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CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15&16, 2012

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:33 pm
by brightnow
Here we go!
Boston Sign - small.JPG

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15, 2012

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:32 pm
by alb123
I can't wait for the show tonight! I have never seen a concert in this theater, only stand-up comedy (Craig Ferguson). Hopefully the acoustics are complimentary to his sound.

To everyone going to tonight's show...Have a wondeful time. I will be sitting in the Orchestra Right Center, Row W, Seat 2...

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 3:41 am
by sturgess66
The last time Leonard Cohen played in Boston was May 28-29, 2009 - again at the Wang Theatre. The venue is called Citi Performing Arts Center and the Wang is one of two theatres at the Center.
http://bit.ly/Z99VFW

It looks - sort of gorgeous! :D Another one of those wonderful restored movie theatres dating back to 1925.
In 1983, Dr. An Wang donated $Millions for its restoration.

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From Notes From The Road / Camp Cohen / Joey -
http://leonardcohen.tumblr.com/post/380 ... t-the-wang

Lover Lover Lover The Wang is looking good and soundchecking even better.
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Making the Marks
One must make the marks before one can hit the marks. That is after all, the hardest part.

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Keep Calm Wang The band goes on at eight
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And - oops - from Joey -
1 second ago
Tonight’s Show at the Wang will kick-off at 8:15pm.
Thank you.
And - they're live ...

It is Yours. Everything we got.
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Right This Way And into the break. Tech Dan Weingartner lights the way for LC to exit the stage.
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Not Gonna Climb Itself Time for the Tower.
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:37 am
by Tchocolatl
What a change compared to all those hockey gloomy-doomy temples. In 1925 going to the movie was an event, building such cathedrales of illusions to honour dreams made of shadow and light on a screen. I like that very much, this is kitsch and hot all together. I wonder if the cameo in the ceiling represent real people.

It is so fun to follow your experiences, groupies, and your observations and feelings, from concert to concert.

I would not do this (even if I could 8) ) but I do have a real time reading it.

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:39 am
by sturgess66
I hope we get video this time - the new arrangement ...

I remember you well
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I Love to Speak With Leonard
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Our own on-the-spot reporter - :)
@brightnow #leonardcohen set 1 in Boston moving, flawless, uplifting.
@apmartino Leonard Cohen is rocking it in Boston tonight.
‏@johnolore I've been to a LOT of shows in my day, but I've NEVER seen an artist give props to the rigger. Leonard Cohen is a class act all the way.
@vaterdrumsticks Just saw @VaterDrumsticks Artist Rafael Gayol play an amazing show with the legendary Leonard Cohen!
‏@johnolore Before tonight, I thought the only thing most 78-year-olds could do for 3 1/2 hours was watch the Weather Channel. Leonard Cohen's DA MAN!
@davidginsburg Forever grateful for the music that's fueled my simple soul all these years. Leonard Cohen was brilliant tonight. #Hallelujah #fb
@TheBostonPhotog - best concert of my life. Thank You, Leonard Cohen! #concert #boston #cohen #leonardcohen #music http://instagr.am/p/TSZUn7psPP/

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 8:42 am
by joyezekiel
Leonard was in truly sparkling form tonight! There were some interesting variations which I'm sure will be discussed at length tomorrow, but need to get some sleep now. Just one question though, to anyone who was there tonight.... what was the "chant" in Darkness? Never heard it before.

Joy

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 9:21 am
by sturgess66
From Setlists thread -
Eskimo wrote:Boston, MA
Saturday December 15, 2012
Citi Performing Art Center/Wang Theatre

First Set
Dance Me to the End of Love
The Future
Bird on the Wire
Everybody Knows
Who by Fire
Darkness
Ain't No Cure for Love
Amen
Come Healing
In My Secret Life
A Thousand Kisses Deep
Anthem

Second Set
Tower of Song
Suzanne
Chelsea Hotel #2
Waiting For The Miracle
Show Me The Place
Lover Lover Lover
Democracy
Alexandra Leaving
I'm Your Man
Hallelujah
Take this Waltz

Encore
So Long Marianne
Going Home
First We Take Manhattan

Encore #2
Famous Blue Raincoat
If It Be Your Will
Closing Time

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15&16, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 12:11 pm
by cohenadmirer
What a fabulous venue !

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15&16, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 4:56 pm
by casaperon
I have seen the photos and the venue looks very beautiful but the partisan is not in setlist of the last concerts!! :cry:

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15&16, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 5:19 pm
by Mabeanie1
casaperon wrote:I have seen the photos and the venue looks very beautiful but the partisan is not in setlist of the last concerts!! :cry:
The Partisan may not mean as much to US audiences as it does to those in Europe and Canada. The Boston audience got Democracy instead, which always gets a big cheer in the US.

Wendy

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15&16, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 6:59 pm
by Albert
This is a great setlist, and yes ,Partisan might be included in Europe,especially Germany and France.

If I had one wish for the German shows 2013 : One of us cannot be wrong !! I heard it quite a few times live,
but by far not often enough !!!:-))

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA (Cue Sheet - Dec. 15, 2012)

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 7:36 pm
by rmura
Cue sheet for the Boston concert, December 15, 2012
Cue sheet for the Boston concert, December 15, 2012

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15&16, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 8:05 pm
by RainDog1980
Got home from the show around 3:00am, finally rolling out of bed.

This was our second time seeing LC at the Wang, and the venue is perfect. The sound was A-MAZING. You could hear every instrument perfectly, no bleeding, every nuance was captured.

Highlights:

Amen - definitely my favorite performance of the show. It is my favorite track from "Old Ideas", but the arrangement just made it come alive. If there is another road sampler, this NEEDS to be on it.

A Thousand Kisses Deep- this was the only one to bring me to tears this go around. I really could listen to an entire album of Leonard recite poetry with some light accompaniment.

Democracy - LOVED the Jew's harp, the "choreography" from the ladies, and the violin.

Alexandria Leaving - holy Hell. I am not a huge fan of "Ten New Songs", but this was SO beautiful. I had a stupid argument with a friend earlier in the evening, and still felt a little annoyed in the back of my mind. Between this and "Democracy", I suddenly realized that I had been transported into another place. So sublime.

Chelsea Hotel - loved, loved, LOVED this arrangement. I'm a big fan of "full band" Leonard... but hearing this made me think, he could tour with a four piece band and still have just as much impact.

Other thoughts:

The band had a much BIGGER sound. Even songs like "Going Home", there was such a "rock" feel. I don't know if that was due to Mitch Watkins, or the band being a little more seasoned, or intentional on Roscoe's part. MANHATTAN was PHENOMENAL, it was charging along like a high speed train.

LC had some great "Leonard Speak" moments - during the first encore, before playing "Going Home", he quipped about having an angry spouse or partner waiting at home, then by all means, go, but if our lives were so empty, he welcomed us to spend a few more minutes.

Very cool introduction to Lover, Lover, Lover. Told a story about being in the military and asking what he thought was a comrade for a cigarette, only to realize it was a POW, but he couldn't tell the difference. I really thought this was leading into "There is a War", so was REALLY surprised when they broke into Lover.

Before "If it be Your Will", he made mention of the recent events which were "too deep for words" but hoped that the song would help express some of the thoughts and feelings of the audience. Was particularly poignant with the tragedy in Connecticut.

Had really hoped to hear more of the newer songs - am very interested in hearing "Anyhow" in this setting, and "Different Sides".

OH, the Darkness!!! What a STRANGE arrangement! There was in fact, some sort of scat or chant that was an interplay with the drums. I don't know if it was another language or what, but man, did they add such a PRIMAL feel to that song. It was pretty cool.

We've seen LC three times now... and there was some new folks in the audience. There was a woman sitting in front of us that was SO excited, and hearing the cries of surprise and awe coming from members around us... really added to the show.

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15&16, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 11:16 pm
by Eskimo
joyezekiel wrote:...what was the "chant" in Darkness? Never heard it before.
RainDog1980 wrote: LOVED the Jew's harp ... OH, the Darkness!!! What a STRANGE arrangement! There was in fact, some sort of scat or chant that was an interplay with the drums. I don't know if it was another language or what, but man, did they add such a PRIMAL feel to that song. It was pretty cool.

Leonard showed how he still can "run with Diz" ...

Dizzy Gillespie and Jon Hendricks 1980
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAGG8GLeYOQ

Re: CONCERT REPORT: Boston, MA - December 15&16, 2012

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 11:34 pm
by Tchocolatl
Raindog1980, what a resume, this is huge! Thanks! Wow!

What I am seing in Lover Lover Lover - and this is my personal point of view, I am not saying that this is what is in the song - is a plea to come back to Spiritual Affairs (which I call Reality, or Thruth - Beauty) instead of engaging into religious wars and/or self-pity, being so self-centered (which I call being lost in delusions and uglyness). No judgment in my comment, though. Being all born in "rags of light" are we. "But if it be your will, if there is choice..."

My simple soul is fueled, phew... Thanks!