Leonard Cohen To His Back Up Singers, "That's a lot of do dum dums" - Ghent Aug 18.12

October 21, 2012

video screenshot

Sometimes at the end of "Tower Of Song", Leonard Cohen has been playful with the final do dum dums sung in beautiful harmony by his backing singers.  He would delight the audience with different secrets about that phrase while the ladies kept repeating their harmony to the amusement of the audience.

In Las Vegas, 2010, LC used this opportunity to pay a very moving tribute to Sharon Robinson and The Webb Sisters. (See: Leonard Cohen Pays Tribute To His Back Up Singers in Las Vegas, Concert 1 - Dec 10, 2010)

In Ghent, 2012, LC once again thanked Sharon, Hattie & Charley at the end of "Tower of Song". He was especially humorous and kept them singing again for an extra long time, which the audience thoroughly enjoyed.

You know, you've sung do dum dum dum de do dum dum maybe 30 or 40 times each time you've done the song

times 250 concerts.

That's a lot of do dum dums

But you know my dear friends,
I wouldn't give up a single do dum dum for all the tea in China

I thank you for every do dum dum you've sung
and every do dum dum that you will sing

You have my pledge of eternal gratitude
Thank you so much

Tower Of Song - Gent 2012-08-18 (rendipityse)

cued to start at 5.01 ...do dum dum

Backup Singer Charley Webb Also Plays Clarinet in the Leonard Cohen Old Ideas World Tour Band

September 18, 2012

Charley Webb -  Photo by Betty Vercauteren (with permission)

Ever since Leonard Cohen's Old Ideas World Tour opened in Ghent on August 12 and I read about Charley Webb, one half of the "sublime Webb Sisters", playing the clarinet, I have been curious to see a photo or video of her in action.

Recently, Betty Vercauteren posted on Facebook the stunning black and white photo above taken in Ghent.

Also recently, Roman Gavrilin  uploaded a video from the Berlin concert which includes a few seconds of Charley doing her thing.  His excellent video is a combination of Everybody Knows and Who By Fire.

Both Charley and Hattie Webb play multiple instruments.  Hattie plays the harp and mandolin, and Charley the guitar, clarinet, and piano.

Charley with clarinet makes a very brief appearance with her clarinet in Who By Fire  after Javier Mas finishes his dazzling solo introduction and LC picks up the song.  The video is cued to start when the camera pans to Charlie for a few seconds.

Everybody Knows / Who By Fire (Berlin, Sept 5, 2012) - RGavrilin

------------

Roman Gavrilin is also known by:  Hermitage Prisoner,  Goldin,  Abstractor of the Quintessence, and  Currentcohen

Marching Leonard Cohen in "Democracy", Last Ghent Concert Old Ideas World Tour

During a musical interlude in "Demoracy" after playing a few lines on the Jew's Harp, Leonard Cohen starts swinging his arms and marching in place to the music

(screenshot "Democracy" Gent-Tim Dale)

August 21, 2012

While watching Tim Dale's superb video of Democracy taken on the last night of Ghent, I was struck by the new musical arrangement and different choreography.  In particular, I was delighted with two musical interludes when after playing a few lines on the Jew's Harp, LC starts swinging his arms and marching in place to the music.

He was so animated.  It was a treat to watch.

I don't remember ever seeing the "marching Leonard" in Democracy either in concerts I attended or videos I watched on YouTube from the last tour.  To refresh my memory, I had another look at some of those older videos. I noticed during the musical interludes, LC held a mic in one hand and the mic wire in his other hand. He would sway from side to side waiting to come in again.

The big difference in Ghent is that LC sings into a mic on a mic stand so his arms are free for him to be more animated. (He cups the small Jew's harp in his left hand)

The two "marching" interludes begin with the Jew's Harp at 2.27 and 4.3 following "Democracy is coming to the USA" and before "Sail on, sail on"

  Leonard Cohen "Democracy" Gent 18 8 12  - Tim Dale

----------------

My earlier post about Leonard Cohen playing the Jew's Harp in Democracy is here

Leonard Cohen FRIENDS Out and About With the Band in Ghent

Rafael Bernardo Gayol and...lots of FRIENDS

(Front)  Elke Franz, Marco Dolfino, Frauke Goeschel, Will Lageveen, RAFAEL, Hans Kloss, Eija Arjatsalo, Meritxell Cardelus, Caren Gutschmidt

(Back) Wijbe Lageveen, Andrea Dolfino, Franz Henning, Beatriz Salles, Ann-Kristen Aschenbrenner, Jarkko Arjatsalo, Sinikka Hiljnen

August 19, 2012

"I found it heartwarming that he referred to us as friends and thanked us all night long"

Rafael Bernardo Gayol and FRIENDS

(clockwise) Eva Martonyi, Ingrid van Daele, Szilvia Szanto, "the Rafael group"

Roscoe Beck and FRIENDS

(clockwise) Gwen Langford, Eva Martonyi, Betty Vercauteren, Ingrid van Daele, Vlasta Podebradska, Luc Huybrechts & Betty Vercauteren

Sharon Robinson, Hattie & Charley Webb and FRIENDS

(L-R by row) Gwen Langford, Mandy MacLeod, Willy Lageveen,
Eva Martonyi, Hans Kloss, Ingrid Van Daele
Jill Hammond, Gwen Langford, Mandy MacLeod

Alex Bublitchi, Neil Larsen, Javier Mas, Mitch Watkins, Robert Kory and FRIENDS

(Top L-R) Eva & Alex Bublitchi - Alex & Henry - Gwen langford & Javier Mas
(c) Gwen and Neil Larsen
(Bottom L-R), Mitch Watkins & Gwen, Alex & Vlasta Podebradska, Robert Kory (LC manager) & Mandy

*   *   *

For all your wonderful photos, a big thank you goes to: Gwen Langford, Eva Martonyi, Szilvia Szanto, Mandy MacLeod, Betty Vercauteren, Ingrid van Daele, Hans Kloss, Caren Gutschmidt, Wijbe Lageveen, Eija & Jarkko Arjatsalo

Special thanks to Wijbe and Willy Lageveen for the Rafael group photo and names.
------------------------------------------- 

• My apologies for any typos  

First Shabbat, Leonard Cohen Old Ideas World Tour - Ghent

August 18, 2012

Shabbat Shalom

Photo:  Greetings From Camp Cohen ~ J.S. Carenza III (Joey) ~ webmaster and Tour Road Manager

-----------------

I posted the following in response to a request on Facebook to describe the table: (from Judaism 101)

The sabbath table should be set with at least two candles (representing the dual commandments to remember and observe the sabbath), a glass of wine, and at least two loaves of challah (representing the dual portion of manna that God provide d for the Israelites in preparation for Shabbat in the desert). The challah loaves should be whole, and should be covered with a bread cover, towel or napkin.

Magical Moment - Leonard Cohen Playing The Jew's Harp in Democracy, Ghent Aug 12/12

Ghent Aug 15/12 - Photo: Eva Martonyi

August 17, 2012

Camp Cohen tweet: Aug 15/12

"The quest for the perfect font continues...(Sushine, Hello 8/14/12)

Maarten Massa uploaded a 25 second "small snippet" of Leonard Cohen playing the Jew's Harp in Democracy on opening night in Ghent.

I thought it was pure LC magic and I left a comment under Maarten's Youtube video to that effect:

FANTASTIC!  Thank you so much. Maarten, for this "small snippet" of pure Leonard Cohen magic.

Leonard Cohen Aug 12/12 Democracy (Jew's Harp) - MaartenLC

-----------------

• Top photo - Thank you to Marie Michele for Eva Martonyi's photo link on facebook
• Camp Cohen/ Notes From The Road/ Sunshine, Hello - J.S. Carenza III, Old Ideas Road Tour manager
• For more info about the Jew's Harp aka mouth harp, jaw harp, Ozark harp, check out Wikipedia here
• To learn about Leonard Cohen and the Jew's Harp, start with these two websites: - leonardcohenforum & leonardcohenfiles

Leonard Cohen's "I Can't Forget" with Voiceover Recitation Last Verse of Dover Beach-Ghent 2nd Night

Video Screenshot from "I Can't Forget"

August 16, 2012

Shortly after I posted about Leonard Cohen's opening Ghent concert voiceover in French during "I Can't Forget",  I noticed a second video with a different voiceover, this time mostly in English.  It was uploaded on August 15. So I am guessing it was from the second concert on August 14.

Once again, LC's recitation was during the song not apart from it.

It had the cadence of a poem, but which one? It didn't sound like one of his...and it wasn't.  A little digging led me to the following poem.

 Dover Beach (last verse) by Matthew Arnold

Ah, love, let us be true
To one another! for the world, which seems
To lie before us like a land of dreams,
So various, so beautiful, so new,
Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,
Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night.

NB. At 3.14, LC starts off in French, with the same words in the first concert, then switches to the English poem at 3.30

Leonard Cohen @ St.-Pietersplein Gent : 'God bless' - Nnieuws.be HD  (cued to start at 3.14)

----------------------

• Tom Sakic reported on the leonardcohenforum "that in Stuttgart and Moscow, Leonard introduced Born in Chains with the recitation of poem, Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold".(Setlists of the World Tour 2010 )
• The video was captured mostly from the venue screens. As one can see by the top photo, the videographer was quite far from the stage.

Leonard Cohen Delights Ghent with "I Can't Forget" Including A French Recitation- Opening Concert Old Ideas World Tour

Neil Larsen on two instruments, Roscoe Beck & Leonard Cohen  (video screenshot)

August 16, 2012

During his World Tour 2008-2010, Leonard Cohen often closed his concerts in French speaking locales by reciting from "À La Claire Fontaine",  I've Loved You So Long.

Opening night in Ghent on August 12, LC recited lines from this classic French kids song  during the song "I Can't Forget", conveying this sentiment:

So long I've been loving you,
I will never forget you.

I couldn't make out all the French words. (My Canadian French is getting rusty.) So I asked Maarten Massa to help me out. Maarten kindly sent the words LC spoke during the song along with a website with the full lyrics here.  Thank you, Maarten.

Il y a longtemps que je t'aime
Jamais je ne t'oublierai

À la claire fontaine,
M'en allant promener

Il y a longtemps que je t'aime
Jamais je ne t'oublierai

So long I've been loving you
I will never forget you
At the clear spring
As I was strolling by
So long I've been loving you
I will never forget you

Leonard Cohen Gent 12-08-2012 I Can't Forget (hrjgr)  cued to start at 3.23

Famous Blue Raincoats At 3rd Leonard Cohen Ghent Concert - Photos Live From St Peters Square by Albert Noonan

Stamatina Roupalioti, Martaen Massa, Marie Nolan -Live from Ghent

"People in their ponchos waiting for the rain that never came" 

Early this morning. many people were anxious about the ominous weather forecast for the third concert in Ghent's St Peters Square. 

Reports filtered in all day about the high wind and looming downpour. And when the concert goers entered the venue, they received complimentary blue ponchos.

Albert Noonan kindly sent photos live from Ghent and followed up with a brief summary.  Thank you, Albert.

There was a threat of heavy rain , strong wind and thunder around 7 pm tonight. When we got to the venue they were giving out rain ponchos.  The stage wasn't ready.

The tv screens and stage curtains were lowered or tied back in preparation for the storm....but it never came. 

They started to set up the stage but it was 8,3o before they got the concert going.  Three or four songs were left out:

The Darkness,  If it be your will , Come healing, Light as the breeze. 

Concert went very well once it got going 

Got some nice vids.

Szilvia Szanto, Eva Martonyi, Eddie Massa & Ann Mechiels (Maarten's parents)

And here is a photo of Albert Noonan (r) in his "famous blue raincoat" taken by Hans Kloss.

On the far left facing, are Ingrid van Daele and Frauke Goeschel

----------------

Note: I will update the name of the lady to Maarten's right.

Leonard Cohen Will Keep On Going..."Till the wheelchairs rust"

Cohenites holding flash cards with the Unified Heart logo welcome Leonard Cohen  at the opening concert in Ghent. Aug 12/12

August 14, 2012

In Ghent on August 12/12, the opening night of his Old Ideas World Tour, Leonard Cohen ran onto the stage for his signature opening song, Dance me To The End Of Love, and was greeted by cheers, a standing ovation from the sold out audience and a beautiful vision filled with love - Cohenites from many countries holding up white placards bearing a red Unified Heart logo. 

This was organized with a lot of love by several Cohenites who spread the participation to many countries via the internet such as Facebook.

This beautiful gesture reminded me of what Leonard Cohen said at his last concert in Las Vegas, Dec 10/10 -

"I want to express our gratitude to those, I don't want to call them fans,

they are of a much deeper order than fans..."

After LC finished the song, he went on to make some very moving remarks.

Thank you for this wonderful warm welcome

Thank you for the beautiful signs

Thank you for coming from so many places to this concert here tonight

Your attention to my music is deeply appreciated

I don't know when we'll pass this way again

I said that the last time and here I am

But I think that we're going to...

with the help of G-D and two policemen...

we're going to keep on going

till the wheelchairs rust 

And after I watched that segment several times to transcribe it and after I typed it for this post, I had tears in my eyes.

Here is the video cued to start at 5.56 - Leonard Cohen's thank you remarks.

Leonard Cohen, Gent 08-12-2012, Welcome and Concert opening   (opaglabijn1)

----------

• Photo at the top is a screen shot from the video
• Ever since LC said in Las Vegas that we "are a much deeper order than fans", I started using FRIENDS in this Scrapbook and in my videos - because that is what he calls us at concerts.

The Noonans Have Landed-Albert Noonan and Marie Nolan Arrive In Ghent For Leonard Cohen Old ideas Concerts

"At Barista coffee&cake, Trying to guess what's been printed In the paper about LC.  Not a clue... But it looks good"

After arriving in Ghent, Albert and Marie immediately went to listen to the soundcheck across the street.  Albert reports, it is "raining a little". 

* * *

Here is a charming example of Albert's imaginative movie making prowess. It is a delight.

This Is It! (albertnoonan)

Tour Manager Mike Scoble "Joins" The Leonard Cohen Old Ideas Band in Ghent at the Opening Concert, Aug 12/12

Mike Scoble - Old Ideas Tour Manager

August 13, 2012

When I watched a one minute video clip of the intro to Darkness, it took me by surprise to see Mike Scoble, The Old ideas Tour Manager, playing harmonica on a venue screen. I think he was playing offstage?

(Edit: He was onstage standing behind Alex Bublitchi,, violinist)

And I like Leonard Cohen's smile when he heard Scoble playing.

Unfortunately, the videographer's camera failed after one minute so I don't know if this was the only instance.  I have not read any concert reports either that mention Scoble's harmonica role.  But it is early...

Scoble also pitched in with his harmonica talent when he was Tour Manager with Adam Cohen recently. To read the report, "Mike Scoble on Harmonica, Michael Chaves on Bongos With Adam Cohen in Amsterdam, Feb 22/12", click here. 

It includes an Adam Cohen Tower of Song video where Mike plays the harmonica for a few lines. Great fun.

Leonard Cohen, Gent 08-12-2012, Intro of "Darkness" (opaglebijn1)

-------------------------

• Photo at the top is a screenshot from the video clip
• Mike Scoble, a man of many accomplishments, was the formidable Tour Manager for the Leonard Cohen World Tour 2008-2010.

Leonard Cohen FRIENDS in Ghent, Opening Concert Day Old Ideas World Tour Aug 12/12

August 12, 2012

"I want to express our gratitude to those, I don't want to call them fans,
they are of a much deeper order than fans..." 

Leonard Cohen, Las Vegas, Dec 10/10

~

FRIENDS of Leonard Cohen in Ghent, day of opening concert, August 12, 2012
Photos: Szilvia Szanto (Facebook)

Meritxell Cardelus, Beatriz Salles, Szilvia Szant, Eija & Jarko Arjatsalo, Henning Franz

.
.

Marco Dolfino, Szilvia, Andrea Dolfino

.
.

Staminata Roupalioti, Mandy MacLeod, Gwen Langford

.

Ingrid van Daele & Szilvia Szanto

"Two crazy chicks"

Szilvia. Chrissie-Ann Clark-Bowes, Bett Vercauteren, Ingrid van Daele, Mich Boecquaert

Leonard Cohen Ghent Opening Concert-Outside the Soundcheck- photos and video

August 12, 2012

Photo by Caren Gutschmidt (facebook)

Photo by Caren Gutschmidt (facebook)

Video by: Gwenluvsmuisc aka Gwen Langford



----------------------

The location of the photos and video is across the street from St Peter's Square.  I was at the same location back in August 2010 listening to the soundcheck,. The stage was not visible.

I'm A Ghent Concert Veteran Getting Ready From Afar To Enjoy The Opening Concert of Leonard Cohen Old Ideas World Tour 2012

August 10, 2012

My Getting Ready Checklist

(1) Ask Maarten Massa to kindly make an honourary Old Ideas World Tour Ghent 2012 nametag and lanyard.

(2)  Change my avatar on Facebook and Twitter to the unofficial Leonard Cohen FRIENDS avatar, a red Unified Heart on a white background.

(3)  Go through my Leonard Cohen stash for nametag and lanyard from the 2010 World Tour concerts in Ghent - I was there on August 20 & 21.  

 ..

(4) Look back at my Ghent 2010 concert reports

•   Leonard Cohen concerts, Ghent (Gent), Belgium, "Baruch Hashem" and other memories - August 20&21  (click here)

(5) Watch my Ghent Concert FANS slideshow video

Leonard Cohen fans enjoying two concerts in Ghent Belgium at Sint-Pietersplein, Saint Peter's Square. Fans listened to the sound check at a bar across the street. (The concert stage was not visible.) Meet-ups took place at the Gruut Brewery which included a birthday party for IrishMar and Jarkko.  NB, at 3.37: the correct spelling of surrender's name is "Jarmila"

Music: Never Any Good (Leonard Cohen)

GHENT, Belgium-Forum-FAN Slideshow-August 20 & 21, 2010  ---Arlene Dick (bridger 15)

NB. If this video is blocked in your country, here is the identical slideshow with a different music track. "Everybody Knows" from my own Ghent concert video. click here


(6) Um...I think that should do it. I'm ready.

---------------------
My Ghent 2010 nametag and lanyard was also courtesy of Maarten Massa

Getting Ready For The Leonard Cohen Old Ideas World Tour - Matching Fresh Tattoos, Belgian Style (2)

"... Luc and my tattoo ,so, as you can see: the hairy leg is not mine hahaha!!"

July 22, 2012

I received a Facebook message and photos from Betty Vercauteren describing how she and husband Luc are preparing for Leonard Cohen's Old Ideas World Tour opening concert in Ghent on August 12.

Betty and Luc have been inseparable for 15 years and were wed last year in March.

Thank you Betty for sharing your photos and wonderful enthusiasm. The opening concert followed by four more Ghent concerts, promise to be like a Belgian National celebration week.

Luc & Betty's wedding last year in March

Hi Arlene...
I am sending you a picture of my tattoo that I had recently put on my ankle.

 My husband did the same tattoo, so we are ready to go to the opening concert in Ghent now !

big hug and see you later!

Getting Ready For The Leonard Cohen Old Ideas World Tour - A Fresh Tattoo Belgian Style (1)

July18. 2012

I received a wonderful email from Ingrid van Daele with in progress photos of  her fresh tattoo being applied. Ingrid timed this to coincide with the opening concert of Leonard Cohen's Old Ideas World Tour in Ghent (Gent) on August 12.

Thank you Ingrid for sharing your terrific photos and your exciting tour plans.  Your spirited enthusiasm is delightful.

Hi Arlene

Just read your scrapbook about the new tattoo from Joy !

It's great, I have one since a few weeks too, I wanted it for years and I'm very glad I finally did it.

...

I'm going to all 5 Ghent concerts, 1 in Copenhagen and 2 in Dublin, and I'm really looking forward to it.

 ....

We are lucky Belgium is such a small country, it's easy for us to visit each other. I've made a lot of new friends on [facebook], seen a lot of them in real life, and I think the 12th will be very special, can't hardly wait.

...

Hope to meet you 1 day

Lots and lots of love, big hug and kisses from Belgium

Ingrid xx

----------------------
Ingrid was referring to Joy Ezekiel's new tattoo  click here

Getting Ready For The Leonard Cohen Old Ideas World Tour - A Fresh Tattoo

July 10, 2012

Joy Ezekiel aka Famous Blue Raincoat - new tattoo

Joy Ezekiel and I were exchanging emails about Leonard Cohen's first US opening concert in Austin, Texas on Oct 31/12. We discussed the usual travel things, such as hotels, transportation and a possible meet-up and then she sent me the tattoo photo at the top.

While some people may be busy with travel preparations such as getting their passports in order and perhaps a Twinrix shot - well Texas can seem like an exotic location to some world travellers - Joy has been busy with another kind of getting ready activity:

Just got this yesterday so it's still a bit "sticky".... but will be in perfect shape for the new tour!!

The first time I met Joy and Mark was in Nov/09 at the Nashville early entry for Leonard Cohen Forum members. (here). She wore a "Famous Blue Raincoat", had a dazzling smile and kindly let me snap a photo of her Unified Heart tattoo.

Smiling Lady Wearing "Famous Blue Raincoat" Uncovers Unified Heart Tattoo For Leonard Cohen Forum Fan Early Entry Video

Joy and Mark are going to the opening concert in Ghent. So if you are there, be sure to ask to see her tattoos.

Mark & Joy, Ghent 8/10

And, if you are in the vicinity of the University of Essex in the near future, you might be able to catch a glinpse of Joy's "getting ready for the tour" tattoo.  Her son is graduating from Joy's alma mater on Wednesday, July 18.

Good times abound.

Leonard Cohen concerts, Ghent (Gent), Belgium, August 20 & 21, 2010 - "Baruch Hashem" and other memories



When entering the Leonard Cohen concert site in St Peters Square for two concerts, I was given security bracelets to wear. (blue on Friday and mauve on Saturday). Not everyone was given these bracelets. Perhaps, I looked like a high security risk and had to be watched carefully?


From Aug 25, 2010  leonardcohenforum
* Anthem *
On Friday night, when Leonard Cohen spoke leading into the song, he simply reduced an 8,000 person outdoor event to an intimate and loving conversation. He was so gracious, natural and so comfortable with his traditions when he included a beautiful Hebrew expression of praise. It was very moving and I felt so privileged to be there in his presence to hear him speak this way.

LC's opening
Thank you for this exceedingly warm reception this evening. It is a great honour to play for you. We are so privileged to be able to gather (inaudible), and Baruch Hashem, the weather has keeled and we're all sitting here in the grace of the weather and the gods of the weather. We are indeed privileged to be in a peaceful place when so much of the world is plunged in chaos and suffering ... So ring the Bells...

"Baruch HaShem" colloquially means, “Thank God”

It means simply yet profoundly “Blessed is The Name.” It’s the unutterable name, the ineffable name! No matter that we no longer know how it might have sounded in the days of the first Bais Ha Mikdash!

Even if we knew how to say it, we couldn’t, because the name of God must not be mentioned in vain. 

*   *   *   *

From Aug 23, 2010  leonardcohenforum
* Ain't No Cure For Love *

I walked into this empty church I had no place else to go
When the sweetest voice I ever heard, whispered to my soul

On Saturday night, LC changed the original "empty church" and the more recent  "broken church" to "ancient church". How fitting, in that historic Square.

Don't 'ya just love how he continually changes his lyrics.

*  *  *  *

From Aug 24, 2010  leonard cohenforum

Willy & Wybe Lageveen

Friday Meet-up

Thank you, Willy and Wybe for helping to make it such an incredible weekend.

I especially appreciated your guiding me, walking with two canes on the ancient cobblestones, to the "De Gruut" for drinks after the Friday concert. Wybe, you kept saying, we are almost there...and yet again...almost there... almost there...

Mmmm...I don't know if I can ever believe you again.

*  *  *  *

From Aug 25, 2010  leonardcohenforum


Ann Mechiels

 * So Long Marianne *

On Friday night there was a terrific "So Long Marianne" sing-a-long. I was fortunate to be sitting next to Maarten Massa's wonderful mother, Ann Mechiels.

Ann knows all LC's words and music. It was such a delight to hear her singing along while filming this. If you listen closely, you will hear her sweet voice.

*  *  *  *

From Sept 5, 2010  leonardcohenforum

(posted  by: Jarkko)...And here  you'll find 88 pix by Eija from the sound check, concerts, meetups (including birthday party of IrishMar and myself), city walks, boat tour...

Eija & Jarkko Arjatsalo



Eija, your photos are fantastic. You have a gifted, painterly eye.

But my favorite one is, not one you snapped, but rather one with you as a subject.

I am sure you are both too modest to highlight it, so please permit me to do so.



*  *  *  *

From Aug 26, 2010  leonardcohen forum 
And one unhappy memory - Ghent meet-up 

(posted by: pe swijngedouw)

thank you, albert [noonan], for making memories visible for other people. those who were on the st.pietersplein get a nice way of explaining to those who were not there, how special these moments are.

i would have liked to tell you this and much more, on saturday night at de gruut, but the place is "not very friendly" for people on wheels, so when passing there, late friday afternoon, with my wife, we could not get in, and everyone was gone already ; on saturday night, at one o'clock, nobody was outside, and i did not want to leave my friend-on-wheels alone, so i just popped in for a quick glance at everyone, and got back home.

Pe: I thoroughly sympathize with your experience and the situation of your friend-on-wheels. I walk with two canes, having limited mobility and I found all four cities I visited in Europe on this LC adventure were not accessible friendly. Although my situation does not present as many barriers as for your friend-on-wheels, I did find that were many kindnesses shown and many were from strangers. I do want you to know that volunteer organizers always try their best but available facilities do not always pan out. As a North American, I found Europe a difficult place for the less abled. I am sorry we all could not meet and enjoy our common passion of appreciating the genius of Leonard Cohen.

Set list thanks to Maarten Massa

GHENT (Gent), Belgium St Peter's Square - Leonard Cohen Concerts, August 20 & 21

From October 24  leonardcohenforum 

Leonard Cohen fans enjoying two concerts in Ghent Belgium at Sint-Pietersplein, Saint Peter's Square. Fans listened to the sound check at a bar across the street. (The concert stage was not visible.) Meet-ups took place at the Gruut Brewery which included a birthday party for IrishMar and Jarkko.

Thank you to Maarten Massa and his wonderful family, wife Wenche, sons Brecht & Wietse and to Maarten's parents, Eddy and Ann for all their hard work and generous hospitality to make the weekend in Ghent so special.

And thank you to Astrid Corbisier (Tinkie) for the delicious cakes to celebrate the birthdays of Jarkko and IrishMar.

A few notes in my little notebook:

-The taxi driver told me after the first concert, that there were hundreds of people sitting outside the fence surrounding the Square listening to the concert. Ghent is a University town and there were many students in town at the time.

-The sun was shining so bright at the beginning of the concert that next to no stage lighting was used during the first half.

-I ran into Leanne Ungar before the first concert at the Merch stand. She was unable to participate in this leg of the tour in her role of sound monitor mixer because she had to get back to her teaching position at Berklee College of Music.

-When I was introduced to Maarten's younger son, Wietse, I responded, "How do you do". He looked puzzled. Of course he was, that is an English expression. I explained it is similar to saying, "Comment ça va? " Ah, he liked that. So several times during the concert breaks, Wietse came over to me with the biggest smile and said ,” How do you do”. Delightful.