Leonard Cohen @ The Paramount, Oakland 04/15/09

[El Dingo]

The Paramount is a grand, art-deco piece of history that is a feast for the eyes both in form and function. The elaborately paneled ceilings, the glowing emerald sculpture, sparkling chandeliers and polished mahogany furniture transport you back to the days of top hats and speakeasies.

The venue is perfect for a performer like Leonard Cohen. He and his band were decked out in suits and ties, fedoras and suspenders. It's 1948 all over again baby.

When he took the stage the house erupted into an incredibly loud standing ovation. It has been 15 years since he last toured or, as he put it, 'when he was a just a young kid of 60 with a crazy dream'.



He powered through his hits for 3 hours with just a short 15 minute break. 'Halleleuja', 'Take This Waltz', 'The Future', 'Democracy is Coming', 'Bird on a Wire' and of course the inevitable 2nd Encore 'First We Take Manhattan'.

Hi baritone was strong as ever, and the few times he spoke (to introduce his band or recite 'A Thousand Kisses Deep') revealed a speaking voice that would shame James Earl Jones'.

The band was fanatasic. Leonard made sure each of the 10 member had a solo or featured performance. While they played he would place his hat over his herat and stare at them in rapt attention, forcing the audience to follow his gaze.

My single complaint is that the Paramount balcony seats (like The Warfield and Coach class on airplanes) were designed for small children and amputees. It didn't help that the 50-year old couple in front of me kept making out like crazy and banging my knee with their arms.

I'm grateful that I got the chance to see the man live, and in such a fantastic environment.

[Drunk Monk]

Was it your first time to see him?

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Isn't that a photo of Scott Bakula in "Quantum Leap"?

[El Dingo]

Yes this was my first Leonard Cohen show.

I first heard 'Halleleujah' in 'Shrek'. They used the cover by John Cale. Oddly enough the OST on CD used the cover by Rufus Wrainwright. This is where it gets weird.

From Wiki:
Although John Cale's version was used in the film Shrek itself, his version did not feature in the movie soundtrack album, Shrek: Music from the Original Motion Picture. Canadian musician Rufus Wainwright recorded a version similar to Cale's, also using piano, and his version was used on the soundtrack album.[8] The Shrek soundtrack, containing Wainwright's cover, was certified in the United States as double platinum in 2003 by achieving sales of over two million copies.

The weird part is that the versions of the soundtrack now feature the John Cale version.

Anyway - being a fan of John Cale I searched for the song he was inspired enough to cover. Leonard's music was dark, melodic and pretentious. Everything I look for in music. Anyone who can sing :

Give me crack and anal sex
Take the only tree that's left
and stuff it up the hole
in your culture
Give me back the Berlin wall
give me Stalin and St Paul
I've seen the future, brother:
it is murder.

And attract 3 nights of sold out Paramount shows for 40 year old+ audiences is OK with me.

[The Queen]

Isn't that a photo of Scott Bakula in "Quantum Leap"?

I thought it was Richard Belzer (Homicide, Law & Order SVU). :oops:

[thatguy]

If you missed him:

Leonard Cohen
HP Pavilion At San Jose
San Jose, CA
Fri, 11/13/09

On Sale 08/10/09

--tg