leonardcohenforum.com

IrishAL wrote:Sunday Night.


First we Take Manhattan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1GPMwhsgDY

enjoy

albert

Fantastic! Do you have a Steadicam or just nerves of steel, Al? My videos at this stage of the night look like they have been taken by a small child who has forgotten their ADHD medication!

If you were ever to hear G-d speak, I'm sure he would sound just like Leonard Cohen.

Thanks from me to everyone for such great reports.
I just missed out on being able to nip over to Ireland - but all of this makes such good reading and it is so wonderful to hear what fantastic times everyone has had - and what great gigs they were
I shall keep reading as it all comes in.
Happy days

A
x

http://www.irishcentral.com/ent/Leonard ... 29359.html

This article talks about LC's changing area for the concert and the wonderful thing that was done just for for him.
(in part)

Lissadell House had been closed to the public in recent times due to an ongoing right-of-way dispute. Though they are still awaiting a ruling from the High Court a decision was made to keep the house and the Yeats exhibition open for the rest of the summer season.

Knowing that Cohen is a fan of Yeat’s poetry much of the exhibition, including letters, was on show in his changing area. He commented “I could get used to this."

On Sunday the singer took officially opened the Yeat’s exhibition. In the visitor’s book he signed "Leonard Cohen, Montreal" and under comments: "sublime".

John Reynolds has just been on the Joe Duffy Show on RTE radio. When Joe Duffy asked him how LC chills out before a concert he answered: "He doesn't need to chill out. He's the coollest man on the planet". I doubt if anyone will contradict him.
Best wishes to all I met and didn't meet on Saturday and Sunday.

P.S. There was a hint in John Reynold's voice that this would not be the last LC concert at Lissadell. I don't want to get your hopes up. Listen for yourselves on RTE/Player. (Most of what went before was giving out about the buses etc. Skip that bit until about 25 minutes in)There will be a lot of negotiating to do.

I dont think they should use Lissadel again, it worked reasonably ok for this weekend and was special because of the Westlife homecoming and Leonard. Perhaps POD concerts should consider a larger venue that is more accessible for everyone, Thomond Park for example, and have Leonard headlining acts that relate to him, Martha Wainright, Kris Kristof, Judy etc, the list is endless. Turn it into a Cohen inspired festival of song, dance and rock and roll. Now that would be fantastic. Open the gates at 10am and music starts at 12pm till midnight. The fringe festival alone would be great for local artists and performers.

bridger15 wrote:from Twitter: Emccso
Leaving the Pier Hotel Mullaghmore on the way to Knock Airport (12 minutes ago)

lOVELY PICTURE OF THIS GREAT MAN LEAVING THIS BEAUTILFUL PLACE! What a sendoff
he got., people lining his way to the bus! It was like a 'Family' saying Good bye to a loved-one
on their way travelling overseas. I hope he did not feel too 'intimidated' by it all!

Still on a High after this brilliant weekend!

JosieCyberspace

I was at Lissadell on Saturday and words cannot describe how fantastic it was. I just want to say thanks again for the ticket link. We got Block A row M - the closest we've ever gotten to the great man and were blown away by him once again.

kieron wrote:I dont think they should use Lissadel again

(Maybe the mods should open a new thread about "LC coming back to Ireland?" )

I just want to post this reminder that LC requested that he would like to perform in different places. (There is an article quote somewhere on this Forum about that.) As inconvenient or unsuitable as someone might think a concert venue is, including myself on occasion, if that concert site is what LC wants, then that is good enough for me.

My second attempt to put on 'paper' my concert experience. Thanks to Bartleby for selling me his spare ticket to Lissadell. I wouldn't have been there only for you. I collected LadiDi and ScottM at the Radisson and we headed to the venue around 4.30, arriving at 5.00pm which was really quick. While my bag hadn't been searched on Saturday the security did a check this time which was good, it felt a bit strange to think that there was no security the previous day. I noticed more of a Garda presence as well on Sunday. Also, on Saturday the builders were working on the tiered seating (I'm guessing to tighten up any loose bolts after the Westlife concert) which meant that you were stuck on one side of the site while others were on the other side. That didn't happen on Sunday. The sun was shining and it was lovely and hot and by the time we'd got a drink, had a chat, met the others, taken our pictures at least 20 times, the time til show time flew by. It was nicer than on Saturday with less rain and slightly warmer. The atmosphere up by the food stands was especially nice, with people having drinks including and food on the grass, all just chilling out and enjoying the view of the house and the sea which was a lovely blue. I finally found where the oysters were on offer but didn't partake.

Well, concert time came and I retreated from the front of stage back to Block B. I saw Gerry Adams trying to find his seat which was further up the section than mine but overall Block B was a bit of a circus!! While the sound was good up there and there was a most wonderful view of Benbluben with the clouds coming over it I couldn't believe the numbers of people still trying to find their seats coming to the end of the first half. The staff had done their best to show people where to go but they had to take down the signs detailing where to find seating when the show started because they were blocking the view of the stage, which lead to chaos. Then you had people going down to the bar area to get pints, coming back up, then going down again to go to the toilets, it was shocking that that number of people were constantly on the move. The two ladies in front of me kept talking, and they didn't know Born in Chains, so talked through the whole of it. In the end I had to ask them to please stop, so by half time I was pretty frazzled. Musically I actually gasped when he went to sing Chelsea Hotel, I'd not heart it before and I hadn't heard Heart With No Companion since Liverpool last year and there were both a treat.

I was so so soooo fortunate that the couple that were sitting next to ScottM and his wife in Block A had left at half time!!!and so very kindly, they offered it to me. Wasn't I glad that I'd agreed to give them a lift to Lissadel!!! So the other seat went to Tinderella and it was a wonderful second half. I could see and hear The Man and not have loads of people constantly walking over and back. I loved LC's quip when the crowd applauded his keyboard solo during Tower of Song, 'Ah, thank you, music lovers.'"!! Mutti had brought little glow sticks and had given them out to all of us, to be used during Hallelujah, when the time came we all cracked them to make them light up. Ok so I couldn't find mine in the bottom of my over stuffed handbag and so for a while there I was waving my lip gloss at LC... but eventually I found mine as well and it was such a joyous Hallelujah, and we 'Sing so pretty'!. I could see the band and LC looking at them, very cool. I'd love to know the code for the hand signals that LC uses to indicate things to Roscoe, he used one during Hallelujah. I'm guessing its whatever is coming next? I think it was during 'So Long Marianne' when everyone was singing along or it might have been soon after it, LC gave an off the cuff remark saying 'Ah you sure know how to hook a guy.'" and he really beamed. He also recited A Thousand Kisses Deep as well and it was great to calm the crowd down as we were getting if I dare say it, a little rowdy! FOUR encores later (one which was kicked off by an enormous skip onto the stage, I thought he was going to fall over!) and it was all over, absolutely amazing. What was lovely was that not only did we sing along to the chorus of Hallelujah and So Long Marianne the crowd sang the verses too and I think this happened with other songs as well.

Meeting with all the 'gang' after the gig was great, which gave the traffic a chance to clear, if only a little. Having been to Slane and having waited for over 2 hours just to get out of the car park I was prepared for a similarly long wait so was pleasantly surprised when it took around an hour and a half to get out. I was glad on both nights that I hadn't decided to get the bus. It was raining after the concert on the first night and I know some people were directed to the wrong car parks and had really long walks to and from. Also because the cars were going out, buses couldn't get in and when they went to turn in the field they got stuck in the mud. At least if you are waiting in the car, its dry and you can have the heater on!!! was amazed at the lack of stewarding, or staking of the field to show where to go. it meant everyone just drove at the exit from every direction which itself creates tailbacks. The other problem was the toilets, there were just far far too few. I counted just 60 for a crowd of 10,000. That and to keep the queue moving one way into the toilets and one way out would have been a distinct advantage because the queue ended up almost blocking the main paths to get around. Overall I don't think the organizers did that badly, narrow roads are narrow roads and if they'd just one car park it would have been overfull but you never really know how things will work out until you actually do it.

Saturday night of the two nights was my favourite. while I found Sunday to be a joyous night, I was really moved by Saturday nights performance. It was like looking at Leonard Cohen performing in the 70's (and of course I was but a twinkle in someones eye at that time.) He's so intensely in the music and seems to put everything he has into each word which in turn moves our affections. I can't imagine how wonderful it must be for those of you who have followed his career for many years and have seen him perform when he was in the midst of serious depression and struggling because it is so wonderful to see him now. He's transformed, the burden 'having been lifted'! Wonderful!!

JosieCyberspace here:-

Just giving my "Report"/thoughts on this Wonderful/Magic Concert at the Weekend!

I am still on a High over it all!., It began by being so moved., walking through the Woods of this Historic Site.,
to this Concert this great man/artist/poet., I sat with a glass of champagne to celebrate my luck, high
at being here in anticipation before he came on in stage.,

And what a treat!...his presence/words of introduction set the scene on what was a lovely mist..ical evening.,
on the Saturday Concert... in Lissadell. The weather even held up!

I simply had to get up and Waltz to his wonderful rendition of Take This Waltz., I glided across the floor
at the side with somebody., I know the Security were strict! but were not so bad to me!

His new songs., were a great Surprise., and added bonus., I could go on an on., but all of you there
already know how it was.

I think it was a Magical evening again for me.,, very like Kilmainham, I preferred it to O2 Concert
of last Year! maybe it/s the outdoor., lovely surroundings/natural lighting help create this ambiance.

Of course Leonard's songs and words with the Musical brilliance of Roscoe, Neil, Rafael, Javier,
Dino, and of course Sharon, and the Webb sisters., were pristine as always., Anything I say
here cannot even begin to touch on how they all are!

I managed to stay at the Beach Hotel across the road from The Pier Head Hotel where this great
man and his band were on the Sunday night., and of course I tried in vain to get to meet him.
I could not believe I was staying in a place so near to where this great Man was also staying.

However I did get some lovely photos with some of his wonderful Band and Singers.,
and a lot of us got to meet and talk to Roscoe., who signed my Programme., I will treasure
this always! They like Leonard are so unassuming charming it was a great priviliage
to get to meet and get a photo with them.

As he left the Pier Head., a crowd of almost 100 had gathered., and formed a 'guard of honour'
from the Hotel Door to his Coach., You will all have probably seen the pics.
I was just inches away from him.., never got to meet him or get a photo
(met some people who did and were completely overcome) I could almost swear
he looked at me, which was enough.,

My last picture of him is looking back out of the coach at us all with his laughing eyes and
big smile beaming., and he put his two hands together to us in a praying gesture., I have
got a photo of this., which did not come out so good through the window., but I blew him
kisses back., I was completely overcome., it was like being in the prescence of a great
Messiah/Guru/Healing person. Sorry if I go on a bit., this is how it was for me as
a fan of his which was my experience that I wanted to share with others.

The newspapers/media reports have been brilliant as people have already reported.

I do hope he takes with him special memories of his time amoung us in Sligo.

Our hearts here are gone on Tour with Leonard and his Band as he continues his
journey across the rest of Europe for the Summer and Autumn 2010.

I was 'weak in the presence of greatness/beauty' this whole weekend.

Your Fan Forever....Josiecyberspace

somewhat_nifty wrote:

IrishAL wrote:Sunday Night.


First we Take Manhattan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1GPMwhsgDY

enjoy

albert

Fantastic! Do you have a Steadicam or just nerves of steel, Al? My videos at this stage of the night look like they have been taken by a small child who has forgotten their ADHD medication!

@ Somewhatnifty No SteadyCam just VERY tense Shoulders.

John Reynolds said that it was the longest concert so far. We were priviliged in every way!

jdhayes wrote:John Reynolds has just been on the Joe Duffy Show on RTE radio. When Joe Duffy asked him how LC chills out before a concert he answered: "He doesn't need to chill out. He's the coollest man on the planet". I doubt if anyone will contradict him.
Best wishes to all I met and didn't meet on Saturday and Sunday.

P.S. There was a hint in John Reynold's voice that this would not be the last LC concert at Lissadell. I don't want to get your hopes up. Listen for yourselves on RTE/Player. (Most of what went before was giving out about the buses etc. Skip that bit until about 25 minutes in)There will be a lot of negotiating to do.

OMG I hope that is true!!!!!! I'll be checking that out myself!

On another note my review has being published on an online music magazine who I've written reviews for before. See it here:

http://www.drop-d.ie/archives/10013

BTW I'm still on a high. So much so I'm going to go to the gig in Katowice on October 4th! Anyone want to join me?

@ IrishAl - you really should have had a massage in the Radisson!

@burningviolin - lovely report, wish I could have been there on the sunday night too...