Songs From The Road - Cinema Screenings

[mnkyface]

I went last night. Small theatre but it was a good sized crowd. And it was the 3rd night of its "run" there (Davis, CA) so that was encouraging. We got the abrupt ending. I guess the extras really are...extras...for the DVD. Seems like they could have at least put some credits on it! Still an amazing film document and the closest thing to being at a concert. The closeups are unbelievable!!!! Especially enjoyed seeing his "chop" up close- Leonard's guitar fingering which I've never really focused on before. 12 songs were definitely not enough...I wanted it to go on for another hour at least, but the choices of performances were great. I also saw Jarkko in the London part and was looking for Marsha in the Coachella audience! Glad you spotted her, Arlene. I can't wait to check her out on the BluRay. (Amazon says it's shipping Tues!) Coachella was my favorite segment of the whole thing with one of the most perfect performances of Hallelujah ever...and that incredibly diverse audience crazy for Leonard. I would have liked to see even more focus on audiences in the film. Some of my favorite parts were those that showed the audience from the stage- how huge and overwhleming it looks to Leonard and the musicians. But also how close the audience looks...you can see every rapt expression. I never realized how well they could see *us* from stage.

I got a mini-poster too!

[sturgess66]

Does anyone know if there are screenings in cities in Canada?
I did a Google search but couldn't find anything.

I am going tonight in Philly - excited!!

[MaryB]

Went to the 2PM matinee yesterday. Cost $6.50 (evening showing $8.50). Looks like Columbus came off with the best prices so far. With Arlene's comments in mind, I noticed no posters anywhere advertising the movie. I asked the manager if they had anything and all they had was a little 10"X4" flyer advertising coming attractions. Our movie only had 2 lines listing title and date and times of showings. I was not very optomistic regarding number of attendees. Lo and behold, what a nice surprise to see about 25 people there, one of whom, Rick, my husband had met through local newpaper business dealings. He is a 30 something fervent fan and we arranged to meetup with him tonight at our local watering hole. Aside from Rick and his 3 friends and a couple of other 'younger' viewers, the rest of the audience was 'mature'.

The picture quality of the movie was not that good. This might have been due to an unexperienced projectionist (5 times 'input2' came up in the upper portion of the screen, like she was trying to fix something). The extreme closeups were picture perfect, but the long range views were blurry, like double images, and the color was way too intense. The manager said it might be due to the fact that the screen was so large.

Our movie did not end abruptly. Instead, Hallelujah started to play, different photos of LC, with the movie menu in the lower right corner. One of the choices was 'backstage' something? and I kept waiting for her to scroll down and hit that 'backstage' thing so that we would get Lorca's interview. Nope. We finally exited and outside the screening room, there was a group of around 10 people talking to the manager and they said to me that the movie was not over. Thank goodness I belong to the forum. All the info we get here! Because of this, I immediately was turned to as their 'expert' . One gentleman told the manager that we only got 1:15 minutes of movie and it was supposed to be an hour and a half. Forum info came in. I explained what was happening in other theaters and that we would probably get another 15 minutes if she did the 'backstage' viewing. They couldn't do it because another movie was being shown in less than 15min. in that same room. Also alerted them to the 'Bird' video that is out. We are so fortunate to be forum members and have access to all the detailed and latest info here!

Alerted by Arlene, I did catch Jarkko, Wendy at the O2, and a fantastic shot of Marsha at Coachella. Can't wait to get my copy so I can use the stop mode to spot other forum members. In my excitement, I did point and yell out their names . Did sing along (not too loudly)in a few spots. I'm sure it was not a problem for others as there was no one in front of us and we sat sort of isolated. Of course, I somewhat quietly applauded after every song and at the end.

End result, if it is anywhere near you, please go. LC is larger than life and you get a chance to see him larger than life!

Will put my thoughts about the movie itself in the 'new live album' thread.

[sturgess66]

bigdee - I didn't notice your post until now - that you had been to see the film in Philadelphia. Else - I would have been prepared for the $20 ticket price. Online they advertised admission at $9.00. There was a woman buying a ticket ahead of me and I heard her say something $18 and I figured she was getting two tickets. What she was getting was one ticket - at a senior's rate of $18. She was upset. And when they told me $20 - that it was a "special event" I complained as well. We both went to speak to the manager who gave us an email address to write to - since they had advertised on their website that admission was $9.00. (I just looked at their website and they have removed the $9 price!) Also - I asked them if they had a good audience on Friday night and they told me they had a decent turnout - so, bigdee, I am laughing now at your description of that "good turnout." Oh - and by the way - there were 7 of us in the audience tonight.

The good news - I had arrived early and asked if I could have a poster and the manager was then at the window and he told me that he couldn't give it to me. "Why?" I asked. He told me that they planned to run the film again next month and advertise it this time, and hopefully get a packed house. So I asked if I could then have the poster after that and he agreed. BUT - as I was walking out of the theatre tonight he handed me a rolled up poster - the very large one. He also gave me an 8-1/2" x 11" page divided into 4 flyers - I guess they cut it in 4 and give out the flyers. I wanted the smaller poster - haha - but I guess I can go back next month for it.

I loved the film but I too wished it were longer. I could have gone for at least another hour of that. It was sort of an eerie feeling at first - the sound but with the audience sound cut out - because you could "feel" them "out there." LOL I kept thinking of Rafael's comment about their quiet band - that you could hear dust balls collide onstage. [Editing here ]But being more onstage - without the sound of the audience - you notice little things about the marvelous arrangements for all of these songs - little things that go unnoticed when you are part of the audience. I can't remember which song now - but I noticed harmonica contributions by Dino that I had never been aware of before. And in that regard, I just have to say that I hope there is a follow-up to this DVD - "More Songs From the Road" - because the wonderful arrangements for a lot of these songs have evolved even more for this current leg of the tour - and then there are songs like "Feels So Good" and "Born In Chains" - wonderful songs with amazing arrangements - so we need a follow up DVD! Of course, I loved everything. I agree with Esther that the Coachella "Hallelujah" was magnificent. And I think I recall that there is a big smile on Sharon Robinson's face after the performance. "Waiting for the Miracle" is always mesmerizing for me so I loved that it was included. In "Heart With No Companion" Neil's keyboard solo always puts a big smile on my face and particularly delightful at this Oberhausen performance are Sharon, Hattie and Charley with their arms linked, laughing and dancing Neil is tickling the ivories. It was wonderful. Also, generally, it was great to see more closeups of Neil than happens with YouTube videos - or live shows for that matter. I loved "That Don't Make It Junk" - "How come you called me here tonight? How come you bother with my heart at all?" *Sigh* I loved Leonard's performance of Avalanche - and in the dark of the background throughout that the whole performance you see Sharon watching and listening intently.

As everyone else experienced - the film ended abruptly! But no one moved for a couple of minutes. Not until strange music started playing (don't even know what it was but any other music at that point would be "strange." )

Oh -and that reminds me, when I first went to sit down in the theatre, "I'll Be Home For Christmas" was playing. I'm doubled over here laughing - Don't ask. I didn't!!!!!!! I don't know. I just don't know.

Mary - you were SO close. Damn it - I was reading your recap and I thought you were going to guide them into clicking on the "bonus." You were so close!!

I haven't ordered the DVD yet but will do that tomorrow - from Amazon I guess. I'm looking forward to seeing the "bonus sketch."

[mnkyface]

It was sort of an eerie feeling at first - the sound but with the audience sound cut out - because you could "feel" them "out there."

Yes!! I meant to comment on that too. I'm so used to watching YouTube videos with all the audience sounds...for better or worse.

About the price- mine was $11- up from a normal $8 for that theatre. I would understand the $20 thing- IF it was a true HD projection, like those Metropolitan Opera movie events. It sounds though, like some of these theatres showing SFTR are just playing the DVD, and projecting it to "fit the screen". Not the same! That was the case at the theatre where I saw SFTR ...older theatre in a college town- there's a "multiplex" around the corner from it- but this theatre shows all the indie and foreign films. While the picture was clear, I couldn't help but think how much better the sound experience could have been if it had been in the multiplex. I think SFTR was made with HD projection in mind, so it would have been nice if it was longer (again, thinking of the 3+ hour Met broadcasts) and if the distributor was more "picky" about what theatres were technically qualified to show it.

[sturgess66]

Hey - there was no hanger steak or fois gras or wine at the screening I attended - but that's okay.
A nice review from what seems to have been a most pleasant screening event.

http://www.nypress.com/blog-7240-leonar ... -road.html

Sept 13
Leonard Cohen's 'Songs from the Road'

In Section: ON SCREEN
Posted By: Justin Richards
-


The dining room of City Winery in SoHo glowed with points of candlelight blurred through all the glass at each table. Looking down from the second tier of seating afforded a view of much scalp and various heads of grey. As the guests savored their hanger steak or fois gras, they directed their attention to the film beginning on the projector—the debut screening of Songs from the Road, which highlights Leonard Cohen's 2008-09 tour.

In the film, Cohen performs some of his most classic songs at concert halls around the world. He sings "Lover Lover Lover" to Tel Aviv, "Bird On A Wire" to Glasgow, and "Chelsea Hotel No. 2" to London. His onstage demeanor is stately as he accepts bouquets from a crowd in Germany. Only occasionally on this film does he betray the tiredness of a man who, according to reports, embarked on this tour primarily because he needed to recoup a retirement fund that had dwindled.

The stage lighting and cinematography work to downplay the physical aspect of the 76-year-old singer—he's often wrapped in shadows, lit with cool greens and blues—but City Winer's big projection screen and the video's high production values give us a good look at today's Cohen. He wears a dark suit and a fedora hat. A pair of long, deep parentheses connect the wings of his nose to the bottom of his jaw. He sings with his eyes closed, with pride and authority, his slightly puckered mouth expressing keen concentration.

A voice that was based on the motif of a groan to begin with, meanwhile, doesn't worsen much with age. Now he just sounds as though he's been woken up especially early in the morning to sing. One thing I missed watching this film was the way the young Cohen's voice would sort of veer away discordantly at the top of a plaintive crescendo. For all the force it retains, the voice of this Cohen is a bit more grounded.

All of the first several songs on the recording are performed with full accompaniment. The adult contemporary sounds of backup ladies, woodwinds, an electric organ and a blues guitar might be unpalatable for a younger audience, so it's relieving to see him perform "Avalanche" halfway through the film. Here he stands alone in a spotlight, shadowed and blue, singing over nothing but that tangle of finger-picking that characterizes his early albums. He stares straight ahead, as though enraged. It's in this same mode that he sings some of the subsequent songs, including "Suzanne." Here is one of those rare instances when he seems tired, though, and he swallows some of the kicker lines in that classic Cohen tune.

You don't need to be a longtime Cohen fan, letting the traces of his old fire be echoed by your memory, to enjoy this movie. It's all still there. The film serves to remind us that we're looking at a very rare thing: an artist who, though he has aged much, hasn't faltered, hasn't ruined his body, his voice or his nerves, and hasn't misplaced his muse anywhere along his discography. For his peers, who are arguably Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt and maybe Lou Reed, I don't know that you can say the same. Watch him perform "Famous Blue Raincoat" for London's Arena O2 in 2008, and it's as chilling as it was when a much younger man introduced it to younger crowd about 40 years before

[John Etherington]

At the eleventh hour, I found there was a screening of "Songs From the Road" at The Curzon Cinema 2 in Shaftesbury Avenue, Central London, this evening. Fortunately, I was able to cancel a pre-arranged meeting with some old friends so that I could be there. Tickets were £12.50, and there were no extras (no trailers even) - just the movie. The cinema which held 120 people was only about half full. Hence, I've managed to attend what I believe are the first nights of all three Leonard movies in London (the other two being "Bird on a Wire" in 1974 and "Ladies and Gentleman - Mr Leonard Cohen" in 1970). I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, as did my friend Lady Scorpio who came with me, and who had never seen Leonard live. She thought the poster was very mystical..."like an unanswered question". I was particularly pleased that "Lover, Lover Lover", "That Don't Make it Junk" and "Avalanche" were included, as I didn't hear any of these at the six shows I've attended since Leonard's comeback. Greetings to Diana who identified me, at the end! She told me that she hasn't posted here yet, but met me at Weybridge last year. I now look forward to purchasing the DVD, and seeing the backstage section.

All good things, John E

[bridger15]

At the eleventh hour, I found there was a screening of "Songs From the Road" at The Curzon Cinema 2 in Shaftesbury Avenue, Central London, this evening. Fortunately, I was able to cancel a pre-arranged meeting with some old friends so that I could be there.

Um... there was a post on this thread about the Curzon screening on August 28.
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22758#p245600
-and also here-
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22277&start=75#p245599

The info was posted by DMark

[the 4x5 kid]

I had a blast at the Columbus showing. I have only got to see LC once, not bad for a 26 year old...) now I'm determined to mae it to Vegas. I've never been to Vegas so what better reason?? I've been having trouble getting presale, any suggestions (Mary I'll send ya a pm with my email, I have a feeling you know the ins and outs ? Thanks again for a delightful evening with you and George last night. FYI I know this is a LC forum, but I just left the Cleveland Crosby Stills and Nash show-they are sounding great right now, just saying. Hopefully I can meet some other fans to enjoy my first Vegas trip for the best musician and poet I've ever heard.
Have a Lucky Day!

[Relate]

At the eleventh hour, I found there was a screening of "Songs From the Road" at The Curzon Cinema 2 in Shaftesbury Avenue, Central London, this evening. Fortunately, I was able to cancel a pre-arranged meeting with some old friends so that I could be there. Tickets were £12.50, and there were no extras (no trailers even) - just the movie. The cinema which held 120 people was only about half full. Hence, I've managed to attend what I believe are the first nights of all three Leonard movies in London (the other two being "Bird on a Wire" in 1974 and "Ladies and Gentleman - Mr Leonard Cohen" in 1970). I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, as did my friend Lady Scorpio who came with me, and who had never seen Leonard live. She thought the poster was very mystical..."like an unanswered question". I was particularly pleased that "Lover, Lover Lover", "That Don't Make it Junk" and "Avalanche" were included, as I didn't hear any of these at the six shows I've attended since Leonard's comeback. Greetings to Diana who identified me, at the end! She told me that she hasn't posted here yet, but met me at Weybridge last year. I now look forward to purchasing the DVD, and seeing the backstage section.

All good things, John E

I too went to the showing last night in London. I thought the turn out was decent considering the fact that it was very poorly advertised - from the outside of the cinema no indication as far as I could see that it was even on. It was great to see it on the big screen. Almost like a mini-concert. The instict to clap after each song was very strong - but no-one else did, so I didn't either. What surprised me was the constant distracting comings and goings of the people who came to watch it - can't people sit still in one place for even a hour???!!!

[John Etherington]

Hi Relate,

Although it was great to see this, it was odd that the cinema listed it as a special event. Indeed there was no sign outside, no poster, no introduction, no DVDs on sale, and certainly no free glass of wine or champagne! I actually discovered it was showing in a tiny ad in the Islington Gazette. I overlooked the London listings here amongst all the American ones. It's curious how things have changed considering that "Various Postions" wasn't originally released in the U.S.

I was in fact the only person clapping after every song but maybe I didn't clap hard enough (I didn't want Leonard to reprimand me from the screen). I was sitting at the front of the raised section on the left centre aisle. I don't told whether you noticed, but it was me who got up and told the guy a few rows in front of me to switch off his mobile. I hate those horrible little screens glaring in my face when I'm trying to watch a concert!

All the best, John E

[Relate]

Hi Relate,

Although it was great to see this, it was odd that the cinema listed it as a special event. Indeed there was no sign outside, no poster, no introduction, no DVDs on sale, and certainly no free glass of wine or champagne! I actually discovered it was showing in a tiny ad in the Islington Gazette. I overlooked the London listings here amongst all the American ones. It's curious how things have changed considering that "Various Postions" wasn't originally released in the U.S.

I was in fact the only person clapping after every song but maybe I didn't clap hard enough (I didn't want Leonard to reprimand me from the screen). I was sitting at the front of the raised section on the left centre aisle. I don't told whether you noticed, but it was me who got up and told the guy a few rows in front of me to switch off his mobile. I hate those horrible little screens glaring in my face when I'm trying to watch a concert!

All the best, John E

Ha ha, I was sitting at the end of the row where the guy with the annoying mobile was seated! I was momentarily startled when you came to the foot of the row and told him to turn it off - but glad you did so. At the end I asked him and his two colleagues if they had perhaps strayed into the wrong screen by mistake! They arrived quite late and certainly didn't seem at all interested in the film.

How I wished I'd picked up on your clapping!

[TheWrongMan]

Hi John & Relate,

I was also at the screening last night. Have to admit I was a bit late (came in half way through Bird on the Wire, sorry for any disturbance), but I did manage to stay put once I'd got there. Sitting right at the front I wasn't really aware of what was going on in the seats behind.
I also wish that I'd heard you clapping John, almost had to sit on my hands to stop myself, the atmosphere would have been better if we'd all let rip.
All of the songs were fantastic but the highlight for me had to be Avalanche, for the intensity of Leonard's performance and the focus on his guitar picking.

An enjoyable evening.

[Relate]

All of the songs were fantastic but the highlight for me had to be Avalanche, for the intensity of Leonard's performance and the focus on his guitar picking.

An enjoyable evening.

I totally agree - Avalanche was amazing! I was also very moved by Hallelujah at Coachella.

[bridger15]

... the rest of the audience was 'mature'.