Red Rocks concert

[ladydi]

Diana –
Thank you. It happened, I was born like this, I had no choice, one beautiful sunny spring Sunday just three days after The Sun of Humankind, The Great Murderer, Joseph Stalin died and ever since I’ve been guided by the signal in the heavens, I’ve been guided by the birthmark on my skin(actually I do have one)........and today, today was another spring sunny Sunday, and I've got just this great feeling that I am going to see and hear Leo soon and that makes me very very happy.......
Roman

How fascinating. Far beyond the sunny spring day. Russian history has fascinated me since I was in my teens (started reading Pushkin/Tolstoy etc at that time) and visited the former Soviet Union twice in 1968...not really as a tourist. Just sort of interesting about the Stalin connection to your birth. You must have many stories.

However, sunny spring days tend to cleanse the soul and fill us with renewal. It has been so forever!

Very interested in talking with you re the heavens and the birthmark. Chosen?

Back to basics though...thanks SO much for checking out the area and looking forward to your ideas re a meetup. Thanks very very much Roman!

All the best,
Diana

[ladydi]

For those of you going to the Red Rocks Concert the following link might be of interest to you if you haven’t already seen it, some good pictures, maps and info.
http://www.redrocksonline.com/venue_guide.pdf
I’m really looking forward to this event having never been to a live LC performance. I have been a fan since the mid 60s and didn’t know until joining this site in Feb that he still had such a large fan base in the US. I live in Omaha, NE. (not the most hip place in the world) but I like it. The Red Rocks concert should be something really special,
Best to all and see you at RR
Doug

Thank you so much Doug for directing us to the Redrocks website. The photos are fabulous and I'm SO looking forward to the concert but don't want to rush it as it will be Leonard's final US concert...perhaps forever. It will be a very emotional evening. I came late to Leonard but am always held in awe of the devoted fans who have been with him for 30-40 years. I feel humbled writing to you as I'm a relative newcomer, but I have attended a couple of his concerts and KNOW that you will be touched to the depth of your soul. You will in no way be disappointed. Looking forward to meeting you in Colorado and also wish to give you a warm welcome to the Forum! Since you have been a fan for so many years make sure you check out http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com which is incredible (also created by Jarkko), and http://www.speakingcohen.com which has a wealth of information and was created by Marie.

All the best,
Diana

[PanCogito]

Diana –
It is indeed amazingly obscure and wonderful. Eternal Stalin suddenly died and then I was as it were forced to be born but not everybody was so lucky in that evil empire and millions of millions perished in Gulags. One of them was brilliant, born in Warsaw poet Osip Mandelstam who because of his poem – Stalin Epigram – 16 line in length was arrested, imprisoned and died in one of Gulag’s camps in December 1938. I recommend you his beautiful poetry. One day he said: Only in Russia is poetry respected – it gets people killed. Is there anywhere else where poetry is so common a motive for murder?

Stalin Epigram
We live, but we do not feel the land beneath us,
Ten steps away and our words cannot be heard,
And when there are just enough people for half a dialogue,
Then they remember the Kremlin Highlander.
His fat fingers are slimy like slugs,
And his words are absolute, like grocers' weights.
His cockroach whiskers are laughing,
And his boot tops shine.
And around him the rabble of narrow-necked chiefs –
He plays with the services of half-men.
Who warble, or miaow, or moan.
He alone pushes and prods.
Decree after decree he hammers them out like horseshoes,
In the groin, in the forehead, in the brows, or in the eye.
When he has an execution it's a special treat,
And the Ossetian chest swells.

Warm regards,

Roman

[MaryB]

Roman,

Thanks so much for all the research on hotels. Now, I will hold off on a hotel until everyone decides on where the meetup should take place. Makes better sense to get a hotel close to the meetup and not have to drive a long distance after a 'refreshment' .

Warm regards,
Mary

[Greg Ross]

Salutations Roman and Lady Di and the other good people on this site.

That was very well spotted (Lady Di), the sharing of birthdays with Roman and I - we shall all drink to that in early June! I have in fact been away down the south west wine growing area of Western Australia (Margaret River), celebrating my birthday, during which time my friends and I went to the Chris Isaak concert at the famous Leeuwin Estate Winery last Saturday night. And have to say that I was given the most fabulous present by my daughter Jodie - a second granddaughter, Lila, born on the 6th March, two days before my birthday and six days before her sister Caitlin, I think my two granddaughters and I will be sharing birthday celebrations for many years to come!

It was very interesting comparing Leonard's performance to Chris Isaaks', I won't bore you with the whole story I wrote (it's on my Loconut Blog site, along with 90 or so photos of the whole weekend, however I will paste in a little bit here and a couple of photos - Chris Isaak on stage, me with my friend at the concert and my son with my classic 1970 Ford, "The Larrikin" outside my favourite winery (Vasse Felix).

Part of my Review
Chris Isaak? A mix. Great showmanship, good band, great voice, this boy knew how to work a crowd, sort of a nice Julio Iglesias – no sleaze, if that makes sense? At one stage, he walked right up through the crowd almost to the back. Singing and kissing the ladies, the crowd loved it, But somehow, in the last twenty minutes of the set, he sort of lost everyone. Then he didn’t do an encore and the whole crowd (suits and us peasants), were left standing and cheering, waiting for the band to return. They didn’t. I could sense confusion up somewhere left of stage. Eventually, the follow-up band’s gear was wheeled out and covers put over the Chris Isaak equipment, (ready for the Sunday night concert).

Sure encores are very stage managed these days, but they do serve a purpose – the night belongs to the audience, just as much as the performer. There was no sign of Denis Horgan coming out to do his usual “Thanks folks, drive safely, stay the night,” routine, not to mention that it was a very special night – the 25th anniversary concert, however Tod Johnson’s cover band was excellent and we all danced and sang, but by the time they called an interval (around 11.00pm), many of us decided to call it a night.

The conclusion? Chris Isaak was terrific, but it wasn’t a great memorable concert. The night was saved by the ambience of Leeuwin Estate and the camaraderie of the audience. In discussions at lunch the next day, Leonard Cohen’s concert kept being brought up – it was agreed he’d set the bar too high for almost anyone to follow – three hours, including four encores and a band that appears to be technically and emotionally far ahead of most others. Don’t get me wrong, we had a fabulous time, but it wasn’t great.


Meanwhile, I really appreciate the hotel details (and the trouble you took to get them), I'm also wondering about the venue itself - do you need to take chairs, rugs, cushions, a picnic and what are the rules about bringing in wine or being able to buy it there?

I've now booked and payed for my flights, I arrive in Denver (from Memphis), on Sunday 31st May, on US6600 at 8.30pm and depart (for the Grand Canyon) on Wednesday 3rd June at 11.15am, so my only chance of meeting-up is before the concert - I hope that suits at least some of you.

40 or so of us that attended the Perth concert on 7th February, are meeting this Sunday for a reunion, should be fantastic! Mind you, they're all jealous of me attending he Red Rocks concert!
Looking forward to meeting up with everyone.
All Good Things
Greg

[PanCogito]

Dear All -
Thank you, Greg, for birthday photographs and another review and I’m glad to hear and see that you had some fun on your special birthday Sunday. I’m sure we will drink to that soon. From the hotels I mentioned the best situated is Marriott West (about 10 miles from the venue and just strait drive from DIA - Denver airport) and there are many places around the hotel we can meet before the concert. For the meetup I would choose CB & Pots Brewery restaurant which is in Highlands Ranch (about 15 miles from Red Rocks) or something around Marriott if you are planning to stay there or in Red Rocks Amphitheatre – they have there restaurant but it is open only for lunch (10:30 AM to 2:30PM) or before the concert but not the day before. It would be a good idea to choose Red Rocks for meetup because you could get familiar with the place before the concert. There are some tricks about the venue itself. To pick up the tickets you have to take Entrance # 2 and there is a Box Office/Will Call Kiosk in the middle of nowhere (see the map). The Upper North Parking is the best spot to park the car because you don’t have to walk too far and take 100 steps up but it is not big so it is important to be there earlier. It is good to have some kind of cushion with you because sitting is just as on the regular stadium. I took a picture sitting in a row 17, so you can imagine what kind of view you will have. The other picture is just the area map.
Let me know if you need more details.

Greetings,

Roman

[Greg Ross]

Salutations Roman

Many thanks for all the help, advice and photos - great to know exactly the view we will have from Row 17!

I scrolled through the various hotels you so kindly listed and decided to go mid range (the exchange rate - US Dollar to Oz dollar is horrifying at the moment - $1.00AUS is only worth .64c US!

So I've booked into the Holiday Inn Denver West Village, we'll hire a car, so will be able to meet up wherever you conclude is the best spot.
Cheers

[PanCogito]

Greg –
Holiday Inn West – good pick. This hotel looks not bad at all and is in the same area as Marriott and after all is a lot cheaper.
I mentioned CB & Pots Brewery restaurant for our meetup (about 10 miles maybe less from Holiday Inn) because they brew excellent beer there and I’m sure you will love it.

Greetings

Roman

[Box_of_Rain]

Wow, thanks for all the information Roman! I like the 17th row picture! That was sweet of you to include. Very excited! It will take me some time to read through everything more carefully. Thanks again for your suggestions.

Denise

[MaryB]

Hi Roman,

Your idea of a pre-meetup at Red Rocks makes sense. It would help all of us will call ticket holders get familiar with the venue. Does the restaurant there also have a bar? George and I owe you a beer or cocktail or two for all this legwork you are doing for all of us! Would be helpful to know how soon before the concert these tickets can be picked up - I'm dreading the possibility of long lines. We know LC concerts always start on time and we would not want to be late .

Depending on how it goes, George and I are also up for a post concert meetup. Imagine all the things to discuss after the concert!

Warmest regards,
Mary

BTW Greg, The Holiday Inn West Village is also our first choice, although we haven't booked yet - much depends on where and when these meetups will take place.

[ladydi]

Hi all,

I think perhaps we will also opt for the Holiday Inn West but have not made reservations. That Colorado sounding beer place sounds cool for a post-concert meetup....I think we will have much to talk about! And yes, Roman, I have decided that (Japanese tour style) you will have a unified heart flag and Pied Piper-like we will follow you throughout Red Rocks. Parking, will-call, cocktails and to the seats!

Also Roman, I have just ordered "50 Poems". I should have the book within the week!

Greg, you mentioned you are going to the Grand Canyon after the concert. I lived there for 8 years at the south rim of the Grand Canyon (many years ago) and it has been my spiritual home since I was 3 years old. Hope to be able to talk with you at Red Rocks as I have a couple of suggestions....one is a very special one that tourists seldom see. Loved your photos and don't think there will be any problem recognizing you!

Once again, looking forward SO much to seeing everyone...but don't want to rush it.

All the best,
Diana

[PanCogito]

Diana –
I like the Japanese style idea and all that jazz. I take up a challenge to lead you from the beginning to the end but I have to admit that I am very poor “community organizer” and I do not have much experience in this matter except being a “partisan” in underground Solidarity Poland in 80’s, although I did not organize anything, I just printed poetry books of banned poets and spread it around. Nevertheless, I think that everything will be just fine and I have some other interesting ideas....

Take care,

Roman

[burningviolin]

Thanks for posting those pictures, wow thats just such a fab concert venue!

[Existentialist]

Ok! I just got back from Denver and scoped out the Red Rocks Amphitheater while there (much like I remember it from the 70s). I asked a bunch of photographers at the seminar I was attending who live in the Denver area about shooting at concerts in Red Rocks and it was unanimous that cameras were not permitted! Upon arriving home I checked my tickets and low and behold on the bottom of the tickets in bold print it says:
“NO CAMERAS / VIDEO / RECORDER”

Does anyone know for sure, jarkko or anyone?
I would be more than happy to share my photos with this web site. Can I get a press pass? This will be the only LC concert I will be able to attend and more than likely it will be Leonard’s last tour. So can someone please help me out?

[Greg Ross]

Salutations people

Roman, you are a saint for the exploratory work and information you've posted and I must also offer heartfelt thanks to Diana for her wonderful offer of assistance in what to see / do at the Grand Canyon (I've emailed her).

Meanwhile, I take your point Roman, that organising meetings is not your forte, it is actually mine, I organise events etc, however living so far away - 7,500 miles they tell me! - makes things a little difficult, but if I can help, be involved, I would love to.

My suggestions (and here Roman will know what's feasible or not), would be that we organise a casual dinner / party (doesn't have to be expensive) at a hotel on the evening of Monday June 1st, maybe at the hotel some of us are already booked into? I'm very happy to act as MC for the evening, although come to think of it, you might not understand my Aussie accent! Then on the concert day, we could organise a bus / buses to take us all to the concert and back, taking us early, if as there appears to be, there are dining facilities at the venue - we could organise an early evening meal before the concert then walk on down to our seats.

I'm not sure of several issues relating to the venue - it does appear that the seating is stone bench and we'll all need cushions, however:

Do people bring picnics and wine (as we do in Australia), or is alcohol forbidden, or on sale at the venue?
Are bags searched for glass or whatever on entering venues? At some places in Australia, you're only allowed to take plastic inside, not glass, as in wine bottles etc.

Existentialist has asked about cameras, again, I don't know what happens in the USA, however here in Australia, all tickets carry the same message, but the reality is with the proliferation of compact cameras and phone cameras, it's impossible to police, so nothing happens as such - cameras are not confiscated - that would be illegal, however I venture to suggest that if you were going to profit (in other words, sell) photographs taken at a concert, then you could find yourself facing legal action. Only registered press photographers (issued with a pass) are able to take photographs from the front of the stage and often they must be taken within a specified period, usually at the beginning of a concert. Anybody else coming up to the front stage area, obviously taking photographs with SLR cameras, is inevitably given short shrift by the security people.

Anyhow, back to organising a meet-up, let's all throw our suggestions in the ring and work it through, I'll have be coming across form Memphis, where I'll have been for four days (gotta do the Elvis, Sun Studios and Blues bit!) and prior to that, Washington, and New York, I'll be contactable by mobile (cell) phone and email.
Cheers