CONCERT REPORTS: Montreal, November 28 & 29, 2012

[sturgess66]

Short video clip from WebPresse.ca - Dance Me To The End of Love
http://www.webpresse.ca/#!/video/50b6be ... entre-bell


From CTV - a photoset -
http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/leonard-cohe ... -1.1058285

IN PICTURES
Leonard Cohen at the Bell Centre
1 / 6

[sturgess66]

From Sorstu.ca -
http://www.sorstu.ca/critique-leonard-c ... -montreal/

GOOGLE TRANSLATION (link above for original article in French)

Review | Leonard Cohen at the Bell Centre in Montreal
Published November 29, 2012 @ 0:33
Marc-André Mongrain
Editor in chief

The legendary critic Leonard Cohen was homecoming Wednesday night for the first of two concerts at the Bell Centre in Montreal . More than 12,500 fans have answered the call and were certainly not disappointed by the generosity of the troubadour of 78 years nearly thirty songs, almost all of the hits, totaling over three hours together.

It is not race Leonard Cohen arrived on scene, along with its six musicians and three singers. His mere presence has prompted all the audience to jump up to cheer the great man of the Canadian song before he even said a word.

Obviously in great shape and well surrounded, Cohen offered nothing less than a musical marathon, showing no signs of slowing down any way. The tour seems to keep.

"I promise you that we will give everything we have tonight," he said of his bass voice in a French respectful and humble.

Your humble seducer

Only the first notes of Dance Me to the End Of Love sung, Leonard Cohen was kneeling, as a pretender to the point of asking the hand of his sweetheart. This raises the old charmer will adopt throughout the evening, as a gesture of gallantry to his recurring public.

From the outset, it is clear that Leonard Cohen does not haggle on success: The Future Bird On A Wire Everybody Knows Who By Fire and unfold. Six songs are performed well before the echoes of the first title shot newest album Old Ideas: excellent Darkness, which fits perfectly with the rest of his repertoire.

The sound is impeccable, with the exception of a certain timidity in overall volume, and musicians perform their task with great restraint and professionalism notable. The sound is clear, interpretation and applied ultra-singing Cohen settles perfectly on the musical canvas.

It has never been known to have the most powerful voice, my friend Leonard, nor the most accurate. But over the years, its tone is eroded beautiful way, which gives older titles a new color that suits almost better than a bit nasal voice of yesteryear.

The first part ends in a big way with Anthem, which illustrates this aspect of "Cohen 2012."

Then, after intermission, we return with other headlines, Tower Of Songs and Suzanne, demonstrating the depth of the singer's repertoire, since it is still more for later.

Until then, the songs grid was identical to previous concerts of the tour. But the specificity of Montreal led to a detour to The Partisan, bilingual version of The Rime of the supporter and the first title of Leonard sang (partly) in French on Songs From A Room in 1969. Cohen has also adapted the classic Hallelujah few words for the occasion.

After nearly three hours of the show, the singer and his band return to So Long, Marianne, Going Home and First We Take Manhattan, before reapply a second reminder containing essential Famous Blue Raincoat, If It Be Your Will (interpreted very beautiful way by its singers, the Webb Sisters, harp and acoustic guitar), and Closing Time. What is closer to a "happy ending" in the universe Cohen.

A third reminder was planned but ultimately did not take place, the little needle approaching awfully midnight.

Very special evening, so in the company of a living legend who has never been so charming while being fully able to deliver the goods on the vocal and physical.

Magic.

* Leonard Cohen resume experience at Bell Centre tonight, then at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec on ​​Sunday night and Ottawa on December 7th.

[sturgess66]

A bit of video - Nov 29

Uploaded by Yolande Villemaire - Thanks!

Take This Waltz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bALoK7CoRUA

Standing Ovation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2CaJ2H4OAg

[sturgess66]

From LeDevoir -
http://www.ledevoir.com/culture/musique ... r-le-coeur

GOOGLE TRANSLATION (link to original article in French above)

Leonard Cohen at the Bell Centre - The labor and cap-on heart

The album Live In London by Leonard Cohen - witness his tour back in 2008 - begins with an observation of the poet to the audience: "It is wonderful to be gathered here," on the other side just of intimacy "." And it is precisely in this other side of the intimacy he found his audience Wednesday in Montreal. Bell Centre and close all open in the hand of the prodigal son and prodigal.


It has taken a few nights in 2008 at the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier,
but it was too soon after 15 years away from the Bell Centre was therefore
complete the second comeback of Leonard Cohen in Montreal.

[anneporter]

stood or danced! It was amazing. I didn't see behind me but it seemed like it was only the front row that could do this.

We were all dancing, Lesley!

[sturgess66]

Video uploaded by leonardcohenvideo - Thanks!

Dance Me To The End Of Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DARtHoktTgE

The Future
http://youtu.be/Qz-a8hp-Jso

Bird on the Wire
http://youtu.be/0_J_VHq6Hvk

Everybody Knows
http://youtu.be/BkJMC66Iiak

Who By Fire
http://youtu.be/yo_l7PbFgK8

Darkness
http://youtu.be/r_xynMu73ew

Ain't No Cure For Love
http://youtu.be/SIGdnonslrk

[mutti]

Yes everyone was dancing Anne, wasn't it beautiful!

[charlesgts]

Sorry to be leaving Montreal after one evening. But Front Row in Montreal was "vaut le voyage". What I enjoyed most about the show was how much Leonard seemed to be enjoying himself. And my partner who went to her first ever show now has divided loyalties but I can live with that I suppose.

[DrM]

Was singing the middle verse of SUZANNE twice purposeful or just a lucky accident for the hearer?

Certainly, they gave all they had.

Certainly, we will be back for more. Hope to hear Joan of Arc someday, along with other Gypsy Wife; both on the playlist, but not 11/28.

[VELOVERMONT]

Concert review from " LA PRESSE" in french. Hopefully a GOOGLE translation will appear.

http://www.lapresse.ca/arts/musique/cri ... lement.php

[BEATRIZ SALLES]

Looks like this has been a great great concert! So happy for you!

Hope someone had captured the "Show me the place" première on video

[Eva]

Oh what a night it was, what a privilege to be in his presence again...the love of the 12,600 people gathered to hear our greatest Canadian poet...but more than that, the devotion, the love, the soul penetrating images that Leonard generates through his songs is sublime happiness...Will be back tonight for more, I can never get enough..."there is no cure" for those who love Leonard Cohen

[Damfino]

Was singing the middle verse of SUZANNE twice purposeful or just a lucky accident for the hearer?

I'm guessing that it was a lucky accident. It happened after Leonard waited several extra bars to accommodate/encourage the audience to applaud Alexandru's violin solo. The applause didn't materialize, and I think it may have thrown Leonard momentarily. (Threw me, too. The audience overall was rather reserved — until the encores.)

[foxymona]

Eva, everything you said is exactly how I feel. It was a magical, mystical, joyous night and as I sit here in my office at work, I can barely contain my excitement for tonight. It was a blast meeting so many forum members at Hurley's before the show.
Mona

[cohenadmirer]

A very tall venue-just looking up to the upper tier activated my relatively minor fear of heights.Fortunately we had a great view from the fourth row and truly excellent sound.Leonard and the band were of course on great form. Show me the place performed superbly was a great surprise.
the show was a bit shorter than many others on the tour due to a 15 minute delayed start. Needless to say each song was a delight. Leonard made several references to being home,speaking in french and english:
Early in the show he almost .made a welcome verbal mistake when speaking of his hopes to stay on the road for a few more years .he almost said a few'million' years- then corrected to a few 'more' :
)
I have good audio recording of the entire show which I am happy to share and got some decent video though eventually was told to stop .this is canada though so that was done politely.
Security was a bit strict . All but a few were stopped from standing at the front for the encores which n my opinion slightly dampened the usual encore atmosphere.
Will post some video when I can.
Now for tonight. Joan of arc please!!