Sylvie Simmons Reading and Q & A in London (and Chorleywood)

[lizzytysh]

A great plan. That gives a person 7 days to read it... so very do-able. Question session will have more and informed questions, as well.

[UKsylvie]

To John Etherington
Very nice of you to volunteer to go onstage and answer questions for me at the London readings. I'm sure the audience will be delighted by your insights, and by your promise not to sing any Leonard Cohen songs. I don't quit understand the reference to "audacity" when it comes to singing Famous Blue Raincoat with thew words Leonard wrote for it. I am pleased though that you find my writing skillfull enough that you'd rather I stick with it. I believe you are coming to some of the UK shows? I will try to find a quiet corner for you to sit and read the book. Look forward to seeing you again. all the best sylvie

[John Etherington]

Hi Sylvie, Good to see you here! I think it's well-known that I've never enjoyed hearing Leonard covers. There's only a handful that I actually like...Julie's "Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye, John Cale's "Hallelujah", and The Webb Sisters "If It Be Your Will"....maybe two or three others. That's it really...everything else I avoid or tolerate. You know I love your book from my Amazon review, but (not wishing to get some kind of sycophant tag) I always try to balance my praise with reasonable criticism. That can partly be blamed that on the writing course I took with CSM! Love and mercy, John E

[lizzytysh]

For the record, I LOVE your "Famous Blue Raincoat" ~ I will always ALWAYS prefer Leonard's songs being done by Leonard himself... but I don't have the aversion to covers that John does

And that will make for an interesting element, having John [and you, too, I presume?] be on stage to answer questions.

[John Etherington]

Lizzy - Don't take Sylvie too seriously there, but if she gets any awkward questions, I'm happy to give them a shot!

[lizzytysh]

Well, her suggestion of putting you in a corner to read the book does suggest that you may not be quite as prepared as her to do so.

[John Etherington]

Sylvie's UK tour got off to a good start at the Rough Trade record store. For those who don't know Brick Lane it's rather like the red light district of Indian restaurants, since you can't walk more than a couple of yards without someone trying to persuade you to enter their premises! Rough Trade, which is actually just off Brick Lane, is situated between two young and noisy open fronted bars. There was no need to join queues or have wristbands last might...you were able to just walk in, find a seat and hang out. There were only three people that I knew from the Forum present - namely Padma, Sue Merlyn and Andy Barnes (who was the first person to tell me about the event). Three music-writer friends were also present - Jim Devlin, Charles Shaar Murray, and Neil Spencer. While we were waiting, the "Old Ideas" album was playing.

Sylvie was on fine form, and answered the questions that her interviewer put to her with enthusiam, ease, and professionalism. Her interviewer (a man with a hat and glasses) wore a grey suit, white shirt, and for reasons best known to himself, dayglo pink socks and tie! Most of the questions he asked were reasonable, if fairly predictable. However the strangest was "what advice would Sylvie give to a female friend if she was considering going to bed with Leonard Cohen". Sylvie, quite sensibly, said that she would not offer advice on such matters. After the main Q & A, the audience were invited to ask questions and a mike was passed round. I asked about the passage in Sylvie's book where she tells how Leonard jammed with Jimi Hendrix in 1966, and played "Suzanne" with him. Unfortunately, a tape of this doesn't appear to exist, and the recording of the concert at the mental hospital is also unlikely to ever become publicly available. Sylvie concluded the session with her ukelele and sang "Famous Blue Raincoat", which I actually found quite tolerable, considering my general aversion to Leonard covers.

They were selling copies of the new paperback version of Sylvie's book there. It's smaller than the hardcover, and the print goes well into the centre of the book, so you would have to bend the pages back quite forcefully to read it easily. While people were buying books and chatting, "Death of a Ladies Man" was playing in the background. Hearing it on big speakers reminded me how much I like the album. After the event, a number of friends and writers went to the bar next to Rough Trade. The music playing there was so loud and dire that, even though it was chilly, we took our drinks into the open area at the front. Overall it was a thoroughly enjoyable and sociable evening, and I look forward to more of the same, next week.

[Hartmut]

Thanks, John.

[lizzytysh]

And yours was a thoroughly enjoyable review of Sylvie's event, John.
Thank you so much!

[John Etherington]

Hartmut and Lizzy - Thanks for your kind words.

[MaryB]

John,

Your reviews are always so detailed and interesting and make me want more of it. Thank you!

Warmest regards,
Mary

[daveeliver]

I was travelling yesterday, so was unable to see Sylvie Simmons in Liverpool, but she was on Liverpool local radio and many Leonard Cohen songs (originals and covers) are featured.
Ian Prowse is unfortunately on the same show and I found out another reason why I wasn't a fan. He'd never heard the songs and stories about Leonard.
There are some different covers played and I'm enjoying listening to it.
Some nice stories and connections.
Spencer Leigh talks well and knows the subject fairly well and is obviously a fan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p019nkcj

[lizzytysh]

Where has he been? On a desert island with albums from the 50s?

[John Etherington]

Looking forward to seeing Sylvie in Bloomsbury (Central London) tomorrow night!

DOORS 7:30PM TICKETS £5 ADVANCE (CLICK HERE) £6.50 ON THE DOOR

Sylvie will be at the Horse Hospital on Tuesday 18th June, reading extracts from I’m Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen, to be followed by a few songs with guest musicians, and an audience Q and A led by publisher Dan Franklin.

Followed by several rare Cohen films, including previously unseen home footage of Leonard’s childhood and his family, and various vintage documentaries.
Sylvie will also be signing and selling specially discounted copies of the brand new paperback edition of the book.

With special guests Dan Franklin, Pete Molinari and Katy Carr.

Full details on: http://www.thehorsehospital.com/now/syl ... ard-cohen/

[Mabeanie1]

I do wish these UK dates weren't all concentrated in the SE. Liverpool was as far the other way!

Wendy