Six years ago today...

News about Leonard Cohen and his work, press, radio & TV programs etc.
Post Reply
Ronaldson
Posts: 149
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:06 am

Six years ago today...

Post by Ronaldson »

It is hard to believe that it is already six years since the unexpected return of Leonard Cohen to the concert stage -- on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11, 2008.

And to think it all started at The Fredericton Playhouse, a cozy theatre with only 709 seats! I vividly remember the euphoria of that night, though it sometimes feels like a dream. If it hadn't actually happened, I never would have believed it a plausible story that Leonard Cohen could embark on a "comeback" tour in a manner such as this. The atmosphere in our little concert hall was electric; I think we were all amazed that this was really happening. The sense of anticipation and excitement was palpable, but this being the very first concert, no one really knew what to expect. This was also true for Leonard and the band; they could not know what the audience response would be, and they seemed a little nervous (in a good way). But as we all know now, there was nothing to worry about. As Leonard came on to the stage, the audience greeted him with a standing ovation before he even spoke a single word. Many more standing ovations were offered throughout the night's performance. Leonard delivered much more stage banter than in later shows, sharing jokes and witty observations, and even some advice from his mother. The words spoken between songs were often poetic, as I recall him talking about "the troubles of the swollen river" in reference to the historically large flood in the week prior to the concert (the water had entered the city to such an extent that the Playhouse was actually closed for repairs the weekend before the show!).

As everyone knows, the music on stage was wonderful. I have never before or since experienced as powerful an emotional response to a musical performance as I did that night in 2008. It created a deep longing in me to experience it again, and little did I realize it at the time, but this was the beginning of a five year odyssey that would have me attend several more concerts in a variety of far-flung places. It has been a marvellous journey, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced it all.
User avatar
Mabeanie1
Posts: 2782
Joined: Mon Mar 17, 2008 12:03 am
Location: UK

Re: Six years ago today...

Post by Mabeanie1 »

I cannot imagine what it must have felt like to be sitting there, waiting for the Fredericton show to start. I know how I felt two days later as I boarded my flight to Halifax, collected my tickets and went to take my seat towards the back of the Rebecca Cohn auditorium - a mixture of excitement, elation, fear and a myriad other emotions - and I had already read the reviews from Fredericton at that stage!

Wendy
User avatar
lizzytysh
Posts: 25503
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2002 8:57 pm
Location: Florida, U.S.A.

Re: Six years ago today...

Post by lizzytysh »

Marvelous recountings, Ronaldson and Wendy.
What a SIX years it's been!
Praying for more, G~d and Leonard willing.
"Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken."
~ Oscar Wilde
User avatar
Susy
Posts: 1147
Joined: Sat Jun 20, 2009 8:51 pm
Location: Switzerland

Re: Six years ago today...

Post by Susy »

... Thank You Leonard <3
Susy
alb123
Posts: 106
Joined: Sat Mar 21, 2009 7:04 pm

Re: Six years ago today...

Post by alb123 »

Ronaldson wrote:It is hard to believe that it is already six years since the unexpected return of Leonard Cohen to the concert stage -- on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11, 2008.
I decided to look up the setlist from that evening's performance, so I wandered over to setlist.fm and found it http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/leonard-c ... c792e.html. This is certainly a fantastic setlist, even though it is much shorter than the concerts Leonard would eventually put on. Hey, you can't blame a guy for starting with a shorter set when he wasn't even certain how well received he would be. I posted the setlist, however, to see if anyone gets a laugh, like I did, at the two mentions of "covers". Who provides these setlists? You'd think it was a "fan", but would a "fan" make such a glaring error?
Waterbury, CT - May 14, 2009
Las Vegas, NV - Dec 11, 2010 (Final Show of Leonard's 3 year World Tour) INCREDIBLE!
Boston, MA - Dec 15, 2012 (Best L.C. concert I've been to!)
ladydi
Posts: 2325
Joined: Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:14 pm

Re: Six years ago today...

Post by ladydi »

Ronaldson....what a remembrance. How special those first few concerts must have been to those who were there. Thinking especially of you, and Wendy in Halifax. The re-emergence of Leonard Cohen! It seems like it should have been much more than six years ago. Those six years...actually those first 2 years, changed the direction of my life, and I'm sure many others. Thank you for sharing your memories!

Diana
User avatar
B4real
Posts: 7184
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:49 am
Location: Q'ld, Australia

Re: Six years ago today...

Post by B4real »

Yes, such great memories for you Ronaldson and Wendy....in fact, it has reminded me of a thread I started half that time ago called "Three Years Later" :)

Here's a link to it: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=26116&hilit=three+y ... er#p272183
In it there are some videos of Fredericton and others.

These are all from that first night in Fredericton:
Leonard speaks about his first stage appearance for 14 years http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9FpJ-xq ... re=related
Hallelujah http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZWCgwzQ_4g
Dance Me To The End Of Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqSM5rv50XY
Who By Fire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRnzGmUT ... re=related
I'm Your Man http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGHrk83UBeI
Everybody Knows http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66n-CowFMgw
In My Secret Life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYaDMEET8bA audio only

Some of you will probably have the commemorative vinyl EP of this auspicious night:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=31681&hilit=fredericton

So interesting to see how far we have come in the next three years from then to now and taking into account all those six years since that uncertain start - what a journey!.... and as ladydi has said what a life changing experience! I feel privileged to be a small part of it all. Whether or not there will be more tours I am content with all I have seen and done......but if the opportunity should somehow arise....... ;-)

btw - 11th May is also my brother's birthday. Some of you will know that he is the dead-set spitting image (at that same age) of Alex Bublitchi who just had his birthday a few days ago too! :shock:
It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to B4real ~ me
Attitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy ~ me ...... The magic of art is the truth of its lies ~ me ...... Only left-handers are in their right mind!
Post Reply

Return to “News”