CONCERT REPORT: Marseille, France, September 21, 2010

[sturgess66]

It’s almost 6:30 p.m. in Marseille (located on the southeast coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea) - and we need a concert thread because there is an important show there tonight!

HAPPY 76th BIRTHDAY TO LEONARD COHEN!!

A salute from 76 Trombones – and all the rest of the brass – and the cymbals and the drums – and the clarinets and everyone!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFnpPxf-H_g

Venue: Le Dôme – Marseille, France


From Joey – looks like sound check is in motion and there is mention of the band working out "a few new numbers?”

Hey Marseille.
- Marseille, France

More of Marseille.
Like a movie from every angle and corner.
- Marseille, France

Lighting Director Ryan Patrick Murphy and Front of House sound engineer Mark Vreeken fine tune the sound and lights while the band works out a few new numbers.
• Le Dome - Marseille, France

http://leonardcohen.tumblr.com/post/116 ... d-front-of

[sturgess66]

Time to play in Marseille.
* Le Dome - Marseille, France

[sturgess66]

Javier Mas once again ushers in Who By Fire with a deft touch.
* Le Dome - Marseille, France

Time for the intermission.
Roscoe Beck and Chris Bynum go over some notes at the break. We’re back in 20.
* Le Dome - Marseille, France

What Lyssa Bloom does with the backstage every night is simply a miracle.
* Le Dome - Marseille, France

[sturgess66]

Twitter is going crazy with "Happy Birthday" wishes being sent to Leonard Cohen from around the globe.

Starting up the Tower of Song when the crowd spontaneously starts singing Happy Birthday. Flowers descend upon the stage left and right.
* Le Dome - Marseille, France

[sturgess66]

This is a pre-concert report - but it is nice.

http://networkedblogs.com/88kmk

The Concert of the Day: Leonard Cohen in Marseille


For the last time in concert in the south of France,
the Canadian songwriter Leonard Cohen performs
this Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at the Dome in Marseille.
Thrills guaranteed!

The Marseille hosts a legend tonight, the poet, novelist and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. Certainly, his comeback in 2008 was due to financial need. But judging by the rave reviews that are done concerts of his tour marathon, the gentleman crooner 76 years takes a lot of fun to reconnect with an exercise he had to abandon his last years. As part of his tour extension, it happens tonight at the Dome.

With his deep voice, a baritone, his impeccable suits and Borsalino, Leonard Cohen has lost none of its elegance. He exudes charisma from every pore of his skin. It is sufficient to sketch a stilted melody to subjugate his audience. His music is straight out of the depths of his soul and his interpretations are inhabited ever.

As for the directory, it is immense: the ballad with hints of sirtaki "Dance Me to the End of Love" in classic sacred music "Hallelujah", through the pop standards "Suzanne" or "I'm Your Man "Leonard Cohen has many strings to his bow. Enough anyway to shoot a few arrows of emotion tonight at the Dome in Marseille. There are still places up for sale for this concert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki9xcDs9 ... r_embedded

A.V.
Photo DR
© 2010 Concert Live Publishing. Reproduction even partial forbidden without authorizatiC

[sturgess66]

I can't resist these pictures!!

The band and crew wish LC a happy birthday.
* Le Dome - Marseille, France

http://leonardcohen.tumblr.com/post/116 ... irthday-le

[sturgess66]

How can you leave a crowd like this?
Heart With No Companion just because.
* Le Dome - Marseille, France

Last minutes flowers and then we’re out of the building.
* Le Dome - Marseille, France

http://leonardcohen.tumblr.com/post/116 ... out-of-the

[trish]

Just back from a wonderful concert in Marseille. As I noted on the "message from Sharon" thread, this was a fabulous concert. We did miss Sharon though.

The setlist was wonderful and the band was very playful. There were candles and red roses for Leonard thanks to Meritxell and Beatriz and the Spanish/Andorran crew! The French forum also presented a beautiful bouquet to Leonard. We sang happy birthday to Leonard as he was about to begin Tower of Song. He loved it.

I'll leave it to others to express what I won't do as eloquently. I'll just say it was a an extremely memorable night and one I won't forget in a long time. Gypsy wife, Hey that's no way to say goodbye, Chelsea Hotel, Sisters of Mercy, Heart with no Companion are still ringing in my head. On that note I'll go to sleep, very satisfied!

[sturgess66]

Oh - I just found video uploaded by "rpan" of "Happy Birthday" -

rpan - thank you, thank you, thank you - and hope you don't mind me bringing it here -

"Mr Leonard Cohen 76th birthday in Marseille"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9mjKvyq4gk

[sandrine1]

I'm exhausted but so happy. It was a wonderful night. Thank you Harald and Beatriz for the candles and the meeting. I'll try to post pictures as soon as I will be able too.

Sandrine

[Mabeanie1]

Thank you from me too. I really enjoyed the show - and I think Leonard and the band did too! From the moment we "ambushed" him with Happy Birthday at the start of Tower of Song through the candle lit Suzanne to the encores when we all sang along waving our long stemmed roses he was smiling and he expressed his appreciation more than once during the show. Thank you to everyone who organised everything.

The set list was the same as Strasbourg but with Closing Time and I Tried to Leave You in the correct order! Then during I Tried to Leave You Leonard spoke to Roscoe who tapped his heart and nodded to Neil and Bob so we knew we were going to be treated to Heart With No Companion as well. Part of me wishes it had been Lover Lover Lover (the alternate on the setlist) but somehow Heart was much better for the occasion.

The walk back to the hotel was long but not unpleasant and gave us time to reflect on a great evening.

Wendy

[IrishAL]

Another great night to remember,

Video;


Happy Birthday Leonard....followed by Tower of Song;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F30CABcShOM

Suzanne....with Candles...Thanks you Beatriz and all involved;


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

enjoy

albert

[imyourwoman]

Thank you for the wonderful videos Albert.
Did you by any chance record 'Chelsea hotel' - I thought the rendition last night was exquisite - or 'Closing time' with the words Leonard recited at the end from 'Never got to love you'?

In hopeful expectation...

[Hartmut]

Video;
Happy Birthday Leonard....followed by Tower of Song;

Thanks, Al!

What did he say in French after the applause for the keyboard solo?

[pamgurd]

After visiting historical monuments here, it was an incredible moment to hear him sing "The Partisan" in Marseille. Before spending time in Provence, I never understood that "The Partisan" was about the Resistance. Some of the descendants of the resistance were there with us. (There's an incredibly moving museum in Marseille, "Mémorial des camps de la mort", that talks about the death camps and the resistance. I wonder if LC knows about it.)

Thank you, LC, for "The Partisan"!