CONCERT REPORT: Antwerp, Belgium, June 23, 2013

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veerles
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CONCERT REPORT: Antwerp, Belgium, June 23, 2013

Post by veerles »

I couldn't be there in Ghent last year as I was, like every year during summe,r on my favourite Greek island and I suppose Mr Cohen knows better than anybody else how magic those islands can be....
But I managed to be at the concert, yesterday in Antwerp and at the end even very close to the stage. Beside the gorgeous music and the magic voice, I was impressed by the atmosphere and the positive and serene energy which was send towards the audience by the whole band but especially by the master himself.
I am a fan since I first heard his music as a toddler on the room of my uncle. And it was only now that I attended for the first time one of his concerts. What a shame....
Efcharisto poli, bedankt Leonard, musicans and choral singers , for the magic concert during a full moon evening in Antwerp.
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TineDoes
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by TineDoes »

A lovely report Veerles. Thank you. Hope you will be able to see many more concerts. Rotterdam 18th september maybe?
I was also very very lucky to be right up in front, so close,.... only space and sound between the band and me. Mr. Cohen, as all of the band members, was in great form. The energy, dedication and obvious pleasure radiated out to us.
They, untypical, were slightly late in starting. But once started.... they really did give it their all. They do this every time as if it is their first time. The songs and how they are sung let us experience every possible emotion during the concert; dark sadness, uplifting joy, total reverence, flirtatious gayness and much much more. I just didn't want it to end.
For me the highlights were (the whole concert was one huge highlight :D) Everybody knows, Lover lover lover, Darkness, Amen, Suzanne, Waiting for the miracle, Alexandra Leaving, the Partisan and all the encores with us almost against the stage. After the break Leonard Cohen asked for the house lights to be turned on again so that people could find their seats ;-) "Nothing more dismal than to have to play to an empty hall" (Maybe not an exact quote). Mr Cohen seems more and more at ease on the stage; his voice gets better and better, deeper and deeper. The Antwerp audience was really wonderful. The concert ended with I tried to Leave You, even after Closing Time and the good wishes for a safe journey home.
Oh Joy!
"There’s no forsaking what you love ...."

Rotterdam 2008; Antwerpen, Dublin 2009; Gent 2x, Lille , Las Vegas 2x 2010, Gent, Amsterdam, Dublin 2x 2012, Antwerp, Berlin, Rotterdam 2013
yoeri
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by yoeri »

the actual quote was something like: "turn back the lights on so people can find their seats."
and then: "thank you for coming back. it would have been really depressing if I came running back on stage finding an empty room."
2008: Athens
2009: Madrid
2010: Gent, Lille
2012: Gent, Berlin, Madrid
2013: Antwerp, Brussels, Pula, Amsterdam
6mp8
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by 6mp8 »

Does anyone remember exactly what Leonard said during the encore, before he left us? It's the middle bit I'm having trouble remembering...
'May you be surrounded all your life by people who care for you, and, if that isn't your luck (?), may the blessings find you in your solitude'.

Anyway, it was lovely.
mary emma
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by mary emma »

I think that would be "if that isn't your lot"
6mp8
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by 6mp8 »

That sounds much more like it, thanks.
HelenOE
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by HelenOE »

I was not, of course, in Antwerp, so I am rather hesitant to offer this, but still: a slightly cleaned-up Google translation of a concert review from concertnews.be I don't know Dutch, all I could do was shove the words around into a more English order and take my best guess when certain bits weren't making sense. I welcome corrections from anyone reading who does know Dutch.
"Live in London" has been in the CD collection several years now. And although Leonard Cohen still sounded pretty good during this concert, that recording is four years old and so the man is gradually approaching the age of 79 years. We also had our reservations when we pulled into the Arena for the "Old Ideas World Tour". It would not be the first time we saw an artist at work for whom the expiration date had already passed. But what we got to see and hear exceeded all expectations. We were faced with a charming, active artist who was surrounded by talented musicians and out of respect for his audience divulged the very best of himself. And just as the master took off his hat for his own musical companions, we had to take our hat off to this singing poet. He was on stage more than three hours to treat his fans to delicious versions of his greatest hits including "Dance me to the end of love", "Suzanne", "Hallelujah", "So Long, Marianne", and some of his songs from "Old Ideas". It was more than three hours of pure enjoyment.
A little after eight o'clock Leonard Cohen came onstage along with his musicians and the show was going with "Dance me to the end of love". The backing vocals were sung gently and were soon joined by guitar and violin. The stage shrouded in a red glow, grandfather Cohen sat on his knees and sang his ballad. Violinist Alexandru Bublitchi was shown a bow for the first time when he conjured wondrous sounds from his instrument during a solo. And while the first song was handled at a leisurely pace, we made a number of important determinations: the sound adjustment was fine, the musicians were top notch, the show was expertly portrayed on big screens at the edge of the stage, Leonard Cohen clearly had meaning and he was perfectly intelligible.
During "Bird on the wire" Mitch Watkins came to life on his electric blues guitar and we first witnessed the deepest regions of Leonard Cohen's voice. We could almost feel it vibrate. In our belly. Simply delicious. Javier Mas' bandurria gave an extra melancholic touch during this song and Neil Larson was an appropriate solo on the organ. And no, no electronic sound of a synthesizer, but the round, full sound of a real organ.

The smartest intro was undoubtedly that of "Who by fire". The stage was darkened, the red cloth and a soft spot seemed to have guitarist Javier Mas in hand when he took his twelve string archilaud and the Sportpaleis then filled with fairytale, Arabic sounds. (For all those people who had never heard of an archilaud and thought it was a guitar, be comforted: we thought so too) As the intro progressed, the intensity and virtuosity of the playing increased, the red cloth disappeared and the spot on Javier was increasingly fierce. There was clearly a lot of care in the light show. Just before Leonard Cohen started with the singing of the song, he gave his musicians plenty of space to take well deserved applause. It was indeed very striking how Leonard Cohen always took off his hat out of respect when one of his musicians played a solo.
Come healing, " a song from Cohen’s latest album, also left a deep impression. Alexandru Bublitchi opened on violin and soon Charley and Hattie Webb joined in. Their high, two-part vocal was reminiscent of angels singing and contrasted sharply with the deep, dark voice of Leonard Cohen. And yet the combination of these two seemingly contradictory sounds made this soft gospel into a very beautiful whole.

The first half ended with "Anthem". Leonard Cohen threw himself back on his knees to bring it. Interweaving of poetry, song and prayer with the right feeling. And the more positive the content of the song was, the more light shone on the stage. Then there was the last time "That's how the light gets in." The stage bathed in light and it was again time for all musicians to leave the stage.
At a quarter to ten the second half of the concert was about to begin. Leonard Cohen was cheerfully skipping onto the stage. But when he found that there are a lot of people looking for their seat, he asked for the house lights to come up a bit. He was indeed happy with their return. Or as he said it himself: "Thank you for coming back. It would have been very depressing if I come back up the stage and there would be no more people. "The guy obviously had a sense of humor and showed it again a few minutes later when the audience applauded loudly when he himself played a few notes on a keyboard. "Do you think this is the only thing that I can do on this machine?" When the reaction from the audience confirmed this suspicion, he promptly went to play music with his elbows. He defended himself with: "I was born with the gift of a golden voice". A statement that he was a little later to illustrate with the now legendary "Suzanne." To the delight of his audience

It was a very simple arrangement with only minimal musical accompaniment. This version was located on the border between song and poetry recitation. It was striking how a well filled Sportpaleis was listening carefully in utter silence. A silence that was just added to the gentle whisper of the text. It was indeed remarkable how the whole performance was listened intensely to the lyrics. Leonard Cohen is not exactly known for his exuberant concerts and that was clearly appreciated. The fans also effectively took the trouble to remain silent during the songs and that made a real added value.
Heart with no companion" caused some country atmosphere and so brought a much needed change in style.

The best song of the second half, perhaps along with "Hallelujah", was "The partisan". Leonard Cohen himself played the acoustic guitar and the musician was further surrounded by accordion, bass and bandurria. And although the sober, slow consonance of these instruments could tempt us, it was still very especially the text and the emotion with which it was charged which moved us. The images of the soldier who loses everything in the madness of war suddenly came to life in our heads. The fact that part of the text was also sung in French only made it stronger. We were truly impressed and to hear the applause we were not alone.
That "Take this waltz" would not be the last song of the show was predictable. Leonard and his musical friends threw "So Long, Marianne" against it, which by the way was nicely sung, and still had time for "Going home". In this last song he sang about the encounter with himself. The text is full of self-perspective and went to the public like hot cakes. Leonard Cohen secured himself a big applause seamlessly passed into the clapping on "First we take Manhattan". Was this the end then? It was finally after eleven o'clock.

Grandpa Cohen was not finished and went tirelessly. Full of energy he brought some songs to end up with the appropriate title: "I tried to leave you". The musicians all got a solo and applause and eventually everyone could go home happy.

Leonard Cohen had managed to pleasantly surprise us and we were pleased that we had gone to see this living legend at work. Whoever has missed that opportunity, maybe try again on June 30 at Forest National.

<Sascha Siereveld>
iris
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by iris »

Thank you so much Helen Oe! I was there and I could not have told it in a better way, great experience as it was.
here is your love for all this
2008 amsterdam/rotterdam, 2009 antwerpen, 2010 gent/dortmund, 2012 gent/amsterdam, 2013 antwerpen/oberhausen/rotterdam/amsterdam
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jarkko
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by jarkko »

I have posted a selection of the best concert photos from Antwerp by Nick de Baerdemaeker
http://cohen.1g.fi/kuvat/ANTWERP,+JUNE+23,+2013/

Nick is a professional photographer, and had a photo pass to the concert.
The photographers are allowed to take pictures only during the first song,
and then they will be escorted outside. There was no time to cover all band
members, but he has great shots of Sharon, Charlie, Hattie, Javier, and Alex.
1988, 1993: Helsinki||2008: Manchester|Oslo|London O2|Berlin|Helsinki|London RAH|| 2009: New York Beacon|Berlin|Venice|Barcelona|Las Vegas|San José||2010: Salzburg|Helsinki|Gent|Bratislava|Las Vegas|| 2012: Gent|Helsinki|Verona|| 2013: New York|Pula|Oslo|||
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sturgess66
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by sturgess66 »

There is a lot of good video for the show.

Uploaded by Thomas Delbecque – Thanks!

Sisters of Mercy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbKi6s11yEo
Hallelujah
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnHt4ONZxFg
The Partisan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qe47mkJ92k

************

Uploaded by • MaartenLC – Thanks!

Tower of Song – Intro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeWxAW7l2iQ

*********************

Uploaded by Hagar1621 – Thanks!

If It Be Your Will
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0Zu-zA_m4s
Suzanne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS9ZfH4RjB4
So Long Marianne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pz1D7w25U0

********************

Uploaded by Ingrid Van Daele – Thanks!

Waiting For The Miracle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9fWBdtC_t4
The Partisan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWfW5eV54aI

**************

Uploaded by SweetestSmile21 – Thanks!

Sisters Of Mercy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYq_bmCBo3E
If It Be Your Will
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd62i6Ky0gA
Lover, Lover, Lover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwksLVHKvYs
The Partisan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0ZOFLqqtO4
I Tried To Leave You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etAqiRmr0t4

************

Uploaded by • joost sturtewagen – Thanks!

If It Be Your Will
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoKe9MiyLG0
So Long Marianne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc33-TE1Ebg

************

Upladed by David Saranga – Thanks!

Take This Waltz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt43S8BYreo

************

Uploaded by Ine Tesser – Thanks!

Alexandra Leaving
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi2YjQByETk
Suzanne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfLlIyl9pto
Closing Time / I Tried To Leave You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8MdqvVKTPI
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TineDoes
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by TineDoes »

yoeri wrote:the actual quote was something like: "turn back the lights on so people can find their seats."
and then: "thank you for coming back. it would have been really depressing if I came running back on stage finding an empty room."
Thank you Yoeri :)
"There’s no forsaking what you love ...."

Rotterdam 2008; Antwerpen, Dublin 2009; Gent 2x, Lille , Las Vegas 2x 2010, Gent, Amsterdam, Dublin 2x 2012, Antwerp, Berlin, Rotterdam 2013
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Wirebird
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by Wirebird »

Last edited by Wirebird on Wed Jun 26, 2013 6:35 pm, edited 3 times in total.
85: Oslo 88: Oslo (2x) 93: Oslo 08: Gothenburg 09: Langesund; Bratislava; Prague 10: Malmø; Oslo; Oakland (2x); Las Vegas (2x)
12: Ghent (2x); Halden; Gothenburg; Helsinki; London; Verona; Paris (2x); Lisboa; Montreal (2x); Quebec; NYC; Brooklyn
13: Memphis, New Orleans, Louisville, London (2x), Antwerp, Mannheim, Brussels, Rome, Pula, Stockholm, Odense, Oslo, Bournemouth, Brighton, Birmingham, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Wellington (2x), Auckland.
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Mabeanie1
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by Mabeanie1 »

Hi

Did anyone manage to get a copy of a setlist after the Antwerp show and would be willing to send me a scanned copy (or photograph) for my collection?

Thanks

Wendy
HelenOE
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by HelenOE »

Wirebird wrote:Videos from Antwerp:

Amen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICFrgfs89lg
That is an amazing, impassioned performance.
And Leonard's upper register actually seems to be improving.
yoeri
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Re: CONCERT REPORT: ANTWERP (June 23, 2013)

Post by yoeri »

In Dutch: "young horse of 78 in the sportpaleis"

http://www.demorgen.be/dm/nl/1011/Conce ... n-78.dhtml
2008: Athens
2009: Madrid
2010: Gent, Lille
2012: Gent, Berlin, Madrid
2013: Antwerp, Brussels, Pula, Amsterdam
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