Bic Runga To Open For Leonard Cohen
Thursday, 2 September 2010, 10:09 am
Press Release: Mushroom Group
Media Release – Thursday 2nd September
Bic Runga To Open For Leonard Cohen
It is with great delight that The Frontier Touring Company announce Bic Runga will be opening for Leonard Cohen at all New Zealand shows.
Bic is a long time admirer of Leonard’s music and is thrilled to be joining the music legend on stage. "I'm so excited to support Leonard Cohen on his New Zealand shows, I've been a fan of his songs and poems since I was 16. It's an honour to be given the chance to play before a true master of songwriting."
And beautiful Auckland -Rehearsal day one and the band’s all here.
* Auckland, New Zealand
http://leonardcohen.tumblr.com/post/140 ... -the-venueBreakfast by the sea before heading to the venue for rehearsal day two.
* Auckland, New Zealand
Venue is prepped and ready for doors.
Finally, show day.
*Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand’s Bic Runga prepares to take the stage and start the nights musical performances.
* Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
LC thanks Bic for the great set and the UHTC is on in ten.
* Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
UHTC production manager Robert Nelson gets anointed before the band walks to stage.
* Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
On in Auckland.
* Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
http://leonardcohen.tumblr.com/post/142 ... ckland-newSolo via Soldo.
* Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
The poem 1000 Kisses Deep makes a surprise return to the set.
* Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
LC’s “angels” bring it home during Closing Time.
* Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
http://leonardcohen.tumblr.com/post/142 ... -is-in-theFirst night of the down under tour is in the books.
* Vector Arena - Auckland, New Zealand
It'll be interesting to see how people respond to this report, with its occasional negative comments. I think it's proably a fair one. Being a fan doesn't blind one to reality nor mean one has to lose one's critical faculties.5:30 AM Leonard Cohen is a revelation to those who knew him only on records long ago.
At the age of 76, the dark poet is a warm, gracious, comfortable performer on stage.
Many of the near-capacity crowd last night had already discovered that last year. This time, they were perhaps looking for something extra.
Essentially they got the same.
Cohen took the stage with the same players, same dapper suits and trilby hats, same song order for too much of the concert.
But every so often the pace was quickened with a moment of magic.
The first came six or seven songs into the programme, the first time Cohen picked up a guitar.
Over his signature rolling rhythm, Spanish guitarist Javier Mas played an extended introduction to Who by Fire and the band came alive.
Cohen was less engaging than last year, eyes hidden by his hat brim and few comments to the audience.
There was a ritual nod to nuclear-free New Zealand and to the "wisdom and sanity of your Government - and the luck of geography here".
After the interval, the treats came regularly. The lovely Gypsy Wife, a rousing rendition of The Partisan, and Collaborator Sharon Robinson's Boogie Street.
After two rounds of band introductions, the audience knows them well. Cohen treats them all as co-stars, doffing his hat to them through their solos.
But his velvet voice is the undertow of all the tunes. He is the show. His timing and the intensity of his singing are the essence.
On occasions, he is a little too intense for the material. A song such as Chelsea Hotel #2 is not exactly profound. It could be better done as simply as others, such as Rufus Wainwright, do it.
There were tired moments - Suzanne was a struggle - but many more great ones, such as Tower of Song with just Cohen, his little synthesizer and the female chorus.
He was a published poet before he turned to song, and last night, his spoken version of his poem to age, A Thousand Kisses Deep, was the moment to exceed them all.
He was on stage for more than three hours. We couldn't ask for more. He is 76. He said he does not know when he will be back. He has left his fans forever satisfied.
re the above reviewIt'll be interesting to see how people respond to this report, with its occasional negative comments. I think it's proably a fair one. Being a fan doesn't blind one to reality nor mean one has to lose one's critical faculties.
Link: http://m.nzherald.co.nz/music/news/arti ... d=10683822
Carole
