Leonard Cohen Gothenburg Review, Aug 31.12 -Thanks To Eva Falk

August 31, 2012

Photo: Jessica Bentsen

(google translate) from GP click here

Cohen gave everything

Ripe pop
Leonard Cohen
Gamla Ullevi Stadium, Friday
Attendance: 6265
Best: The band, Cohen, the classic songs.
Worst: First we take Manhattan - Organ rock with slappbas is not Cohen's best branch.

To put it simply - Leonard Cohen gave a very fine concert at Gamla Ullevi.

During a gig that spanned more than three hours, he lined up one classic song after another. Leonard Cohen has apparently not only understood that it applies to invite their audience to the songs they love most. But also it is not good enough to just demolish them.

Tonight's greatest achievement is that Cohen and his band not only plays through all the classics with a distinct clarity and presence. Leonard Cohen takes on every verse, every word with an undoubted commitment.

It would otherwise have easily been able to go on the routine. Nobody could ever really surprised if Leonard Cohen by now sounded as if he was doing covers of itself. So'm so worn out is actually the closest to iconic songs as Bird on the wire, Famous blue raincoat, So long, Marianne and Take this waltz. To say nothing of Hallelujah which is now one of the most abused song. Leonard Cohen also do it with total conviction. Take it back from klåparna.

The songs does an apparently still very much to him. They are too important to be careless with.

Leonard Cohen has been more or less constantly on tour for the last four or five years. This was the third visit to Gothenburg in a short time.

No wonder then that he has with him a band that not only made up of phenomenal musicians, but that they are also fantastically attuned. It sounds consistently fantastic cally good.

Leonard Cohen's music has since the voluntary exile in Greece during the 60s stretched out between the European and the American. Maybe it requires a Canadians to linking influences. It is anyway nice to hear the violinist Alexandre Bublitchi, taken from Moldova and the band's newest member, manages both a Balkan inspired solo as the American folk tone of the Heart of no companion while the piano is so simple and so beautiful and Roscoe Beck supports up to its catchy, femsträngade base.

On stage are also sisters Charlie and Hattie Webb of Kent in England who has a clear British folkmusikton in his song and who also contributes guitar and harp. And so when in every way elegante Javier Mas from Barcelona on different kinds of guitars - not least the twelve stranded bandurrian that several times during the evening rumble and sway in the meeting with Leonard Cohen's dark voice.

Leonard Cohen himself goes down on his knees, he was dancing, smiling, joking about an ant on a visit, and plays both toy synthesizer and mouth harp, and it does not feel tight, just obvious. He begins the evening with the promise that he and the band will give us everything they have. The promise fulfilled by a wide margin.

ohan Lindqvist 031-62 47 78 johan.lindqvist @ gp.se 

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No info was provided about the photo at the top. But it sure is interesting 

Eva Falk is an enthusiastic Swedish FRIEND. Thanks for uploading the article so quickly.

 

Leonard Cohen Old Ideas World Tour in Gothenburg. Soundcheck Is Over, Time for Shabbat Dinner

August 31, 2012

Shabbat Shalom from Göteborg.

Photo:  Notes From The Road ~ J.S. Carenza III (Joey) ~ webmaster and Tour Road Manager

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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 provided 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 - Reading Leonard Cohen Lyrics Quoted in a Short Fiction Story

"Everybody Knows" Gothenburg Aug/10

June 8, 2012

While sitting in a sombre, well appointed medical waiting room, the kind where people speak in hushed tones, I burst out laughing.

I brought with a recent issue of the New Yorker magazine, figuring this would be a good time to do some catch up reading.  I flipped to the Fiction section and it was there I had such a nice surprise.

The two protagonists, college students William and Bridey, met again in their hometown during a Christmas break. They talked about their experiences at each of their music/performing arts colleges.

William: Do you have friends? 

Bridey:  I do. ...But you know here how the bad kids drink beer from kegs and get in fistfights... 

There, they do Ecstacy and strip to that Leonard Cohen song, Everybody Knows.  And then fall into bed with whoever's there.  It's like they have these fabulous bodies and don't want to waste them.  "There are so many people you just had to meet without your clothes" --- that's the line they like

Reading that was unexpected and it made me laugh.

Here is one of my own favourite videos of Leonard Cohen singing Everybody Knows at the Gothenburg concert in August 2010.  I particularly remember how extra animated he was and it has stayed in mind.

Everybody Knows
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded 
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed 
Everybody knows that the war is over 
Everybody knows the good guys lost 
Everybody knows the fight was fixed 
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich 
That's how it goes 
Everybody knows 
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking 
Everybody knows that the captain lied 
Everybody got this broken feeling 
Like their father or their dog just died 

Everybody talking to their pockets 
Everybody wants a box of chocolates 
And a long stem rose 
Everybody knows 

Everybody knows that you love me baby 
Everybody knows that you really do 
Everybody knows that you've been faithful 
Ah give or take a night or two 
Everybody knows you've been discreet 
But there were so many people you just had to meet 
Without your clothes 
And everybody knows 

Everybody knows, everybody knows 
That's how it goes 
Everybody knows 

Everybody knows, everybody knows 
That's how it goes 
Everybody knows 

And everybody knows that it's now or never 
Everybody knows that it's me or you 
And everybody knows that you live forever 
Ah when you've done a line or two 
Everybody knows the deal is rotten 
Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton 
For your ribbons and bows 
And everybody knows 

And everybody knows that the Plague is coming 
Everybody knows that it's moving fast 
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman 
Are just a shining artifact of the past 
Everybody knows the scene is dead 
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed 
That will disclose 
What everybody knows 

And everybody knows that you're in trouble 
Everybody knows what you've been through 
From the bloody cross on top of Calvary 
To the beach of Malibu 
Everybody knows it's coming apart 
Take one last look at this Sacred Heart 
Before it blows 
And everybody knows 

Everybody knows, everybody knows 
That's how it goes 
Everybody knows 

Oh everybody knows, everybody knows 
That's how it goes 
Everybody knows 

Everybody knows

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• Fiction story: "The Proxy Marriage" by Maile Meloy, The New Yorker, May 21, 2012  
• "Everybody Knows" was first released on Leonard Cohen's album I'm Your Man, February 1988.
• In Gothenburg, LC substituted "Mighty Heart" for "Sacred Heart".  It was always fun at concerts waiting to see how he would vary the lyrics.

Glenn Gould Prize Gala Concert Celebrating Leonard Cohen, May 14/12 - My Photos and Memories (Part 2)

Gala Concert program booklet - front and back cover

.

May 26, 2012

(Part 2) Celebrating Leonard Cohen Gala Program Booklet - Selected Pages

(Inside front cover)
The BAY, one of the major gala sponsors, is Canada's last remaining department store chain
 It is part of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), North America's oldest company.

 Table Of Contents (p.1)

Congratulations from another significant sponsor,"Your Sony Music Canada Family" (p.12)
Sony worked in a nice promotion for the "Old Ideas" album

The "stapled" middle pages (p.26 & 27)
I love this photo of Leonard Cohen performing a song with just his guitar.
I was reminded how thrilled I was in Gothenburg 2010, when for my first time I saw him singing live,
A Singer Must Die.

Stage List (p.33)

With Neil Larsen on Piano for Jimmie Dale Gilmore and on Keyboards for Anjani

Musical Director - Neil Larsen

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-Back cover page above greeting by a major sponsor: Power Corporation of Canada is proud to present the Ninth Glenn Gould Prize

-The Platinum supporters (25K+) of this Glenn Gould Prize Gala were:  Power Corp, Hudson's Bay Co, Gov't of Ontario and Galin Foundation

-My Gothenburg 2010 concert video: A Singer Must Die

 

Leonard Cohen Gothenburg/Göteborg August 12, 2010 Concert Ads

These front page covers came from the local information magazines provided in my hotel room. 

I was very excited to see Leonard Cohen spotlighted like that.

To see my two Gothenburg, Sweden concert reports, click here and also here

Gothenburg, Sweden - 200th Leonard Cohen Concert - 31 Songs, August 12, 2010 - Two Meet-ups, Entrance Adventure

Photo: Joey Carenza III (Notes from The Road)

From Sept 22, 2010   leonardcohenforum


Eva Falk (Courage)

First off, I would like to thank Eva Falk (Courage) for all of her organizing work.

Among her efforts, Eva organized a terrific pre-concert dinner. It was wonderful to get together to see old friends and meet new friends. I haven't seen Rachel (holydove) and Bob (celtictyde) since Nashville. Rachel and Bob, you have been present at both of my highlight concerts. I loved Nashville the best on that leg and I loved Gothenburg the best on this leg.



Marsha White (friscogrl)

 

Marsha White (friscogrl) was a terrific travel friend in Gothenburg and always came up with great ideas.

Liam and Kath, I got to know at a smaller get together with Marsha and Rachel (Bob had a meeting) the night before the concert. A perfectly charming couple and I hope to see you both soon.







Wendy (Mabeanie1, Szilvia (Gallina), Tony Marshall)

 It was a joy to meet the famous "olympic monkey thrower", Szilvia/Gallina who also happens to shoot awesome photos and let me use some of them.  Thank you, Szilivia.
I didn't get to spend much time with Marc Roed (coolcohen1) and Hanne at dinner but I did get to know them better at the Berlin Waldbuhne concert. Thank you again to Marc for saving me a seat in the front row in Berlin and to Hanne for her kindness.

Wendy (Mabeanie1) and Tony were not able to make the dinner meet-up but we had a chance for a mini get-together before the concert started.

                                                           *                    *                   *

ENTERING THE SCANDINAVIUM



Rafael Bernardo Gayol

I had quite an adventure when I entered the Scandinavium about an hour before concert time. I was allowed to enter on the accessible ground level to avoid all the stairs. So I showed up at the side of the building at the designated entrance and first I ran into Rafael Gayol coming back into the arena after a stroll. Oh, he was so sweet and charming and I asked him to give Dino Soldo a small package I had with a pair of red socks (story here). And of course, had a photo taken.

Next I ran into Ryan Patrick Murphy, Lighting Director, another sweet man and another photo. Ryan said to someone, "He will take our picture". When I looked at the "he", it was Ed Sanders. OMG, you are Ed Sanders. More photos. Then Joey came out of the production office and more photos.

(l) Ryan Patrick Murphy,  (c) Ed Sanders  (r) Joey Carenza III

* Gothenburg Forum Fan slideshow video *



                                                         *                 *                *
CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS

(from: Liam Berney) The band came on a little late (20mins) at 19.50 to a warm welcome after some good natured slow hand clapping

What we didn't know then, but learned later from Joey's "Notes From The Road", the audience was late getting into the arena, so the UHTC held up the start of the concert to accommodate the latecomers

It was raining for days and there was a major festival going on, so traffic, getting around town and getting taxis was very difficult. Yet, when LC sprinted on stage, he was the one who apologized for being late. My goodness, what a state of graciousness he was.

I also didn't realize this was the 200th concert until I read it on Joey's blog. That certainly was a thrill to be present for that.

* Singer Must Die *

(from: Mabeannie1/Wendy)  I thought this was an amazing, powerful version of A Singer Must Die. I hardly dared breathe for fear of spoiling the magic. It was the best of the three versions I have heard so far, 2 of them live (Oslo and Goteborg) and one via YouTube (Sligo).

This was my first time hearing "A Singer Must Die" live and it was thrilling, the HIGHLIGHT of the concert for me.  So I decided to use the audio from my own video as the music background for my Gothenburg Forum Fan Slideshow video. (see above)

* Heart With No Companion *
Hand whistling starts at 4.08

* Anthem with Intro from The Flood *



                                                               *          *          *

* Take this Waltz - Dediction to the Memory of Swedish Writer (clip only) *

...Swedish poet and novelist Göran Tunström, he died in 2000, they became friends on Hydra where Tunström lived in the early 60's. (Inne)

CLOSING WORDS:  "If you invite us back, we may come"

                                                   *                   *                   *

LOAD OUT

I went back to the same hallway where I entered earlier to arrange with Security for a taxi. Security tried very hard to get me a taxi, but because of the heavy rains, there were none available. Security invited me to sit on the only chair in the hallway, which looked mighty familiar, Javier Mas's extra chair. Yes, the UHTC carries a duplicate chair just in case and I got to sit in it and watch the load-out take place. Wow, what efficiency. What speed.

And what impressed me the most was watching Chris Bynum who was working one of the hardest. Here is a Back-line instrument technician, an accomplished musician and he is just working his darndest pushing the rolling crates and moving and carrying things like the oriental rugs to ensure the load-out is perfectly organized. Very impressive! In fact, they were so speedy on the load-out, Chris apologized to me when he had to ask for Javier Mas' chair to load it on a truck.

It took along time for a taxi to arrive and I missed the post-concert drink-up, but the wait was well worth it.

                                                                 

Gothenburg Setlist thanks to Mickey Sullivan

Dino and ANOTHER RED SOCKS Story-Gothenburg, Sweden, August 12, 2010

Dino Soldo, Master Musician

From Oct 4, 2010   leonardohenforum

Another chapter of Dino and the Red Socks - this time at the Leonard Cohen concert in Gothenburg, Sweden on August 12, 2010.

(For those not familiar with this tradition, see earlier post here.)

As I reported on the Gothenburg Concert thread, I had quite an adventure when I entered the Scandinavium at the accessible ground level entrance. I first ran into Rafael Gayol who was returning from a stroll. He was very charming and wonderful. I asked Rafael if he would give Dino Soldo a small packet with red socks. (see arrow)

Rafael agreed to give the socks to Dino saying, He will love this

After the concert was over, as I was walking back towards the direction of the hallway by which I entered, I heard a voice calling, "Arlene, I wore your red socks" and saw a foot sticking out from between the curtains next to the stage (hiding the unused arena area).

Peeking out between the curtains was our dear sweet wonderful Dino with a brilliant smile. After a bit of security fuss, I was allowed to go behind the curtains (="backstage") so we could have a short chat and take some photos.

(Brand: Hugo BOSS) A re-enactment of the Dino foot thrust

Dino was so warm and friendly, charming and generous with his time. What a delightful man.

Now I have to stock up on more red socks for the final five Leonard Cohen concerts. Mmmm... I wonder if there will be early entry or if the band will be roaming around the merch stands when they are back in North America.