I was over on Ticketmaster's site of LC concert reviews. Almost everyone gave the concert five stars ... everyone except this guy:
Disappointing HP Pavilion At San Jose @ - San Jose @ ,CA @ - Fri, Nov 13, 2009 @
Posted 11/14/2009 by Topflor
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Leonard Cohen is a Master Poet with an amazing voice. I grew up in Europe and listened a lot to his earlier albums. Then in the 80's something shifted and I felt less drawn to his musical backing styles. Many years passed with occacsional listening to newer material but mostly focussed on his earlier recordings. Yet, I did not want to miss the opportunity to see him, last night at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
Perhaps I missed something, but the whole show came across to me a bit contrived. Leonard came across like a very loving but very controlling father figure. Do exactly as I say and all will be fine. The moving back and forth of the 'lights' from the front rows during Suzanne I found particularly distasteful. It all seemed overly orchastrated. The female backup singers were wonderful, but the 2 sisters' movements were overly robotic for my taste.
On the othere hand, I give Leonard a lot of credit for his profound stage presence and incredible voice. He is getting on in age and it was a privilage to watch him. I just could have done with less orchastration.
Favorite moment: Leonard reciting a poem towards the end of the show. It provided the kind of intimacy I came for.
Oh well, I guess we can't all be right. But it would be nice if you're going to register your disappointment ... you do it with all your words spelled right.
“When legend Cohen takes to the stage, it’s no less than a cultural event of Biblical dimensions.” – The Independent
Phoenix 2009; San Jose 2009; Las Vegas 2010
2008 Toronto June 6/ 2009 New York Feb 19 Oakland April 13 14 Coachella April 17 Ottawa May 25 26 Barcelona Sept 21 Las Vegas 11/12 San Jose 11/13
2010 Malmo Aug 4 Gothenburg Aug 12 Las Vegas Dec 10 & 11
2012 Verona 9/24 San Jose 11/7. Montreal 11/28 11/29/ 2013 Oakland 3/2 NYC 4/6
Hamilton 4/9
I think its brilliant!
Mary I hope you go for it..its great!
Leslie
1988 Vancouver
2009 Victoria/Seattle/Almost Red Rocks/Las Vegas/San Jose.
2010 Sligo x 2/Victoria/Vancouver/Portland/Las Vegas x 2.
2012 Austin x 2/Seattle/Vancouver/Montreal x 2.
2013 Oakland x 2/New York City x 2/Winnipeg...
It's a gorgeous composition and VERY dramatic... and, even more, appropriate!!! I'm sure you will do it, eh, Mary? The only thing lacking is little Fred, sitting in that blank spot of black stage, his little legs hanging over. Perhaps, some PhotoShopping? I Love it, as is, though .
~ Lizzy
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." ~ Oscar Wilde
What a clever idea Sheila - now if I can just figure out how to do an avatar above my name. But just wait a minute Marsha and Leslie before jumping on the bandwagon, I think Lizzy is onto something. It should be a photo of Fred - in a polka dot blouse. Aaaah that sounds so good that come h*ll or high water I'd find a way to get that photo above my name.
Arlene, as usual, you outdid yourself! Hope that in the future you will be able to attend more concerts so that I can look forward to more of your creative photo compositions.
1993 Detroit 2008 Kitchener June 2-Hamilton June 3 & 4-Vienna Sept 24 & 25-London RAH Nov 17 2009 NYC Feb 19-Grand Prairie Apr 3-Phoenix Apr 5-Columbia May 11-Red Rocks Jun 4-Barcelona Sept 21-Columbus Oct 27-Las Vegas Nov 12-San Jose Nov 13 2010 Sligo Jul 31 & Aug 1-LV Dec 10 & 11 2012 Paris Sept 30-London Dec 11-Boston Dec 16 2013 Louisville Mar 30-Amsterdam Sept 20
In my post earlier in this thread I have listed the vidoes I have from the concert, and details on where to find these on YouTube. I am updating this as the videos finish uploading.
2008 - dublin (kilmainham - the best, ever) 2009 - dublin (The Point) and tampa and NY(MSG) and san jose 2010 - sligo (second best) and oakland and portland and las vegas 2011 - lenny and me were resting, so we were 2012 - dublin (kilmainham again) and austin 2013 - dublin (The Point, 2 times) 2014 & 2015-enjoying the memories and saving the pennies; just in case; just in case..............
MaryB wrote:Arlene, as usual, you outdid yourself! Hope that in the future you will be able to attend more concerts so that I can look forward to more of your creative photo compositions.
Thanks, Mary. I am starting to fantasize about Mexico or Rio or Buenos Aires. Is anyone interested in sharing a room?
---Arlene
2009-San Diego|Los Ang|Nashville|St Louis|Kansas City|LVegas|San Jose 2010-Gothenburg|Berlin|Ghentx2|Oaklandx2|Portland|LVegasx2 2012-Austinx2|Denver|Los Ang|Seattle|Portland Arlene's Leonard Cohen Scrapbookhttp://onboogiestreet.blogspot.com
Rio has been calling me for a long time. But, if Mexico is cheaper.....
1993 Detroit 2008 Kitchener June 2-Hamilton June 3 & 4-Vienna Sept 24 & 25-London RAH Nov 17 2009 NYC Feb 19-Grand Prairie Apr 3-Phoenix Apr 5-Columbia May 11-Red Rocks Jun 4-Barcelona Sept 21-Columbus Oct 27-Las Vegas Nov 12-San Jose Nov 13 2010 Sligo Jul 31 & Aug 1-LV Dec 10 & 11 2012 Paris Sept 30-London Dec 11-Boston Dec 16 2013 Louisville Mar 30-Amsterdam Sept 20
FanForLife wrote:In my post earlier in this thread I have listed the vidoes I have from the concert, and details on where to find these on YouTube. I am updating this as the videos finish uploading.
FanForLife - your videos are great (how did I miss that Dino walk??), and I, for one, would like to see all of them, even those you list as being of lesser quality. Thanks so much!
"In this world of shallow, he is the abyss."~ YouTube commenter greg450318
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Lyon, July 2008 / Oakland x2, April 2009 / San Jose, November 2009 / Oakland, December 2010 / San Jose, November 2012 / Oakland, March 2013
afanghanel wrote:
Hi Mirka,
I hope you didnt feel I was too vigourous in my enthusiasm for your polka dots! having not had the chance to bring my own to the show, I was really keen to facilitiate the spread of other people's dots to the stage! As for your husband thinking you are involved in a cult, that is so hilarious because so does mine! (who was also sitting next to you).
Hi Afanghanel,
thanks for your help, you lifted a burden from my head , as I was afraid I would have hard time trying to pass the woman guarding the stage.
Looking at how the female members of Leonard Cohen Flying Circus act, the only merciful explanation is they must be somehow possessed , otherwise it's hard to explain why adult intelligent women act like teenage Jonas Brothers fans My husband is now stoic about it, the only time he got really alarmed was when I announced I was going to Ramallah, luckily the concert was cancelled thus sparing us serious communication problems
/Warsaw March 22 1985 / Halifax May 16 /Charlottetown May 18 / Dublin June 15 / Vienna Sept 24 2008/ Oakland April 13, 14, 15, San Jose Nov 13 2009/ Las Vegas Dec 11 2010/ Oakland March 2 2013/
MaryB wrote:Rio has been calling me for a long time. But, if Mexico is cheaper.....
And Mexico is much closer to me. Shall I mark you down as interested?
It would be better if you do the camera work. You are much taller than I am. Then I will do the slideshow. All we need now is one of Jarkko's tantalizing announcements.
2009-San Diego|Los Ang|Nashville|St Louis|Kansas City|LVegas|San Jose 2010-Gothenburg|Berlin|Ghentx2|Oaklandx2|Portland|LVegasx2 2012-Austinx2|Denver|Los Ang|Seattle|Portland Arlene's Leonard Cohen Scrapbookhttp://onboogiestreet.blogspot.com
But it would be nice if you're going to register your disappointment ... you do it with all your words spelled right. 
.
, otherwise it's hard to explain why adult intelligent women act like teenage Jonas Brothers fans 
