Last night I saw Leonard Cohen play the Beacon Theatre, and it was fan-freaking-tastic; his voice was in top form, his songs were still shiver-worthy, and the grace with which he handled both the seemingly perpetual standing ovations and the gratitude he was feeling toward every single person who helped put on the show—from the woman who takes care of his hats on up—was a joy to watch. I come not to brag, but to get you excited, for Cohen has announced a North American tour that includes his first U.S. dates in quite some time. Itinerary after the jump.
April 2: Michael and Susan Dell Hall at Long Center, Austin, Texas
April 3: NOKIA Theatre at Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas
April 5: Dodge Theatre, Phoenix
April 7: Copley Symphony Hall, San Diego,
April 10: NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE, Los Angeles
April 13: Paramount Theatre of the Arts, Oakland, Calif.
April 17: Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Indio, Calif.
April 19: General Motors Place, Vancouver
April 21: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, Victoria, B.C.
April 23: WaMu Theater at Qwest Field Events Center, Seattle
April 25: Rexall Place, Edmonton
April 26: EPCOR Centre’s Jack Singer Hall, Calgary
April 28: Credit Union Centre, Saskatoon
April 30: MTS Centre, Winnipeg
May 3: Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis
May 5: The Chicago Theatre, Chicago
May 9: Fox Theatre, Detroit
May 11: Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Md.
May 12: Academy of Music, Philadelphia
May 14: Palace Theater, Waterbury, Conn.
May 16: Radio City Music Hall, New York
May 19: Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ont.
May 21: Pavillon de la Jeunesse, Quebec City
May 22: K-Rock Centre, Kingston, Ont.
May 24: John Labatt Centre, London, Ont.
May 25: National Arts Centre – Southam Hall, Ottawa
May 29: Wang Theatre, Boston
June 2: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colo.
Leonard Cohen [Official site]
I LOVE that Cohen is pimp enough to do a solo L.A. show only ONE WEEK before his big Coachella performance. And generally, Goldenvoice doesn’t play that. Nokia Live, here I come!!
I LOVE that Cohen is pimp enough to do a solo L.A. show only ONE WEEK before his big Coachella performance. And generally, Goldenvoice doesn’t play that. Nokia Live, here I come!!
So Maura, how’s the new Beacon looking/sounding?
@GhostOfDuane: it’s gorgeous. and everything sounded fantastic.
@Maura Johnston: Nice - I’m very much looking forward to catching Levon Helm there in a few weeks.
I just hope he plays a lot of the coked-out synth stuff from the 80’s. My wife digs that period the most for some odd reason.
@musicquizking: I was at the show last night too, and yes, lots of 80’s coke easy listening.
Of course..4 freakin’ encores. He pretty much covered it all.
set list cribbed from bv:
Dance Me To The End of Love
The Future
Aint No Cure For Love
Bird on the Wire
Everybody Knows
In My Secret Life
Who By Fire
Chelsea Hotel
Hey That’s No Way/Sisters of Mercy
Anthem
Tower Song
Suzanne
The Gypsy’s Wife
The Partisan
Boogie Street
Hallelujah
I’m Your Man
Poem
Take This Waltz
So Long Marianne
First We Take Manhattan
Famous Blue Raincoat
If It Be Your Will
Democracy
I Tried To Leave You
Whither Thou Goest
[www.brooklynvegan.com]
meanwhile, i’m excited that i’ll be seeing singers who like to don fedoras while being utterly charming on stage TWO NIGHTS in a row.
and a new LIVE IN LONDON cd release coming soon… i can’t wait.
[www.musicnewsnet.com]