Live in NYC - Conspiracy of Beards (L. Cohen Men's Choir)!!

[christopher_pepper]

San Francisco's Conspiracy of Beards is a men's choir from that performs gritty, original arrangements of the songs of Leonard Cohen. This a capella group has had a string of acclaimed performances at Bay Area venues, including the Cafe du Nord, the Great American Music Hall, and The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The choir has also been featured on National Public Radio's "West Coast Live," on KFOG-FM, and on PBS television station KQED-TV.

Transforming Cohen's simple melodies into complex 4- and 5-part harmonies, the group achieves a sound that is both robust and tender. Their unique arrangements are influenced by indie rock, jazz, gospel, barbershop, classical and even doo-wop. Using the genius of Cohen's words, the Beards inspire their audience members to ponder romance, politics, sex, longing and spirituality while enjoying an intriguingly wry delivery of great songs. Have a look and a listen here:
http://www.myspace.com/conspiracyofbeards

CONSPIRACY OF BEARDS LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY!

The Conspiracy of Beards is honored to be singing in New York City in March 2008. Looking forward to seeing you there!

***
Saturday March 22
Highline Ballroom
431 West 16th Street
Between 9th and 10th Avenues
3pm lunch matinee! $10
Tickets on sale now!
http://www.highlineballroom.com/bio.php?id=373

[jazz4111]

Got this email (partial) today from an old Hydra friend who lives in Manhattan and is well acquainted with LC and his Montreal/Greece friends:

"I'm planning on seeing Barbara (last name omitted) on March 22nd. We've bought $7 tickets for some weird thing at the Highline Ballroom at 3:00 in the afternoon called Conspiracy of Beards. Apparently, they're a group of singers/musicians? who do Leonard Cohen's music. I have no idea what their story is (Hazel had never heard of them, either), but Barbara and I thought it would be a good excuse to get together. I'll report back!"
I'll let the board know her impressions -
I googled the group and there are some perfs. on-line of their unique and quite entertaining interpretations of LC's music.
BTW Thought the HOF induction perf. was superb!
-Jazz

[dick]

II we were not scheduled to be in St Louis that day, Linda and I would definitely give the Beards a try,

Have not seen or heard their performance, but everything I read/hear about them sounds like a great show.

Please someone go forward, enjoy, and report back!

dick

[christopher_pepper]

The Village Voice is giving away a pair of tickets to this show:

http://www.villagevoice.com/promotions/beards

[justinburnett]

I notice from the pictures that only about half of the members have beards. Perhaps that's part of the conspiracy?

[lightning]

Conspiracy literally means that they breathe together, which is what they do when they sing. It does sound enticingly menacing as a group name-- thought it might be from a Cohen poem.
Here are some videos from the show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is5dPnFQLbo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvRwk_wn6AA

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

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEAjPrvmxD4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWLR0Al_Fn0

[dick]

Thousands of thanks Lightning

great stuff -- really wish we could have been there too.

Did you see Ken and Suzanne and Esther?

Dick

[lightning]

I don't know who Ken and Suzanne are. I looked for Esther but did not see her.

[lightning]

This Bird on the Wire Beards video by someone else really drives home the line "drunk in a midnight choir." One of them is singing with a beer bottle in hand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibYTTUOU ... re=related

[newyork]

lightning:

thanks so much for the links to the conspiracy of beards concert. I would have loved to have been there but couldn't make it.