CONCERT REPORT: Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo, September 17

Europe and Israel (July 1 - September 24, 2009). Concert reports, set lists, photos, media coverage, multimedia links, recollections...
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sturgess66
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CONCERT REPORT: Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo, September 17

Post by sturgess66 »

Pre-concert notice in eitb.com

http://www.eitb.com/news/entertainment/ ... -thursday/
Stellar comeback year
Leonard Cohen performs at Bilbao Exhibition Centre on Thursday

E. S. - published …ago 17 hours | eitb.com |

The town of Barakaldo, Biscay, will be hosting one of the most important concerts of the season.
Coachella.jpg
Coachella.jpg (34.65 KiB) Viewed 16659 times
Leonard Cohen at Coachella Festival. Photo: EITB

Bilbao's BEC was chosen by Leonard Cohen as one of the venues for the Canadian's current European tour.

The singer, poet, and songwriter represents the quintessential marriage of extraordinary artistry and sharp, poignant intellect. Cohen is equally an outstanding poet and novelist compared to the likes of James Joyce or Henry Miller. It was not until 1967, when Cohen was well into his thirties, that he released his debut album, The Songs of Leonard Cohen; by this time he was an internationally celebrated writer, and so it is that same literary base which elevates Cohen's musical work to the heights of genius.

His work, concerning novels, poems, or songs, often deals with the exploration of religion, isolation, sexuality and complex interpersonal relationships.

The premises will be converted into a kind of theatre for the gig's date on September 17th at 9.30 pm. There are still tickets available on http://www.ticktackticket.com, http://www.ticketmaster.es or 902 15 00 25 phone number. The gig has been organised by Basque promoter Get In.
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tomsakic
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Vizkaya, September 17

Post by tomsakic »

Nobody from the Forum went to this show? We need somebody to confirm the setlist at least...:)
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sturgess66
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Vizkaya, September 17

Post by sturgess66 »

I wish I had been there.* :lol: :lol: :lol:


*(I say that about all of them.)
Last edited by sturgess66 on Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:32 am, edited 3 times in total.
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sturgess66
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Vizkaya, September 17

Post by sturgess66 »

Here is some video on YouTube from "deberiafuncionar"

Everybody Knows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_qPLvTbF8A

Dance Me to the End Of Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qVBxW5PGbk

Bird On A Wire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG004HNpZrY
Last edited by sturgess66 on Sun Oct 04, 2009 2:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
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tomsakic
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Vizkaya, September 17

Post by tomsakic »

I couldn't find it. That's because itinerary says VIZKAYA as the name of town so I was writing down it in "search". It's an arena, the city was Bilbao? Or Barakaldo? Is it Vizkaya or Bizkaia, the name of the province? (in Castellano or Basque language?)...

The arena is also Bizkaia Arena, not Vizkaya: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bizkaia_Arena According to Wikipedia, it's located in Barakaldo, which is part of Bilbao metropolitan area.

So I changed the name of the topic into "Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo".
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tomsakic
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo, September 17

Post by tomsakic »

Famous Blue Raincoat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tod2U6scLc
Suzanne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8y4IXIFEmQ

Upped by rockandrollfirstline.
Bilbao
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo, September 17

Post by Bilbao »

Tom and all:
I was there. Deeply moved, after all those long years waiting to see Leonard live. Couldn't believe it.
The venue took place at the BEC (Bilbao Exhibition Centre). The BEC, after almost 40 years, has been recently moved from Bilbao to a nearby town called Barakaldo, but it's still called Bilbao Exhibition Center. Bizkaia Arena is the official name of the hall, but nobody calls it by its name :lol: . And both Bilbao and Barakaldo belong to the province of Bizkaia/Vizcaya. It's a bit confusing, I hope you could find more info now.
And yessss!!! the concert was awesome :shock: . Leonard jumping and moving and kneeling down all across the stage. And his voice: deeper than ever and surprisingly "young". The band was excellent (Javier Mas, a crack!), and so was the sound from the very first minute.
We were lucky enough to get three long encores, with the whole hall standing up, waving, clapping, singing along, dancing and shouting out loud to Leonard "We love you!" "Thank you" and "¡Guapo, guapo, guapo!" ("Handsome", quite surprising, isn't it? :lol: ) Leonard seemed happy as well.
I took several photos (not very good) just to remember those moments. You can find them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11807617@N ... 417450658/
I've been waiting all my life for this. I needed a proof to be sure it was not a dream.
hazey
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo, September 17

Post by hazey »

Hello,

I went to this show. The setlist was almost the same as the one in BCN. The only difference was that The Flood was not recited before Anthem. Can anyone, please, confirm this ?
1988 : Madrid / 2008 : London O2 Jul 17 / 2009: Madrid, Bilbao / 2010: Lisboa, Tours / 2012: Paris 2x, Madrid, Lisboa / 2013: Paris, Roma, Brighton
Lumi2414
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo, September 17

Post by Lumi2414 »

Bilbao,

Your photos are absolutely AMAZING! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!
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sturgess66
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo, September 17

Post by sturgess66 »

From "marigoldsilver" on YouTube -

Leonard Cohen skipping off stage in Bilbao , Spain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6PShZEZBQs
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo, September 17

Post by Bilbao »

Thank you, Lumi2414 for your kind comments on my photos. Glad you enjoyed them.

And, copied below, two reviews on the Bilbao's gig (in spanish, you can translate them on Google Translator just copy-pasting the url)

http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/ ... 90919.html

http://www.elcorreodigital.com/vizcaya/ ... 90918.html
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sturgess66
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo, September 17

Post by sturgess66 »

More video from this show - by EiTB.com. I think that is a media site in Spain?

Dance Me To The End of Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k0vHywqztE
Last edited by sturgess66 on Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
Nasio
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo, September 17

Post by Nasio »

EiTB is the Basque public TV and radio broadcaster.

In the 80's they broadcasted the LC show in San Sebastian with subtitles. I knew and liked Cohen's music by then, but was overwhelmed by the beauty and depth of the lyrics. (My Engish was'nt great then...)

I recorded it in a Beta video tape, which must be rotten by now. Pity I don't have a copy now... At least it served a function.

Thanks, EitB!

BR/

Ignacio
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: Bizkaia Arena, Barakaldo, September 17

Post by Nasio »

I correct: the San sebastian show, (1988) was broadcasted by TVE (Spanish public broadcaster).

Thanks TVE....

BR/

Ignacio
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