So I saw Leonard Cohen

I decided to get out of the country for my 30th birthday. I spent some time in Bucharest. Cohen was playing while I was over there so I went.

Stellar.

I had no expectations at all. For all I knew, he could have played his recent album. Not at all. He spanned his career.

First we take Bucharest, then we take the District.

First set
1. Dance me to the end of love
2. The Future
3. Ain't no cure for love
4. Bird on the wire
5. Everybody knows
6. In my secret life
7. Who by fire
8. Hey, that's no way to say good bye
9. Anthem

Second set
10. Tower of song (with the included joke…)
11. Suzanne
12. Gypsy wife
13. The partisan (!)
14. Hallelujah
15. Democracy
16. I'm your man
17. Take this waltz

Encores
18. So long, Marianne
19. First we take Manhattan
20. Sisters of mercy
21. If it be your will
22. Closing time
23. Famous blue raincoat
24. I tried to leave you
25. Whither thou goest

Happy birthday Econo. What a great way to celebrate. Glad it was great. I'm jealous. Just listened to Songs of Love and Hate during the morning commute yesterday.

Thank you Chaz. I saw him on Sept. 21. Concerts come and go, but that was pretty fucking special.

You, my friend, are a bastard. Happy 30th.

Originally posted by econo:
Thank you Chaz. I saw him on Sept. 21. Concerts come and go, but that was pretty fucking special.

He'll tour the US and we better go.

Originally posted by econo:
He'll tour the US

I hope your right.

great setlist. I'm jealous. I have "Everybody Knows" on repeat lately.

Happy birthday.

Great to be able to see Leonard Cohen in a place like Bucharest.

The Partisan, So long Marianne, Who by fire, First we take Manhattan…. amazing set!

God that setlist is just sheerly amazing. Happy (belated) birthday! Good way to spend turning 30. And are you sure he's going to play shows in the US?

Originally posted by econo:
He'll tour the US and we better go.

I've been waiting for a US tour announcement for months. I just hope you're right. totally and completely jealous. That is an awesome way to turn 30.

great way to turn 30! that must have been an amazing show. leonard cohen is one of the few people i love – i have pretty much his whole catalog – that i have never seen. i'd pay good money for this show.

For someone not well versed in Leonard Cohen, where would be a good place to start?

I consider his debut "Songs of Leonard Cohen" to be essential. "Songs from a Room" and "Songs of Love and Hate" are similar to the debut. For an 80's Cohen check out "I'm Your Man".

thanks!

i like the 2cd greatest hits from 2002

http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/essential.html

Isn't his voice pretty much fucked?

His voice sounded fine when I saw him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Good Lord, that is a dream celebration. Please God let him tour! I only started listening since last Fall, and there were about 3 months I listened to literally nothing else…I must see him before one of us dies.

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
For someone not well versed in Leonard Cohen, where would be a good place to start?

New Skin for the Old Ceremony should be anyone's first stop, I think. And then maybe a greatest hits, I don't have any of those. The first 3 albums (the Songs…) were my first loves and still favourites, though.

Ironically, when I was 17 or so my mom gave me a Leonard Cohen cassette, because she is totally into him. And I never listened to it, solely because it was from my mom. How dumb and stubborn I was (and perhaps still am!).

Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
Ironically, when I was 17 or so my mom gave me a Leonard Cohen cassette, because she is totally into him. And I never listened to it, solely because it was from my mom. How dumb and stubborn I was (and perhaps still am!).

POTW