Cohen's concert the best gig ever

Leonard Cohen
TSB Arena
Tuesday 20 January

The Dominion Post

Last updated 08:42 21/01/2009

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Canadian poet and singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen takes the stage with his nine-piece band. There is a huge ovation; many people get up out of their seats (for the first of several times).

The opening song is Dance Me To The End Of Love. From there it is to The Future, Ain't No Cure For Love and Bird On A Wire. A living legend places his lyrical legacy at the feet of an adoring audience and the songs - poems, mantras, scriptures even - continue to fall in to place: Everybody Knows with its wry, subversive humour, In My Secret Life (acknowledging the 2001 "comeback" album Ten New Songs).

Cohen takes up an acoustic guitar for some delicate plucking (Who By Fire and Chelsea Hotel # 2). The audience sits hushed as immortal paeans, prayers and odes float from the stage - Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye - and Cohen's band provides the musical colour with a brushed drum kit, saxophones, flutes, mandolin, guitars and three perfectly pitched backing vocalists to assist his below sea-level growl. The sound is stunning in a venue that is so often awful for concerts; this time the right band is playing correctly and the audience is no longer suffering for the location of the musician's art.
A short interval, after Anthem - with its line "there is a crack in everything/that's how the light gets in" - and Cohen returns with Tower Of Song, telling people they are too kind for applauding his one-finger keyboard solo. From there it is to Suzanne from the debut album, the start of the reverence and reverie, then to The Gypsy Wife, The Partisan and Hallelujah.

A Thousand Kisses Deep is stunning as poetic recital; the bard still possesses beguiling grace. And then it is to Take This Waltz, band introductions and a series of encores including So Long Marianne, First We Take Manhattan, If It Be Your Will (Cohen recites the first verse and then his version of Kate and Anna McGarrigle, the Webb sisters, deliver the body of the tune) Famous Blue Raincoat and Democracy. If you were at the concert and didn't like it then you had your information wrong.

It is hard work having to put this concert in to words so I'll just say something I have never said in a review before and will never say again: this was the best show I have ever seen.

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31 comments

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rob #31 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Damm.....i would have loved to have gone to this concert ... but time and time again i have left the tsb arena dissapointed and feeling ripped of because of the shocking accoustics.. after Bob Dyalan i vowed never to attend that venue again ..... the one time someone manages to work around the flawed venue and im not there......

Faith Roberts #30 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Best concert EVER- I am still smiling. I'm now a Sharon Robinson fan too!

Carmen #29 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I entirely agree. I was working the show and I'd have to remind myself occasionally that I was doing so since I kept finding myself being swept up in the concert. I'll tell you one thing, he's got himself a new fan here. Best show I've seen so far at Vector, and I've seen a fair few. Great show.

Artur #28 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I have never ever experienced so magical, true emotions during my long experience. I was in Amsterdam and Warsaw events last year and want to say that the first one was like the first time... The second, simply breathless. The Webb sisters with "If it be your will" replaced me to another universe. Amazing, I am so happy. God bless you Leonard.

Mark wahlberg #27 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Agreee with all the above. Found myself alotted a seat on the North face of the Eiger. At 6' 5" with an artificial leg I cant bend, I faced the prospect of either standing for the entire length of the concert or being asked to leave because others couldnt see through me. A quick natter to those in charge on the night saw my wife and I shifted to new seats which I can only describe as BEING BEYOND MY WILDEST EXPECTATIONS. Full marks. A night to remember.

sandy #26 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I've been waiting for many years for this concert, and I certainly agree with youre review. Brilliant Brilliant and Brilliant. The best one I have ever been to.What a legend.!!!

Blondini Gang #25 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Unbelievably good.

Ron Riddell #24 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I am very sad to have missed this concert. I have a great respect for Leonard Cohen and his work. Many thanks to Simon Sweetman for his fine review. I am a NZ writer at present living in Medellin, Colombia,where the world's largest poetry festival is held (every year in June/July). (This year's invited poet from NZ is Vincent O'Sullivan). I have been asked by the organising committee to help extend an invitation to Leonard. I corresponded with him briefly many years ago but do not have any current contact details. I would be most grateful for any contact details for Leonard anyone in NZ may have. Many thanks.

Lola, Sweden #23 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Lucky you All! Happy New Year! But must not grumble.... Enjoyed the show twice in Sweden last summer! Both marvellous in their own way! The first time outdoors, in wonderful summer weather, July 4th Sofiero Castle. Magic! Then on their return in October, in the Stockholm Globe Arena. A warming winter hug indeed! Take the chance - have a good time!

Jenny Williams #22 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Brilliant - best show I've been to in years - and the first one in the events centre I could hear! If that is old age - then bring it on!

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