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.
Leonard Cohen Forum members Forum early entry - Nashville, Nov 5, 2009
December 26, 2011
The Nashville, Tennessee concert that I attended on November 5, 2009 has been on my Leonard Cohen radar for the past few weeks.
“Darkness”, which premiered at the Nashville concert, is the only one of the four new songs performed on the World Tour to be
included in Leonard Cohen’s forthcoming new album. “Old Ideas”. (release date Jan 31/12)
Several onlne
publications have featured…ahem…my video of “ Darkness” at Nashville. So I often think about the special concert experience I had in Nashville.
The Tennessee Performing Arts Center certainly made Leonard Cohen Forum members feel special.
When we arrived early, we were directed to a sign in a private area, a lovely place for us to mingle and meet some of the band members. And it was very close to the Merch stand where I did some shopping.
This was my first time snapping pics at a Leonard Cohen concert (or any concert for that matter) and I apologize for not asking the three delightful forum fans in the photo above for their names.
I do remember chatting with them and having a lively conversation. As I recall, they were not locals, rather they drove in for the concert from a considerable distance.
I had hoped that Leonard Cohen would include, perhaps as an encore,
his wonderful augmented rendition of "Tennessee Waltz". After all, the concert would take place in Tennessee, right? Well, that didn't happen.
No Tennessee Waltz in Tennessee - aw shucks.
I love Leonard Cohen's version and I have embedded below a very special video captured in Poland in 1985. His intro is very gracious and very moving.
The basic song was written in 1947 by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King...Cohen added the third stanza for the live version (dating from 1985) included on Dear Heather (2004)"The Lyrics Of Leonard Cohen" (Omnibus Press)
Tennessee Waltz (Live)
I was dancing with my darlin'
to the Tennessee Waltz
When an old friend I happened to see
Introduced him to my loved one
and while they were waltzing
My friend stole my sweetheart from me.
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz
Now I know just how much I have lost
Yes I lost my little darlin'
The night they were playing
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz.
She comes dancing through the darkness
To the Tennessee Waltz
And I feel like I'm falling apart
And it's stronger than drink
And it's deeper than sorrow
This darkness she's left in my heart.
Leonard Cohen 22 March 1985 Sala Kongresowa, Palac Kultury i Nauki, Warszawa, Poland uploaded by musicloveraustria1
That is what TAN (techie architect nephew) wrote to me after seeing a recent online Rolling Stone article which included my November 5, 2009 Nashville concert video of Leonard Cohen's new song, Darkness.
The subject of the article, Leonard Cohen Gearimg Up For First New Album In Seven Years, which will be called, Old Ideas, has been widely covered in both print and online. Of interest was RS noting that Darkness was the only song of the new songs performed on the last world tour to make it into the new album.
Thrilling.
Darkness is my favourite of the new songs I heard when attending 16 concerts of that World Tour.
I am so lucky I happened to be at the Nashville concert when Leonard Cohen premiered his song. And also fortunate to have had a first row seat for this newbie videographer to be able to capture an historical video. Thank you, Jarkko!
It was also great fun at subsequent concerts (some of which I captured on video, see below) watching Leonard vary the lyrics, especially this verse:
I caught the darkness [baby] It was drinking from your cup I caught the darkness [baby]
...from your little ruby cup (Nashville, Nov 5, 09)
...from your little golden cup (St Louis, Nov 7, 09) (Berlin, Aug 18, 10) (Ghent, Aug 20, 10)
It will be interesting to see the final lyrics for this verse that Leonard Cohen chose for his new album.
------------------------
The first video of the new "Blues Song" was taken at the Venice sound check on August 3, 2009 by Maarten Massa. (click here)LC sang "...from your little ruby cup".
My previous reports of the November 5, 2009 Nashville concert arehere andhere.
And my Nashville Forum Fan Slideshow, Early Entryishere
While looking for an email, I found one that I forgot all about. I wrote it the day after returning home from the San Jose concert which took place on December 13, 2009 .
After that concert, some of us met for drinks at the San JoseFairmont Hotel. I had a chat with one of the UHTC crew and he was interested in my comments about each of the final five Leonard Cohen concerts (well, the "first" final five as it turned out.)
He then said (and I paraphrase):
LC really enjoyed Nashville and was excited about playing in Nashville.
"Lenny" told Tennessee stories for 20 minutes in the Green Room.
The funniest and longest story was about him never being able to catch the horse he bought
After reading about that in my email, I thought I would have another listen to the audio of Leonard Cohen telling stories at the Nashville concert, which Linda Straub captured so beautifully.
Audio thanks to Linda Straub
Source: Mapquest
I used to live down here many years ago outside of Franklin,a place called Big East Fork.
And I had a cabin there that I rented from Boudleaux Bryant for $75 a month, 1,500 acres.
I bought a Winchester Rifle and
a Walter PBK Automatic,
a pair of cowboy boots
I lived like that for about 20 years.
One of my neighbours was a Rodeo Champion called Kit Marley
and I asked him if he had a horse for me.
He said, "I got just the horse for you".
And he brought it over, it was a mare, grey
I never managed to catch it.
There was a lot of space there and a barn full of hay and lots of grass.
I heard you could get them to come over with sugar.
So I'd stand by the fence with a couple of cubes of sugar.
And she would come over, eat the sugar and run away.
1. Re a demo recorded by Kris Kristofferson... "The Lady's Not For Sale"... the title track come off quiet and devastating, like Leonard Cohen in cowboy boots
2. The top left photo of the Nashville HATCH poster, coveted my many but only available on a limited run to a few, is thanks to Christan (Silverbar).
3. Linda Straub's mp3 audio recording is from the Leonard Cohen Forum's moderator Marie Mazur's Speaking Cohen Website.
Incredible concert at the Tennesse Performing Arts Center (TPAC)!!! Thank you Jarkko - first row seat. Fantastic.
Premier of "new" song - The Darkness
Leonard gave a short talk about his years living in Tennessee. The story about himself and a horse is quite charming. I believe he also mentioned owning a rifle and a gun.
Leonard also told the Chelsea hotel story about meeting Janis Joplin on the elevator and pretending to be Kris Kristofferson to the great delight of the Tennessee audience.
I was fortunate to get a Set List after the concert. Leonard uses two (for both of his sound monitors) and I was given one of his. YeeHaw.
Setlist thanks to Mickey Sullivan
My Long Stem Rose (Everybody Knows...)
I had left a single long stem rose (wrapped with small Canadian, US and Tennessee flags) on the stage apron before "Everybody Knows" which Leonard placed on the drum riser as usual. When Rafael failed to catch the stick later during "I Tried To Leave You", great laughter. Roscoe picked up my rose and handed it to Raphael. More great laughter. A charming moment.
Thanks to Cara (MusicCityGypsy) for organizing a great dinner meet-up
She topped off the evening by taking us to Honky Tonk Row for a rousing good time. It was quite a fun "night before".
The Honky Tonk bar was "Robert's Western World". We were lucky that one of their most popular acts was there that night, HARRY FONTANA. He was so enjoyable to watch, he was very friendly with us, he was absolutely delightful, and he is FINNISH.
Harry Fontana, Aaron, Cara (MusicCityGypsy)
Linda Straub, Ken(adian), Dick Straub, Tony Curran (Bill's Bar), Anne Way
I arrived in Nashville a day early so I could fulfil a wish to see the Grand Ole Opry in the historic Ryman Auditorium. Lucky for me they were on that night. It was a fantastic evening. All the performers were superb. My favorite act was Little Jimmy Dickens. He is getting on in years, but his talent endures. His patter and jokes were priceless.
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