on an arrangement of Bird on the Wire that seemed to pay homage to The Band. Hammond B3 player Neil Larsen was saluted, too.

The singers — Sharon Robinson and Webb Sisters, Charlie and Hattie — were also named by the poet-singer-­songwriter superstar as he looked to their side of the stage.

Acoustic, flamenco style guitarist Javier Mas had an extended solo to a hushed downtown London arena and won perhaps the ultimate Cohen accolade, a touch of the fedora.

All this attention to the band wasn’t just verbal. The big video screens spent a lot of time showcasing the musicians around Cohen even when he was hitting those low baritone murmurs no one else can find.

That’s democracy in action. Musical democracy anyway.

QMI Agency critics have traced Cohen’s return to the top with one saying it began to build when Hallelujah finally won the attention it deserved.

Cohen’s career was in a serious tailspin by the time he released his seventh album Various Positions in 1984. The first song on side two was a secular hymn called Hallelujah.

It emerged from semi-­obscurity and now it’s the Cohen song many fans would vote for if they could hear him sing just one.

I also became an anthem for such stars as Bono, John Cale, Justin Timberlake, Bon Jovi and fellow Canadian star k.d. lang, who sang it at the opening of the 2010 Olympics and includes it in every concert.

Then, in 2004, news came to light that Cohen’s former lover and trusted business manager Kelley Lynch had pilfered $10 million of Cohen’s savings, leaving Cohen broke. As much as Cohen disliked touring, he had to replenish his retirement fund with another world tour.

The first comeback tour earned Cohen and company more than $50 million, QMI Agency figures show; that’s more money than he had earned in his whole career. Cohen was more popular than he’d ever been,

On Tuesday, Hallelujah’s time would be late in the second set if Cohen and company were keeping to the tour setlist.

Still, a Hallelujah chorus sometime before midnight — well, who wouldn’t want that?

james.reaney@sunmedia.ca

Just back - the last of my December trifecta - two Toronto, one London. Have to say this was probably the best of the bunch but of course each had its own vibe and special moments. Great to hear La Manic and Partisan back to back. Was thrilled to see Roscoe pat his chest to signal Heart With No Companion. Great energy from Leonard and the band throughout tonight - probably the best Come Healing and Going Home of the three nights. The 'smoking' monologue continues to expand! Also got Chelsea and Famous Blue! ......and he didn't come all the way to London to fool us......

From Setlist.fm
http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/leonard-c ... a0acb.html

First Set
Dance Me to the End of Love
The Future
Bird on the Wire
Everybody Knows
Who by Fire
Darkness
Ain't No Cure for Love
Amen
Come Healing
In My Secret Life
A Thousand Kisses Deep
(Recitation)
Anthem
Second Set
Tower of Song
Suzanne
Chelsea Hotel #2
Anyhow
La Manic
(Georges Dor cover)
The Partisan
Heart with No Companion
Alexandra Leaving
(performed by Sharon Robinson)
I'm Your Man
Hallelujah
Take This Waltz
Encore:
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

Excellent show. The standards were rock solid, the ones from the vault inspired, but for me the highlights were the new Old Songs. The band now having lived with them for a while, there was an expansiveness to them beyond the album recordings, which made it clear as air that they are worthy members of the canon.

Many thanks to Leonard, the band, the crew, and the crowd. Very enjoyable evening, if I'm now paying for being out that late on a school night.

"Whoever said poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the universe should have had Leonard Cohen in mind."

Now that's a subtitle.

Ey!

Thanks to for your feed-backs, all of you, that were there! They are the most interesting to read.

And to the virtually one as well

This is a promo video for the London show - that was uploaded to YouTube by "BudweiserGardens" - possibly provided to them by the CBC - or Sony ?
Yes - I realize that the show has already happened -
But - for the sake of posterity - I'm posting the link to the video this thread (*virtually* )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in4XhU8OAIg

Here's some video - uploaded by theglurgle - Thanks

Not up close - but ...

Everybody Knows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmDVIUMCsH8

A tweet and a picture from venue people of last night's show - Budweiser Gardens-

Budweiser Gardens ‏@BudGardens
So who out there was at Leonard Cohen last night? (Check out the note he left) We were fortunate to have him #ldnont pic.twitter.com/rXOYSLsL

a video uploaded by Ela Kaca - Thanks

Leonard’s Closing Words (after Closing Time) and a bit of a skip and a GREAT smile & a wave
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwZnj1E3DTY

Thank you Linda for posting this link to Ela's video. I am so glad she captured this moment of exuberance. LC was making this comment about dancing in the aisles because at that time, two younger ladies did get up and dance in the middle aisle at about the fifth row. He then invited others to join in the dancing without any takers

The Venue
John Labatt Center (Now Budweiser Gardens)
Capacity - 9100
This is your typical cavernous arena/stadium which normally is used for hockey and basketball. Talking to the locals, I was told that it hosts many well known names that choose to appear here in lieu of larger Canadian cities because of the acoustics. One of the security told me that for the LC concert the capacity was 5500-6000 because the area behind the stage was not being utilized. In my thinking, those 'behind the stage seats' were now on the floor and it sure looked like more than 6000 people - but what do I know.

The Audience
All ages, but majority, around 60-70% were 'mature'.
Again in talking to locals (small retail business owners, restaurant staff, hotel staff) the general impression is that the majority of this community is comprised of 'old money' and students, both of which do not or cannot easily part with their money. So, in light of the fact that the night before the concert, I was still able to pull up second row floor seats on the side, it was nice to see that it looked like a sellout.

This was a very reserved, 'polite' audience (one of the locals called them 'sticks in the mud'). As a result, the standing ovations were sparse; upon the band and LC's entrance, after Anthem, after Hallelujah, after Take this Waltz, at the end of the first encore set, and at the end of the show. Also, the applause after songs was short-lived. The result of this, and again, I have never experienced this, was some 'dead air' between applauses and the starts on the next songs.

There was also, NO singing along on anything, and very little (from what I could see) taking of photos or videos. A big plus - no walking around during the concert.

The Band Introductions
In order of acknowledgement by LC, after the member's solo within the song;
Dance Me To the End of Love - Alexandru Bublitchi
Bird on the Wire - Mitch Watkins, Neil Larsen
Everybody Knows - Sharon Robinson, Hattie and Charley Webb-the Webb Sisters
Who By Fire - Javier Mas, Roscoe Beck
Darkness - Rafael Gayol
Anthem - the whole band
at the end of the show - the whole band again
In addition to the above, during an encore, the technicians were bought onstage and introduced (I have never seen this done before). LC also did take the time to acknowledge, by name the rest of the crew - lighting, sound, monitors.

Additions/Changes in Lyrics
BOTW - she cried to me, "Hey, why not ask for a little bit more?"
EK - a meter on every bed
IYM - I'll wear an old man's mask for you (at which point he put his fedora in front of his face)
I'll examine every precious inch of you
You know you damned can
Amen - when I've seen through the G-d damned horror
H - London was mentioned
FWTM - I practiced every night, now G-d damned I'm ready


Observations
Upon entrance everyone on stage was wearing a Unified Heart ring on the middle finger of their left hand. After 'Who By Fire', all the rings disappeared. Perhaps this is because the next song was 'Darkness' from the newest album and this is the 'Old Ideas' Tour.
He was the most chatty I've ever seen.
He thanked everyone for the warm welcome,"Even though it's a mild winter, it's nice to be inside.".
Never look into a magnifying mirror was expanded to 'if you're over 15'. I could have sworn there was a 'teen' after 'fif' and not a 'ty' to make it fifty. And then it continued, but I don't remember (Here I plead 'old age'.).
Before he started 'Anyhow' he expanded on he wants to keep touring so he can start smoking when he's eighty....he doesn't want to do it alone, he wants to do it with his buddies. And then he went on, to the best of my memory, how he would be in a wheelchair, attended by a nurse, preferably female, she would bring him a fresh pack of cigarettes, he would ignore the warning label, which by that time will probably be flourescent and in 3D and he'd still ignore it. She would also bring him some Legavulin, which is an obscure scotch...and then he segued into 'Anyhow' - perfect. And then all the others.....

General Impressions
Because in the last 14 or so shows, since Seattle, the first set has not changed (with the exception of the first Toronto show, where they got Different Sides - lucky them), in this first set in London, they were like a well-oil machine - PERFECTION! Then again, I could find no fault with the rest of the show either. They were at ease and enjoying themselves. They know how to do a concert right.

Now I wish I could get my computer to scan the official setlist. This has got to be one of the most interesting ones I've seen. Once I get the scanning down, I will post it.

Happy regards,
Mary

MaryB wrote:Before he started 'Anyhow' he expanded on he wants to keep touring so he can start smoking when he's eighty....he doesn't want to do it alone, he wants to do it with his buddies. And then he went on, to the best of my memory, how he would be in a wheelchair, attended by a nurse, preferably female, she would bring him a fresh pack of cigarettes, he would ignore the warning label, which by that time will probably be flourescent and in 3D and he'd still ignore it.

LOL. Got to love Leonard's sense of humor.

Great report, Mary!