Special Photos, Music, Videos, Events, Oddities, & Insights
From The Leonard Cohen 2010 World Tour
Last Updated: December 9, 2010
Highlights from earlier legs of the Leonard Cohen World Tour are found at The Best Of Leonard Cohen World Tour 2008-2009.
Leonard Cohen 2010 Concert Schedule
The continuously updated 2010 concert schedule is found at 2010 Leonard Cohen World Tour
Leonard Cohen World Tour Hits Oakland Dec 5-6, 2010
These outstanding photos of the Oakland Paramount marquee are contributed from Arlene Dick’s Leonard Cohen Scrapbook
Welcome Back To The USA, Leonard Cohen
Just hours after the completion of the first Leonard Cohen concert in Oakland, his first USA show since November 2009, Arlene Dick1 provided fans excellent videos of “Everybody Knows” and “Anthem.”
Leonard Cohen – Everybody Knows (Oakland 12/5/2010)
Video from arlenedick15
Leonard Cohen – Anthem (Oakland 12/5/2010)
This is Leonard Cohen’s long version of Anthem with an introduction that begins with “a kid with a crazy dream” and band introductions that include the Rafael Gayol Saga (that inevitably triggers giggling from the drummer).
Watch, learn, savor.
Video from arlenedick15
Sign displayed in Oakland - Shown here held by Diana Dahart (lady di) Marie Mazur (mod), Arlene Dick (bridger 15)
Demonstrating that European and Canadian audiences are hardly alone in their affection for Leonard Cohen, Arlene, who, like Cohen, is a Canadian now transplanted to LA, and her colleagues, Diana Dahart and Marie Mazur,2 hoisted aloft a banner proclaiming “USA Loves You” – which makes it official.
Must See Performances From December 2, 2010 Leonard Cohen Vancouver Concert
Happiness Is Opening Your Concert In Vancouver – If These Photos Of Leonard Cohen Are Indicative
The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief.
~William Shakespeare, Othello
These pristine photos by Ashley Tanasiychuk for www.guttersnipenews.com are from the opening of last night’s Leonard Cohen World Tour show in Vancouver. More photos and commentary on the show are available at http://bit.ly/LndChnpx.
Anthem – Leonard Cohen aka “Boring Old Drone” Gets It Off His Chest And Narrates The Next Chapter Of The Rafael Gayol Saga
Leonard Cohen – Anthem (Vancouver 12/2/2010)
Video from albertnoonan, shot by IrishMar.
Bonus: More On The Boring Old Drone Angle
Leonard Cohen mentioned the same critic in a taped 1978 interview available via Heck Of A Guy at Leonard Cohen – Poet Of Rock Music – On Poems Vs Songs, His Withdrawn Novel, Janis Joplin In LA, Album Titles, & The Perfect Ass
Leonard Cohen Gives It Everything He’s Got In Closing Vancouver Show
This well done, recently uploaded video (5 views as of posting) shows Leonard Cohen performing an outstanding, rollicking rendition of “Closing Time” followed by the long version of his goodbye speech, including him reciting the lines from “Never Got To Love You,” warning the audience not to catch a winter cold and to be sure they drive their own cars to their own homes, and thanking them for keeping his “songs alive all these years,” all before uttering the final blessings.
Leonard Cohen – Closing Time (Vancouver 12/2/2010)
Video from BILLIEMARGARET
Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah (Vancouver 12/2/2010)
Video from Ganelin
Leonard Cohen Hanging Rock Concert
The Nov 20, 2010 Version Of “The Darkness” By Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen – The Darkness (Hanging Rock 11/20/2010)
Video from brendanobrien69
While this recording of “Everybody Knows” is, as the videographer notes, a tad shaky, its quality is otherwise good and the performance itself is solid if not spectacular.
Besides, I always like it when Javier Mas steps up his game in his stare down with Leonard Cohen that has become an integral part of the show.
Leonard Cohen – Everybody Knows (Hanging Rock 11/20/2010)
Video from brendanobrien69
This rendition of “I’m Your Man” features the Webb Sisters bundled up against the cold to the point of nonrecognition and an animated Leonard Cohen, who appears to be pounding down a few loose boards on the stage with his feet.
Leonard Cohen – I’m Your Man (Hanging Rock 11/20/2010)
Video from brendanobrien69
Leonard Cohen Sydney Concert Videos, Photos
Leonard Cohen Uses Break In Applause By Sydney Audience To Sing “So Long, Marianne”
The sequence of events in the first video follows:
- Sydney audience applauds following end of a song
- Cohen & company take their bows
- Sydney audience continues to applaud
- Cohen et al depart stage
- Sydney audience continues to applaud
- Leonard Cohen and his musicians are off stage for a bit, perhaps to enjoy a light snack or email the folks back home
- Sydney audience continues to applaud
- Cohen and crew reappear on stage
- Sydney audience continues to applaud
Oh, and then Leonard Cohen and the Unified Heart Touring Company perform “So Long, Marianne.”
Leonard Cohen – So Long, Marianne (Sydney 11/8/2010)
Video from mcgettrick26
Leonard Cohen – A Thousand Kisses Deep (Sydney 11/9/2010)
Video from horo1984
Leonard Cohen – A Singer Must Die (Sydney 11/9/2010)
Video from horo1984
Leonard Cohen – Ain’t No Cure For Love (Sydney 11/8/2010)
Video by mgwfall
Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah (Sydney 11/8/2010)
Video by mgwfall
Credit Due Department: Photos by Lester a.k.a. horo1984
Leonard Cohen Performs Night Comes On At Auckland After 25 Year Interval
Night Comes On Last Heard On 1985 Leonard Cohen Tour3
This excerpt from a LeonardCohenForum post written by mwestern about his experiences at the second Leonard Cohen Auckland concert on October 29, 2010 succinctly and vividly describes the highlight of the night:
And the BIG surprise – when did Leonard last play Night Comes On? The answer is now Auckland, October 29, 2010. A completely solo version – no backing vocals, and I couldn’t see any others playing – they just stood around on stage watching Leonard. 12000 jaws dropped.
Rarely has jaw-dropping been more justified during the Leonard Cohen World Tour.
Download 2010 Version Of Night Comes On
Unfortunately, no video of this performance has been found. A MP3 from a high quality audience recording taped by by2117 is, however, available for download. I have added tags (i.e., embedded data such as title, artist, date, etc.) and art.
To download,
1. Right-click on the link and then choose “Open link in new window” or “Open link in new tab” to open the download service page in a new window or tab (left clicking on the links may open the download service page in this same window; in that case, click the “Back” arrow on your browser to return to this post): Download Night Comes On
2. On the download service page that opens, click on this image:
Then choose “Save File.”
3. The files downloaded as “Night Comes On.mp3.”
4. The file can be used in iPods and other MP3 players. The appropriate tags (title, artist, etc) and art should display automatically when the files are loaded into an MP3 program such as iTunes. (Not all players handle tags the same way; your mileage may vary.) The files can also be burned onto a CD.
Credit Due Department:
The photo atop this post, which is also the art for the “Night Comes On” MP3, was taken by LadyLilley, who has not only generously agreed to its use here but has also permitted me to convert it into a black and white image I felt best suited the song.
I was alerted to Daniel Wyszogrodzki’s post by a LeonardCohenForum post written by sturgess66.
Photos, Videos From Final Leonard Cohen Performance In Europe – Bratislava Oct 13, 2010
Leonard Cohen – Bird On A Wire (Bratislava 10/13/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Leonard Cohen - Bratislava (Photo from SME)
Leonard Cohen – I’m Your Man (Bratislava 10/13/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Leonard Cohen - Bratislava (Photo from SME)
Leonard Cohen – Hey That’s No Way To Say Goodbye (Bratislava 10/13/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Leonard Cohen – First We Take Manhattan (Bratislava 10/13/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Credit Due Department: The photo of the “Crazy about Leonard Cohen” banner is by Albert Noonan. The photo of Leonard Cohen holding a rose atop this post and the penultimate photo of a smiling Leonard Cohen looking to his right is by gallina. Others are as captioned.
Photos, “Closing Time” & “Suzanne” Videos From Oct 12, 2020 Leonard Cohen Ljubljana Concert
These outstanding photos and videos from the Ljubljana show are the work of Maja Kogej, who operates on YouTube under the nom de plume o5b.
Click on images for best viewing.
Leonard Cohen – Suzanne (Ljubljana 10/12/2010)
Video from o5b
Leonard Cohen – Closing Time (Ljubljana 10/12/2010)
Video from o5b
Leonard Cohen In Full Growl On “I’m Your Man” At Ljubljana Concert
While taken from too far back in the concert hall to afford spectacular views, this video from the October 12, 2010 Ljubljana, Slovenia concert is too good an example of a specific style Leonard Cohen has taken to implementing lately not to post it. So, to the stylistic versions of “I”m Your Man” identified in Leonard Cohen Offers Two Flavors Of “I’m Your Man” – The Austere & The Audacious, add Authoritative (aka Growling Leonard). This mode can be instantly recognized by the rumbling declaration at 1:25, “The beast won’t go to sleep,” but watch the entire performance. It’s instructive.
Leonard Cohen – I’m Your Man (Ljubljana 10/12/2010)
Video from engarbo
Lech Walesa Greets Leonard Cohen And Anoints Crew Backstage Before Warsaw Concert
Those who have followed the Leonard Cohen World Tour for more than two weeks are aware of the no-interviews, no-visitors policy designed to conserve Leonard Cohen’s energies and allow him to focus on performing at the concerts themselves.
Those restrictions have apparently been abrogated within the borders of Poland.
First, at the October 10, 2010 concert in Warsaw, a visitor somehow managed to evade security and sneak into the green room. As reported at Notes On The Road,
A surprise guest, former Polish President Lech Walesa, dropped by the greenroom to say hello to LC and the band.
Further, a subsequent Notes From The Road post describes Mr Walesa’s participation in the troupe’s activities:
President Walesa takes part in the bands pre-show ritual of anointing oils on everyones wrists.
Leonard Cohen Talks About His Relationship With Poland, His Life As A Monk, And His Dream Of Relieving His Depression
Then, on October 9, 2010, Leonard Cohen granted a rare video interview to Plejada.
From Moscow – “I Never Got To Love You,” “Invictus,” Dancing White Men, and The Original Lyrics of “The Future”
Leonard Cohen final bow - Moscow
Leonard Cohen – Closing Time (Moscow 10/7/2010)
Video ends with Leonard Cohen’s words of farewell following the song, including his acknowledgment of Russia’s reputation as a drinking nation, lines from “I Never Got To Love You,” and a final blessing – “Don’t catch a winter cold.”
Video from ITeachEFL
Leonard Cohen – The Future (Moscow 10/7/2010)
This rendition has two special features: (1) the flying feet of the nimble Roscoe Beck and the elegant Leonard Cohen are on display at 4:15 and (2) just past the 30 second mark Leonard Cohen belts out the original lyrics, “Give me crack and anal sex,” rather than the line that has been used throughout the World Tour, “Give me crack and careless sex.”4
Video from cheburek1960
Credit Due Department: Photo of Leonard Cohen’s bow in Russia from Notes From The Road
Leonard Cohen And The Rose Of Katowice
If there were a competition for Most Compellingly Romantic Photograph, this shot of Leonard Cohen, the 76 year old Canadian singer-songwriter, holding a long stem rose while performing in Katowice Poland would surely be the prohibitive favorite. This iconic photo and those in the gallery below were taken by Gwen Langford.
Leonard Cohen – Famous Blue Raincoat (Katowice 10/4/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Leonard Cohen - Katowice (Photo by majmunka)
Leonard Cohen – Avalanche (Katowice 10/4/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Leonard Cohen – Ain’t No Cure For Love (Katowice 10/4/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
The (unheated) venue. (Photo by majmunka)
Leonard Cohen – Feels so Good (Katowice 10/4/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Dortmund Concert Features New Javier Mas Who By Fire Solo
This video comprises the five minute solo played by Javier Mas as the introduction to “Who By Fire,” almost all of which appears to be different from his previous renditions. It is also gorgeous.
Javier Mas – Who By Fire Intro (Dortmund 9/29/2010)
Video from golittlesong, aka Henning at LeonardCohenForum
“Avalanche” Featured at Dortmund Show
The popularity of the all too rarely performed “Avalanche” among long time fans mandates its presentation here. Photos of the Dortmund concert are by C.Carle/R.Strugala.
Leonard Cohen – Avalanche (Dortmund 9/29/2010)
Video from advocaatjeleefjenog
Make That – Leonard Cohen WAS Coming To Hawaii
In anticipation of the first ever Leonard Cohen performance in Hawaii on December 4, 2010, Heck Of A Guy developed a brief introductory video that organically melds images from the contemporary Leonard Cohen World Tour with the ancient, traditional music we all instinctively associate with the Hawaiian Islands.
A few hours after this video was posted, the Hawaii concert was canceled. The following announcement was found at LeonardCohenForum:
Regrettably, AEG Live has announced the cancellation of Leonard Cohen’s previously scheduled December 4th performance in Honolulu, Hawaii due to prohibitive and insurmountable logistical issues. However, newly added dates have been scheduled in Vancouver, BC and Oakland, CA to round out the artist’s final dates of his current world tour.
The final concert dates now scheduled follow:
Dec 2 Rogers Arena Vancouver, BC
Dec 5 Paramount Theatre Oakland, CA
Dec 6 Paramount Theatre Oakland, CA
Dec 8 Rose Garden Theater of the Clouds Portland, OR
Dec10 The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, NV
Dec11 The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, NV
The video immediately became the best available souvenir of the phantom Honolulu show.
Gripping Black And White Video Of “Avalanche” And “Suzanne” From Hannover Concert
Those two songs alone would make this video significant. “Suzanne” is arguably the most representative work in Leonard Cohen’s repertoire, dating back to the beginning of his career as a singer-songwriter, and “Avalanche” is a favorite of many fans, especially those who have admired Cohen over the years, but has been rarely played during the World Tour although it has been featured recently.
The stark clarity of the black and white recording fits seamlessly with the tone, lyrical content, lighting,5 and the staging which revolves around on Cohen alone, accompanying himself on guitar.
From my perspective, the black and white videography significantly enhances the focus of and emotional impact on the viewer.
Leonard Cohen – Suzanne and Avalanche
(Hannover – 9/27/2010)
Video from anniesnake
Leonard Cohen Sings “The Partisan” At September 15, 2010 Caen Concert
This performance is notable for the enthusiastic response from the audience.
Leonard Cohen – The Partisan (Caen 9/15/2010)
Video from TovaTre
Leonard Cohen Feted With Flowers, Candles, & Birthday Serenade At Marseille Concert
The audience at the September 21, 2010 Leonard Cohen Marseille concert paid tribute to the singer-songwriter on his 76th birthday with applause, flowers, candles, and song.
Leonard Cohen -Tower of Song (Marseille 09/21/2010)
The audience delays “Tower Of Song” with a spontaneous rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
Video from albertnoonan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F30CABcShOM
Candles Accompany Performance Of “Suzanne”
Leonard Cohen – Suzanne (Marseille 09/21/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Extreme Close Up Of “The Partisan” From The Marseille Concert
Leonard Cohen - Marseille (Screen Capture)
An Intimate View Of An Intense Leonard Cohen
As indicated by the title of this post and evidenced by the screen captures (click on images for best viewing) from the video, this is a particularly up close and personal view6 of Leonard Cohen singing “The Partisan” at the September 21, 2010 Marseille concert.
Leonard Cohen - Marseille (Screen Capture)
While videos with such a close perspective are too often no more than methodological or technological novelties, this recording of Cohen’s performance of “The Partisan” invites intimacy and effectively displays the concentration, intensity, and focus of a singer completely given over to his song.
Leonard Cohen – The Partisan (Marseille 9/21/2010)
Video from cohenadmirer1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUopENaUGIs
Superb Performances From The Leonard Cohen Lisbon Concert
The September 10, 2010 Lisbon show is proving to be an extraordinarily impressive demonstration of musical skills and showmanship, a phenomenon asdeguia, a correspondent who was in attendance at that show, convincingly attributes to the intense complicity between the band and the audience.
Leonard Cohen – Bird On A Wire (Lisbon 9/10/2010)
As evidence of the quality of the performances, Heck Of A Guy offers the video of “Bird On A Wire,” perhaps the song from the Leonard Cohen World Tour repertoire most sensitive to musicological nuances (for example, timing, tone, phrasing, …) and least forgiving of flaws.
The presentation of “Bird On A Wire” at Lisbon is a lapidary masterpiece.
Video from Actresspt
Leonard Cohen – The Future (Lisbon 9/10/2010)
“The Future” is a less vulnerable selection and is therefore less reliable than “Bird On A Wire” as a measure of quality. Its inclusion here, however, is fully justified by the on-demand flashing feet of Roscoe “Footloose” Beck just after the four minute mark.
Video from Actresspt
Leonard Cohen – In My Secret Life (Lisbon 9/10/2010)
I might have selected “In My Secret Life,” which just came online late yesterday, solely because it is a personal favorite, but the quality of the performance is overwhelming and unmistakable.
Video from Actresspt
Leonard Cohen – Dance Me to The End of Love (Lisbon 9/10/2010)
This performance of “Dance Me to The End of Love” is less moving than the preceding rendition of “In My Secret Life” (by my ear, at least) but Dino Soldo demonstrating his form on the hurdles as the band comes on stage provides sufficient added value to make this a worthy companion piece.
Video from Actresspt
Aloha, Marianne: Final Leonard Cohen Concerts Announced
The dates and locations of the last planned Leonard Cohen World Tour concerts follow:
December 4, 2010: Honolulu (Blaisdell Concert Hall)
December 8, 2010: Portland Oregon (Rose Quarter Theatre of the Clouds)
December 10, 2010: Las Vegas (The Colosseum at Caesars Palace)
December 11, 2010: Las Vegas (The Colosseum at Caesars Palace)
Signs Of Leonard Cohen In Florence
The juxtaposition of the Coop and Cohen ads on the well worn wall topped by barbed wire caught my eye. Photo by gallina.
Leonard Cohen Forgetting Is Unforgettable – Highlights From Wiesbaden And St Margarethen im Burgenland Concerts
Marianne – You make me forget so very much
One line into “So Long, Marianne,” Leonard Cohen blanks on the lyrics, uttering the classic “What the … .” He turns to Roscoe Beck (on bass) who whispers the words to him, but Cohen still doesn’t go on. With a smile on his face, he walks back to Beck, who sings the first lines to him. Cohen opts to omit the first verse, going directly into the chorus with the audience joyously joining in. He and the crowd seem equally taken by the words of the next verse:7
Well you know that I love to live with you,
but you make me forget so very much.
I forget to pray for the angels
and then the angels forget to pray for us. [emphasis mine]
Leonard Cohen – So Long, Marianne (Wiesbaden 9/3/2010)
Video from maryloo26
Chelsea Hotel #2 – The Deliberate, Very Slow Tempo Version
Leonard Cohen Chelsea Hotel #2 (St Margarethen-Burgenland 9/5/10)
Video from PaulZagreb
Shades Of Leonard Cohen
First, note that it is dark and that Leonard Cohen is wearing his sunglasses.8 He plays the one-handed instrumental solo – as he has on “Tower Of Song” since the Leonard Cohen Word Tour opened – and the crowd loudly cheers his effort o – as it has on “Tower Of Song” since the Leonard Cohen Word Tour opened. And, again as usual, Leonard Cohen thanks the audience. In this case, however, he pauses, lifts the glasses, and deadpans “Was that supposed to make me feel bad?”
Leonard Cohen – Tower Of Song (Wiesbaden 9/3/2010)
Video from Isegrimm48
Fireworks Following Leonard Cohen Concert (Wiesbaden 9/3/2010)
Video from Isegrimm48
Credit Due Department: Photo of Leonard Cohen with sunglasses by Michael Schick
Brilliant Photos Of Webb Sisters, Sharon Robinson In Florence
In addition to sterling performances, the September 1, 2010 Leonard Cohen Florence concert was also responsible for these striking shots of the Webb Sisters and Sharon Robinson, both taken by Paolo Brillo. Click on image for best viewing.
Charley and Hattie Webb - Florence 2010. Photo by Paolo Brillo.
Sharon Robinson - Florence 2010. Photo by Paolo Brillo.
These and other photos of the concert taken by Paolo Brillo are available at his Highway 61 Photostream. By going to the Leonard Cohen Set within that photostream, one can view exclusively those shots taken by that photographer at various Leonard Cohen shows.
Excellent Video: Hallelujah From The Helsinki Concert
Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah (Helsinki 8/10/2010)
Video from HasseNyman
Fabulous Photos Of 2010 Leonard Cohen World Tour In Odense, Berlin, and Gothenburg
Leonard Cohen - Photo by Marc Roed
These photos were taken by Marc Roed, who has many more photos available on his Facebook pages. Links to those albums are listed in the body of the section below; alternatively, one can find those albums through Marc Roed’s Facebook Photos.
Click on the images for best viewing.
Leonard Cohen Concert: Odense, Denmark 8/14/2010
Leonard Cohen - Photo by Marc Roed
Leonard Cohen - Photo by Marc Roed
Dino Soldo - Photo by Marc Roed
Leonard Cohen - Photo by Marc Roed
Leonard Cohen - Photo by Marc Roed
Leonard Cohen Concert: Berlin, Germany 8/18/2010
Leonard Cohen - Photo by Marc Roed
Leonard Cohen Concert: Gothenburg, Sweden 8/12/2010 – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Leonard Cohen - Photo by Marc Roed
Leonard Cohen - Photo by Marc Roed
Charley Webb, Hattie Webb, and Sharon Robinson - Photo by Marc Roed
Dino Soldo - Photo by Marc Roed
Sharon Robinson - Photo by Marc Roed
Rafael Goyal - Photo by Marc Roed
Sharon Robinson - Photo by Marc Roed
More Sights & Sounds From The Leonard Cohen Gent Concerts
Outstanding photos of the Gent venue (and the nifty 2008 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees jacket) by Hans Kloss and videos of performances at Gent fromalbertnoonan and bridgebud serendipitously surfaced just in time to serve as perfect complements to each other.
Click on photos for best viewing.
Leonard Cohen – Heart With No Companion (Gent – 8/22/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WejyLiSWc_w
Leonard Cohen – So Long Marianne (Gent – 8/20/2010)
Video from bridgebud
Leonard Cohen – Boogie Street (Gent – 8/22/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Leonard Cohen – In My Secret Life (Gent – 8/21/2010)
Video from bridgebud
The View At The Ghent Concerts
Click on images for best viewing.
Ghent concert stage with Our Lady of St Peter’s Church in background
Hattie Webb
Charley Webb
Rafael Gayol in action
Charley Webb, Hattie Webb, and Sharon Robinson
Credit Due Department: The photo atop this post and the shots of Leonard Cohen, Rafael Gayol, Hattie and Charley Webb, and Sharon Robinson are by Maarten Massa. The photo of the stage with Our Lady of St Peter’s Church in the background is from Notes From The Road
Stellar Photos From Leonard Cohen Zagreb Concert
Because of delays in obtaining posting permission, these shots of the July 25, 2010 Zagreb show are a bit belated. Nonetheless, these photos by Lenart J. Kucic are too good to forgo their enjoyment. There are more of these at his photostream. Specifically noteworthy is the picture showing Dino Soldo playing the Eigenharp Alpha. Click on photos for best viewing.
Javier Mas and Dino Soldo (on the Eigenharp Alpha)
Leonard Cohen Takes Berlin – Again – The August 18, 2010 Concert At Waldbühne
Leonard Cohen – First We Take Manhattan (Berlin 8/18/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRyqusXwXBs
Leonard Cohen – Lover, Lover, Lover (Berlin 8/18/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iPQpU98HRc
Outstanding Video – “Waiting For The Miracle” From Leonard Cohen Gothenburg Concert
Close-up Shots Capture Details Of Leonard Cohen Performance
Shot by coolcohen100, the videographer responsible for the similarly excellent Pristine Videos From Leonard Cohen Malmo Concert, this recording of “Waiting For The Miracle” from the August 12, 2010 Leonard Cohen Gothenburg concert features exceptional clarity, as evidenced by the unretouched9 screenshot atop this post(click on image for best viewing), and superb sound reproduction. coolcohen100′s forte, dramatically demonstrated in this and the Malmo videos, is the precisely focused close-up.
Leonard Cohen – Waiting For The Miracle (Gothenburg 8/12/2020)
Video from coolcohen100
Leonard Cohen Closes Helsinki Concert With “I Tried To Leave You” And Thank You To Jarkko
Leonard Cohen Expresses Gratitude To Jarkko & LeonardCohenFiles.com
That the final song of the August 10, 2010 Leonard Cohen Helsinki Concert was “I Tried To Leave You” was hardly a surprise. Nor were the solo performances by the band members and backup singers unexpected.
Unique to the Helsinki Concert, however, was Cohen’s acknowledgment, following the completion of “I Tried To Leave You,” of the significance of the role Jarkko Arjatsalo and his website, LeonardCohenFiles.com, played in keeping Cohen’s songs alive when his “voice wasn’t heard very often in very many places.”
Jarkko Arjatsalo - Helsinki Concert Screenshot
One gracious man publicly thanking another.
Way cool.
Leonard Cohen – I Tried To Leave You (Helsinki 8/10/2010)
Video from itriedtoleaveyou
Outstanding Photos And Videos From The Leonard Cohen August 10, 2010 Helsinki Concert
Leonard Cohen - Helsinki 2010. Photo by Vesa Tapiola
Some Leonard Cohen concerts feature inspired performance, enthusiastic audiences, and unique aspects (e.g., one time renditions of a version of a song, a special message to a particular crowd, or a thought invoked by the specific venue) but fail to grab the attention of the review-reading, video-viewing, picture-perusing fans not in attendance at the show.
Other stops on the Leonard Cohen World Tour, however, produce a plethora of arresting recordings and images. The August 8, 2020 Leonard Cohen Helsinki Concert falls into the latter category.
Click on photos for best viewing.
Leonard Cohen – Feels So Good (Helsinki 8/10/2010)
Video from HasseNyman
Leonard Cohen - Helsinki 2010. Photo by Maarten Massa
Closing Time - Helsinki 2010 (screen capture)
Leonard Cohen – Closing Time (Helsinki 8/10/2010)
Video from HasseNyman
Leonard Cohen and Bob Metzger - Helsinki 2010. Photo by Maarten Massa
Leonard Cohen - Helsinki 2010. Photo by Vesa Tapiola
Credit Due Department: The Helsinki photos posted above are, as indicated, by Maarten Massa and Vesa Tapiola for The Leonard Cohen Files and were selected from a gallery of 50 photos of the Helsinki concert.
I’m taken with the Helsinki photos of Leonard Cohen by Maarten Massa shown below. Some, especially those of the band members and backup singers, are among the best I’ve seen since the commencement of the 2010 tour. While he has graciously allowed these to be posted here, many other shots he took at the Helsinki show can be found at Leonard Cohen in Helsinki – Aug 10 2010: Part 1 and Part 2.
Leonard Cohen - Helsinki 2010
Javiar Mas
Sharon Robinson
Roscoe Beck
Dino Soldo
Bob Metzger
Hattie Webb
Charley Webb
Leonard Cohen - Helsinki 2010
First Video Of Leonard Cohen Playing The Hand Whistle
MaartenLC also provides a video treat from the Helsinki show – a 20 second video excerpt displaying Leonard Cohen’s hand whistling expertise.
Leonard Cohen – Hand Whistle Segment From Heart With No Companion (Helsinki 8/10/2010)
Video from MaartenLC
Videos From August 8, 2010 Leonard Cohen Stockholm Concert
This medley of performances from the Stockholm show offers the bonus of a great opening shot of the Stockholm Globe Arena set against the cityscape (see screenshot below – click on image to enlarge).
Leonard Cohen – Selections (Stockholm 8/8/2010)
Video from saivision
The following high quality video from the Stockholm concert was taken from an unusual and interesting angle.
Leonard Cohen – Sisters of Mercy (Stockholm 8/8/2010)
Video from remark008
Leonard Cohen Takes Malmo
The shot of the poster promoting local Cohen concerts is by Philip Young.
Up Close And Personal Video Of “Born In Chains”
Indeed, the clarity of this video, as demonstrated in the unretouched screen capture shown above, mandates its inclusion on the Best Of Leonard Cohen World Tour 2010 page.
Leonard Cohen – Born In Chains (Malmö Sweden 8/4/2010)
Video from coolcohen100
Leonard Cohen – Closing Time (Malmö, Sweden 08/04/2010)
Video from masunagajr
Introducing – Among Others – “The Master Of Musicians,” “My Old Friend,” And “The Incurable Roscoe Beck”
Leonard Cohen offers a particularly effusive and expanded set of band member introductions at the end of “Anthem” at the Malmo Concert. (Video automatically begins with Leonard Cohen’s introductions.)
Leonard Cohen – Anthem (Malmö, Sweden 8/4/2010)
Video from johnnyturnon
Leonard Cohen Recites Yeats, Performs “Singer Must Die” At Lissadell House, Sligo
Update: August 6, 2010
Because of the recent change in YouTube’s maximum length specification from 10 minutes to 15 minutes, Leonard Cohen’s Yeats recitation-Anthem performance can now be seen in its 12 minutes, 16 seconds entirety.
Viewing this version is a surprisingly different – and significantly improved – experience compared with watching the two segments individually.
The impact of the complete version is, in fact, stunning.
Leonard Cohen – Yeats Quote & Anthem (Lissadell House, Sligo (7/31/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
The recited lines are from the opening verse of “In Memory Of Eva Gore-Booth And Con Markiewicz” by William Butler Yeats.10
Tommy Morahan On The Leonard Cohen Lissadell House Concert, Sligo Ireland
Tommy Morahan publishes a blog called Morahan with this descriptive blurb:
Former Lecturer at San Francisco State University in Applied Media Aesthetics. Graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts at San Francisco State University, B.A. in Media Studies at USF, San Francisco. I use this space to express my analysis of media.
He posted one of the most impressive reviews of a Cohen concert I’ve found.11 I have excerpted a small portion to provide a sense of the piece but urge viewers to read the entire post at Leonard Cohen in Lissadell House, Sligo
Honest, hard working, creative, wise, energetic, and true are the words I would use to describe him [Leonard Cohen] now. His stage presence is up there with the greats. He needs no fanfare, no bells and whistles, no distractions; When Leonard Cohen comes on stage his performance engages and engulfs the audience.
This seventy-five year old Canadian performs for 3 and half hours with a fifteen minute break and gives it his all. His opening words were so honest, “Thank you friends for coming out tonight and because you did we want to be sure to give you everything.”
Leonard Cohen -A Singer Must Die (Lissadell House-Sligo, 7/31/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Outstanding Videos From Graz, Austria Concert
Graz posters photo by Majmunka
Leonard Cohen – Suzanne (Graz 7/28/2010)
Video from reimaja
Leonard Cohen – I’m Your Man (Graz 7/28/2010)
Video from Gigler13
Graz Concert photos by Maja.
First Public Performance Of “Born In Chains” By Leonard Cohen – Salzburg July 27, 2010
Photo via leonardcohen
Leonard Cohen – Born In Chains (Salzburg 7/27/2010)
Video from MaartenLC
Photo of rafters of Salzburg area via Notes From The Road.
Salzburg Concert photos (above) by Susanne from Switzerland.
Leonard Cohen World Tour – The 2010 Iteration
Leonard Cohen opens the 2010 Tour in Zagreb, Croatia. Full story at Leonard Cohen Zagreb Concert Opens 2010 Tour
Photo by Damir Kraja? / CROPIX
Superb Videos Of Ain’t No Cure For Love & Everybody Knows From Zagreb
As everybody – or at every ongoing reader – knows, LeonardCohenSearch has got Albert Noonan videos like a habit. Watching these four recordings from the July 25, 2010 Zagreb, Croatia concert reveals the reasons for this predilection.
The audio is excellent, the clarity high, and the view of the performances by Leonard Cohen and his musicians unequaled.
Leonard Cohen – Ain’t No Cure for Love (Zagreb 7/25/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Leonard Cohen – Everybody Knows (Zagreb 7/25/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Leonard Cohen –Hallelujah (Zagreb 7/25/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
Leonard Cohen –Take This Waltz (Zagreb 7/25/2010)
Video from albertnoonan
2010 Leonard Cohen World Tour Countdown – Equipment Truck Unloads
Preparation for the first concert of the 2010 Leonard Cohen World Tour in Zagreb, Croatia on July 25, 2010 passes another milestone with the unloading of the equipment used for the show.
The First Case Off The Truck
Video from All Night Shade
The First Case Off The Truck from All Day Shade on Vimeo.
Bonus: Another Hurdle Cleared
Boxes on the Deck
From video blurb: An hour into load-in and not a single speaker stack has been flown. Etienne Lapre gets to the bottom of the situation.
Video from All Night Shade
Boxes on the Deck from All Day Shade on Vimeo.
Originally posted at 2010 Leonard Cohen World Tour Countdown – Equipment Truck Unloads
Because of delays in obtaining posting permission, these shots of the July 25, 2010 Zagreb show are a bit belated. Nonetheless, these photos by <a href=”http://www.lenartkucic.net”>Lenart J. Kucic</a> are too good to forgo their enjoyment. There are more of these at his <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/22050666@N08/with/4829699881/”>photostream</a>.
<p style=”text-align: center;”><a href=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/4831696943_c24c8e6ff3_b.jpg”><img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-7785″ style=”border: 2px solid black;” title=”4831696943_c24c8e6ff3_b” src=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/4831696943_c24c8e6ff3_b.jpg” alt=”" width=”500″ height=”304″ /></a></p>
<p style=”text-align: center;”><a href=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/lc-zagreb3.jpg”><img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-7786″ style=”border: 2px solid black;” title=”lc-zagreb3″ src=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/lc-zagreb3.jpg” alt=”" width=”500″ height=”346″ /></a></p>
<p style=”text-align: center;”><a href=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/sharon-hattie.jpg”><img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-7784″ style=”border: 2px solid black;” title=”sharon-hattie” src=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/sharon-hattie.jpg” alt=”" width=”500″ height=”322″ /></a></p>
<p style=”text-align: center;”><a href=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/4833974422_8dd2f9ec91_b.jpg”><img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-7788″ style=”border: 2px solid black;” title=”4833974422_8dd2f9ec91_b” src=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/4833974422_8dd2f9ec91_b.jpg” alt=”" width=”500″ height=”375″ /></a></p>
<p style=”text-align: center;”></p>
Javier Mas and Dino Soldo (on the Eigenharp Alpha)
<p style=”text-align: center;”></p>
<p style=”text-align: center;”><a href=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/4833972972_53554a3596_b.jpg”><img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-7789″ style=”border: 2px solid black;” title=”4833972972_53554a3596_b” src=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/4833972972_53554a3596_b.jpg” alt=”" width=”500″ height=”660″ /></a></p>
<p style=”text-align: center;”><a href=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/4832305960_7b55ac0587_b.jpg”><img class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-7787″ style=”border: 2px solid black;” title=”4832305960_7b55ac0587_b” src=”http://1heckofaguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/4832305960_7b55ac0587_b.jpg” alt=”" width=”500″ height=”346″ /></a></p>
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- Webmaster of Arlene’s Leonard Cohen Scrapbook [↩]
- Webmaster of Speaking Cohen [↩]
- As far as I can determine, Cohen last performed “Night Comes On” in 1985, but I have not checked every concert and interview. If a reader knows of an official performance of this song by Leonard Cohen after 1985 and before Oct 29, 2010, please let me know. [↩]
- A detailed discussion of these lyrics was posted earlier at What Has Happened To Anal Sex In The Future? [↩]
- The lighting for the Cohen Concerts is an often overlooked aspect of the presentation. In this context, it is particularly notable because the same dramatic effects that are most compelling for the live audience can prove insurmountable obstacles to still photographers and videographers. [↩]
- I am at a loss to explain why none of the reviews and reports of this concert mentioned the videographer clinging to Cohen’s bolo tie as he shot this performance. [↩]
- This isn’t the first memory lapse for Cohen. In a 1969 Leonard Cohen performance in Germany, he forgot the lines to “Suzanne” and substituted an improvisation, “I’m The Man Who Wrote Suzanne.” [↩]
- Good Clean Wholesome Fun has been accumulating images that feature sunglasses associated with Leonard Cohen. This collection may be viewed at Collected Shades Of Leonard Cohen. [↩]
- More precisely, the screenshot is unretouched other than cropping done to generate a graphic of optimal size for the format of the post. [↩]
- In Memory Of Eva Gore-Booth And Con Markiewicz
By William Butler Yeats
The light of evening, Lissadell,
Great windows open to the south,
Two girls in silk kimonos, both
Beautiful, one a gazelle.
But a raving autumn shears
Blossom from the summer’s wreath;
The older is condemned to death,
Pardoned, drags out lonely years
Conspiring among the ignorant.
I know not what the younger dreams -
Some vague Utopia – and she seems,
When withered old and skeleton-gaunt,
An image of such politics.
Many a time I think to seek
One or the other out and speak
Of that old Georgian mansion, mix
pictures of the mind, recall
That table and the talk of youth,
Two girls in silk kimonos, both
Beautiful, one a gazelle.Dear shadows, now you know it all,
All the folly of a fight
With a common wrong or right.
The innocent and the beautiful.
Have no enemy but time;
Arise and bid me strike a match
And strike another till time catch;
Should the conflagration climb,
Run till all the sages know.
We the great gazebo built,
They convicted us of guilt;
Bid me strike a match and blow. [↩] - I should offer a disclaimer. I can read only those reviews written in English. Most of the reviews in 2010 have, appropriately, been written in a language other than English. Google translation, although as good or better than any other computer-driven translation device I’ve found, can transform even the most erudite and profound essays into gibberish or unintentional comedy. Consequently, I may have missed outstanding reviews for no other reason than they were written in Finnish, Croatian, Swedish, German, … [↩]
