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As my daughter is going to see Damien Rice at Brixton Academy and we were listening to some live music of his on Kazoo. He covered Halalujua (sic) on the back of a song listed as Cannonball. Not a bad version. I will ask her in February when the concert is if he sings it as part of his set and let you know. Apparently he is a great fan of LC

Damien Rice is on Yazoo as an emerging singer and he is doing a world tour if you want to listen to him check out this site and read the interview he gives where he cites Leonard as an honest singer and more

http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1473471 ... mien.jhtml

and

http://launch.yahoo.com/promos/damienrice/

Hi Paula ~

Any particular reason you're not accompanying your daughter to see Damien? I've just read his interview, and he certainly sounds worthwhile. [If you can share Eminem, surely you can share Damien, eh ?]

His synopsis of Famous Blue Raincoat is the way I've always heard Leonard's song. However, since reading all the various interpretations on threads, it seems too 'simplistic.' After that, I thought, maybe I hadn't gotten enough from it, yet that's how I hear it.

~ Lizzie

Hi Lizzie - I'm not going because they are standing for some reason every time my kids go to concerts they want to stand. Me I am old and weary and like to sit. I took the kids to see Shakespeare at the Globe and we had to stand - it was meant to be reminiscent of the original way people watch Shakesperian plays - my back was killing me

Brixton Academy is quite a small venue but some of the places you go to the performer is a dot in the distance.

I went to see David Gray in Trafalger Square and had to stand and that was OK but given the choice I like to sit.

OK, Paula, I can buy that ~ I prefer to sit, too. For Leonard, I would certainly stand, but after that, decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis . I suspect that's how it was with Leonard, too, in the larger venues. I've gone to the dot-in-the-distance concerts, too. If I can't weave my way down front, I'd prefer to have stayed at home, and watched it on TV, later on videotape, or forget it altogether. If I can't see the whites of their eyes, I haven't really 'been' to the concert. The large-screen monitors don't suffice, either. The sound also tends to be distorted , too loud, at least in the ones I've been to, the speaker system seemingly trying to cover too large a space. Harry Chapin was one case where close was preferred, but it was quiet as an empty cathedral when he performed, so the result was one of intimacy, regardless. Otherwise, I might as well just listen to them on my own sound system, in the privacy of my own home; save the money; and do something altogether different. Is it age ?

~ Lizzie

Lizzy and Paula

I think it must be an age thing. I couldn't cope with standing for a couple of hours either. Also don't like the huge venues with the performers half a mile away! It could be anyone at all up there miming to a record

It is a pity that our social enjoyment of live musical performances could not be experienced in the best acoustic chambers in the world. Namely large churches and cathedrals. I know, I know, we have to consider the spiritual aspect of the purposes and functions for which these magnificent buildings were built, but surely an artist who commands respect from a broad spectrum of society could 'taylor' his/her material to enhance the enjoyment within a purpose built acoustic chamber. There are certain songs and certain performers who would not even be considered for such venues, but with common sense and good will on all sides, I think we would enrich our lives at places of worship. I am not advocating the abuse of sacred and holy ground. I am suggesting an alternative use on a very temporary basis. I write this having enjoyed Jan Garbarek's performance in Chester Cathedral. It's just a thought, and nothing more, on this cold and stormy day in England.

I agree with you Byron one of the best acoustic venues is the Royal Albert Hall and every time I have been there no matter where you are sitting you can see and hear everything.

My daughter went to see Justin Timberlake at Earls Court just before Christmas the tickets were £40 and the programme was £10. She had a good seat but it is a big venue and how these artists can sleep at night charging the price they do. Some venues you are literally watching a gaint screen and the performer is two football pitches away and as Lizzie says you might just as well stay at home and watch the telly.

Margaret I think far too many performers mime now they can't sing and dance at the same time can they.

The acoustics in Churches would be amazing.

Excellent point, Margaret....on the miming....and I agree, Paula, many of them may be doing that already . The church/cathedral venue sounds great. So does the Royal Albert Hall. I'd love to see Leonard in any of them. [You'll recognize us as the three old ladies sitting together on the sidelines at the others .]

Make that four, Elizabeth I used to really enjoy a good loud concert, and would not have minded standing, but not any more.

Paula, if you want Shakespeare in a traditional theatre, but in comfort, try the Swan Theatre at Stratford. It is just like an elizabethan theatre, but with seats. The purists may not like it, but I see no point in paying the prices the RSC charge (they also should have trouble sleeping nights ) for the privilege of getting backache and sore feet. I can do that for free waiting for a bus

...for the privilege of getting backache and sore feet. I can do that for free waiting for a bus

Haven't I heard that you sleep better after you've laughed? Goodnite .

I am glad you included yourself in the three old ladies Linmag. When I saw Lizzie's post the song that came to mind was "Oh dear what can the matter be"

Oh my, Paula ~ I haven't heard that one in years !!!

You always bring back the 'golden oldies', Paula

fwiw, I manage a singer-songwriter and every opportunity we can (which is about 3/4 of our shows), we look for churches or former churches, along with soft-seat theatres, as performance venues; we regularly find former church sanctuaries and chapels that now serve as music conservatories, or secular performance spaces; and many still-active churches, of numerous denominations, now rent themselves out for public concerts (when scheduling permits)

these venues invariably provide some of the best concert experiences - for artist and audience alike; plenty of these old rooms were built, as has been noted, with acoustical properties in mind, and for those who appreciate really hearing the words and voices of musical artists, they really can be divine

the only down-side we've found, in a few instances, is old-style wooden church pews can feel hard and uncomfortable as a concert stretches to 2 or 2 1/2 hours and beyond; still, that can be remedied with cushions, and, it all beats standing, and/or being in a noisy bar!

one day, we plan to your the world's churches ~ those that fit the bill ( :

it's definitely a great way to go, and I'd love to see other artists/management presenting in such spaces

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