leonardcohenforum.com

Good post Paul - Its been a similar trip for many who went to one concert and got carried along and enjoyed every minute and aspect of the rolling experience.

Regarding the venue, in some ways I shudder at the very thought of Las Vegas, and my friends think it hilarious that I, of all people, would consider going there. Of itself it holds no attraction for me whatsoever.

But by all accounts it is a superb auditorium, with particularly good acoustics. Having seen LC perform in a variety of venues, ranging from huge arenas such as MSG/San Jose/O2, outdoors on a few occasions, and once in a smaller more intimate auditorium with great acoustics (Tampa) I can say that I enjoyed all of these and that each had a different character and atmosphere. So I have no problem with the venue.

Accommodation is relatively cheap, and by all accounts so is food. And Las Vegas is accessible for anybody traveling a long distance, and almost affordable!

Would I rather it was somewhere I could linger a few days and soak up a bit of culture and ambience and atmosphere and whatever your having yourself - I certainly would.

But I have no problem with it as a venue and I'm certainly looking forward to it - I just won't be hanging around.......

Las Vegas is a great venue for cheap food, accommodation and a wide range of excellent entertainment at competitive prices.

If you dont gamble its an even better place for a holiday.

Hire a car and explore the desert landscapes of the South West. It really is spectacular.

Go there deciding its not for you and you may not like it.

Go there with an open mind and you might be surprised.

There has to be some reasons why Jarkko is a frequent visitor eh?

Use Vegas on your terms and not the stereotypes and you could have a good break

casterbridgecohen wrote:Las Vegas is a great venue for cheap food, accommodation and a wide range of excellent entertainment at competitive prices.

If you dont gamble its an even better place for a holiday.

Hire a car and explore the desert landscapes of the South West. It really is spectacular.

Go there deciding its not for you and you may not like it.

Go there with an open mind and you might be surprised.

There has to be some reasons why Jarkko is a frequent visitor eh?

Use Vegas on your terms and not the stereotypes and you could have a good break

You have the measure of me - a good friend already told me to hire a car and go meditate on the Hoover Dam and stop bugging the poor gamblers !!

I have EVERY intention of enjoying it down to the last - I always do.

Mutti

mutti wrote:
Mutti

Congratulations Leslie - that is wonderful news!!!

I know some are puzzled by Vegas as being the venue for the last concerts, but I have heard Leonard likes Vegas. Consider it the tour,s Boogie Street!

M

I guess everybody knows by now that Mutti/Leslie is the winner of our Quiz - she was the first to suggest Las Vegas. Congratulations!!!!

Congratulations Leslie! See you in Vegas!

marsha

congrats to leslie

and to all of you who got their tickets for the island, the desert oasis and the rainy paradise!

I can almost hear Elvis singing "Viva L Cohen"

I posted this over on the other thread about Las Vegas, but thought it belongs here as well.


With all of the gambling imagery that Leonard has used, from Stranger Song:

It's true that all the men you knew were dealers
who said they were through with dealing
Every time you gave them shelter

And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
you find he did not leave you very much
not even laughter
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
that is so high and wild
he'll never need to deal another

And from Ten New Songs A Thousand Kisses Deep

The ponies run, the girls are young,
The odds are there to beat.
You win a while, and then it’s done –
Your little winning streak.

And one of my favorites: A Life of Errands

A LIFE OF ERRANDS


If You Are Lucky
You Will Grow Old
And Live
A Life Of Errands.
You Will Discern
What People Need
And Provide It
Before They Ask.
You Will Drive Your Car
Here And There
Delivering And Fetching
And Neither The Traffic
Nor The Weather
Will Bother You
In The Least.
You Will Whip Down The 405
To San Diego
To Pick Up An Acorn
For Someone's Proverb
And So On And So Forth.
In Spite Of The Ache
In Your Heart
About The Girl You
Never Found
And The Fact That
After Years Of
Spiritual Rigor You Did Not Manage
To Enlighten Yourself
A Certain Cheerfulness
Will Begin To
Arise Out Of Your Crushed
Hopes And Intentions.
How Thirstily
You Embrace Your Next Commission:
To Sift Through The Sunglasses
At A Lost And Found
In Las Vegas
Just A Few Hours
Across The Desert.
Your Hair Is White
You Have Breasts
And A Gut
Over Your Belt
You Are No Longer A Boy,
Or Even A Man
But A Sense Of Gratitude
Enlivens Every Move You Make.
Yes, Sir, These Are The
Very Gold-Rimmed Pair
She Left In The Plastic Tray
Beside The Dollar Slot Machines.
No, Sir, I Am Not Lying.


December 31, 1999

We're all on this winning streak now.

Joe

Joe,thanks for posting this poem. And lo and behold Leonard keeps going back to Las Vegas.

Marsha

I think Las Vegas is a perfect place for Leonard to conclude his world tour. Sure, he's played in huge venues around the world, but the Colosseum in Vegas is intimate, lively and vibrant and has amazing acoustics and great seating. And he knows he'll be surrounded by 4,000 of his closest friends and admirers each night, so why not come back? Finally, kudos to Caesars Palace - they know a good thing when they see it. Welcome back, Leonard.

Looks like we will have the highest number of Forum members ever getting together in one city - in Las Vegas. Hundreds, judging from the presale. Including a very big delegation from Europe!

Joe Way wrote:I posted this over on the other thread about Las Vegas, but thought it belongs here as well.
With all of the gambling imagery that Leonard has used, from Stranger Song:

It's true that all the men you knew were dealers
who said they were through with dealing
Every time you gave them shelter

And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
you find he did not leave you very much
not even laughter
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
that is so high and wild
he'll never need to deal another

And from Ten New Songs A Thousand Kisses Deep

The ponies run, the girls are young,
The odds are there to beat.
You win a while, and then it’s done –
Your little winning streak.

And one of my favorites: A Life of Errands

A LIFE OF ERRANDS

If You Are Lucky
You Will Grow Old
And Live
A Life Of Errands.
You Will Discern
What People Need
And Provide It
Before They Ask.
You Will Drive Your Car
Here And There
Delivering And Fetching
And Neither The Traffic
Nor The Weather
Will Bother You
In The Least.
You Will Whip Down The 405
To San Diego
To Pick Up An Acorn
For Someone's Proverb
And So On And So Forth.
In Spite Of The Ache
In Your Heart
About The Girl You
Never Found
And The Fact That
After Years Of
Spiritual Rigor You Did Not Manage
To Enlighten Yourself
A Certain Cheerfulness
Will Begin To
Arise Out Of Your Crushed
Hopes And Intentions.
How Thirstily
You Embrace Your Next Commission:
To Sift Through The Sunglasses
At A Lost And Found
In Las Vegas
Just A Few Hours
Across The Desert.
Your Hair Is White
You Have Breasts
And A Gut
Over Your Belt
You Are No Longer A Boy,
Or Even A Man
But A Sense Of Gratitude
Enlivens Every Move You Make.
Yes, Sir, These Are The
Very Gold-Rimmed Pair
She Left In The Plastic Tray
Beside The Dollar Slot Machines.
No, Sir, I Am Not Lying.

December 31, 1999

We're all on this winning streak now.

Joe

Joe, thank you so much for posting this and

Jarkko, thank you for everything.

Judy