Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

Canada and Europe (May 11 - August 3, 2008). Concert reports, set lists, photos, media coverage, multimedia links, recollections...
User avatar
jarkko
Site Admin
Posts: 7338
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2002 1:01 am
Location: Espoo, Finland
Contact:

Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

Post by jarkko »

I have updated the band introduction at http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/band2008.html
with brand new photos I shot in Manchester.The band was absolutely stunning! With the link
I'm opening this new topic to give people change to discuss the band here, "On the road" section.

Here they are, doing "Whither thou goest":

Image

Above, from left: Charley Webb, Hattie Webb, Sharon Robinson, Roscoe Beck, Javier Mas, Our Man, Rafael Gayol
Below: Rafael again, Bob Metzger, Dino Soldo

Image
    User avatar
    jarkko
    Site Admin
    Posts: 7338
    Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2002 1:01 am
    Location: Espoo, Finland
    Contact:

    Re: Leonard's tour band

    Post by jarkko »

    In Manchester Eija and I had chance to speak shortly with the band members. - The band had used several months to rehearse the songs in Los Angeles, and everything was ready before the tour started in the Maritimes. During the tour the setlist will be changing according to the audience reactions; that's why some older classics were introduced in Manchester (Sisters and Raincoat).

    I was happy to see how enthusiastic and skilful these musicians are, and how excited they are about this tour with Leonard - and how much they admire and love Leonard. "This is not work - it's a miracle", Rafael Gayol said. Javier Mas told us that he has been playing guitar since he was seven years old, and he does not need to think how to play - it comes directly from the heart. He is playing bandurria, laud and 12 string guitar (all those have 12 metal strings) and archilaud (12 nylon strings, it sounds like the oud). We told Javier that we had enjoyed his interpretations already in Sant Cugant near Barcelona, at the tribute concert last year. Bob Metzger was at the New York Event in 2004, so we knew him from before, and we were happy to see Leanne Unger - she said she is watching monitors during this tour. Roscoe Beck pulls the strings not only of his bass but of the whole band as the musical director. We congratulated him and everybody on these amazing concerts. Dino Soldo is a master of many instruments and he really puts his heart and soul to his playing. And finally we met Sharon Robinson, face-to-face, after emailing with her for so many years, ever since she and Leonard recorded Ten New Songs. Her new album was released before the tour. I told Neil Larsen that I have tried to get a good picture of him for The Files, but he is always behind his very big & high hammond, and the ladies are standing in front of the organ, so it's very difficult. Now I managed to get some pix (but if anyone here has a better one, please send!). Charley and Hattie gave us the URL to their new website (http://www.thewebbsistersmusic.com). They have recently moved to another record company, and for the time being there are two websites online. Someone told that the sisters had rehearsed "If it be your will" on their own; everybody loved it and it was added to the set!

    By the way, it also became clear that the band members are reading forum and the Cohen sites - "a great way to get instant feedback", several of them said!
    confetti
    Posts: 415
    Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:59 pm
    Location: northern ireland
    Contact:

    Re: Leonard's tour band

    Post by confetti »

    Those are lovely photos Jarkko, I was very fortunate to be in the front row and had a great view of all the musicians except for Neil Larsen, although we did see his leg wave about at times during some of the more intense pieces. The thing I loved most about the band was they seemed to be a group of friends and not just band members. There seemed to be a lot of love, respect and telepathy between them all. I know some people found it irritating but I liked the fact that Leonard name checked them all because I can see their faces in my minds eye, immediately I see their names in print.
    Last edited by confetti on Sun Jun 22, 2008 10:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
    "I needed so much, to have nothing to touch - I've always been greedy that way"
    User avatar
    jarkko
    Site Admin
    Posts: 7338
    Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2002 1:01 am
    Location: Espoo, Finland
    Contact:

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by jarkko »

    Behind the scenes, a great deal of effort goes into the concert production and the sound. Here is a list of the talented and hard-working crew principally responsible for this impeccable presentation.

    Production Manager/ FOH Sound- Steve Spencer
    Stage Manager- Steve Swift
    Sound: Recording- Ed Sanders
    Sound: Monitors- Leanne Unger
    Monitor Engineer- Russell Wilson
    Backline Technician/guitars- Mickey Sullivan
    Backline Technician/guitars- Leif Bodnarchuk
    Backline Technician/keys- Dan Weingartner
    Backline Technician/drums- Clive Brooks
    Wardrobe- Lyssa Bloom
    Wardrobe Assistant- Michelle Grimaldi
    Sound Technicians- Jon Halliwell, Brian Kirk
    Lighting Crew Chief- Jeff Arnson
    Set Carpenter- Albert Gullion
    Lighting Technician- Sabrina Kells
    Set Design- Bruce Rodgers
    Lighting Design- Anne Militello
    Stylist- Samantha McMillen
    Performance, Rehearsal and
    New Portrait Photography- Lorca Cohen

    Manager- Robert Kory
    Tour Manager- Mike Scoble
    Road Manager- Joseph Carenza III
    Tour Accountant- Wade Perry
    Legal Counsel- Michelle Rice, Esq.

    Management
    Unified Heart Touring Co.
    9300 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 200
    Beverly Hills, CA 90212, USA
    stfa
    Posts: 103
    Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:00 am

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by stfa »

    Lorca Cohen!!!.....got to be a relative!?
    Hamilton Place April 1993, O'Keefe Toronto July 1993, Center in the Square Kitchener June 2nd 2008, Hamilton Place June 3rd 2008, Copps Coliseum, Hamilton May 19th 2009, Labatt's London May 24th 2009, ACC Toronto December 4th & 5th 2012, Labatts London Dec 11th 2012 Copps Coliseum Hamilton April 9 2013 Tower of Song, Centre Bell November 6th 2017
    confetti
    Posts: 415
    Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:59 pm
    Location: northern ireland
    Contact:

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by confetti »

    Lorca is Leonard's daughter and has taken some amazing photos, there are some in the files.
    "I needed so much, to have nothing to touch - I've always been greedy that way"
    maxstrammer
    Posts: 4
    Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 6:50 pm

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by maxstrammer »

    Jarkko - what happened to the violinist (I forget her name 8) ) who was originally scheduled to be with the band?
    User avatar
    jarkko
    Site Admin
    Posts: 7338
    Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2002 1:01 am
    Location: Espoo, Finland
    Contact:

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by jarkko »

    Christine is a wonderful violinist, but the schedules did not match - the tour will be much longer than the first plans suggested!
    George.Wright
    Posts: 1874
    Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2002 3:37 pm
    Location: Bangor, N.Ireland

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by George.Wright »

    I think Charlie and Hatty are wonderful. I was mesmerised by their rendition of If it be your will. Will they release this as a record as I am becomming a big fan of their music? Maybe they could slot this into their new album they are working on? Charlie and Hatty, if you are reading this I send a big Hello.

    Georges.
    I am a right bad ass, dankish prince and I love my Violet to bits.
    confetti
    Posts: 415
    Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:59 pm
    Location: northern ireland
    Contact:

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by confetti »

    Yes I agree George, their voices are amazing, and someone that can play the harp at the same time as sing is amazing in my view, I would certainly go to see them if they ever thought of coming here.
    "I needed so much, to have nothing to touch - I've always been greedy that way"
    confetti
    Posts: 415
    Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:59 pm
    Location: northern ireland
    Contact:

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by confetti »

    who is the drummer in this collection of photos? http://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2008/a ... nardcohen/
    "I needed so much, to have nothing to touch - I've always been greedy that way"
    Steve Wilcox
    Posts: 249
    Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2002 3:31 am

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by Steve Wilcox »

    The drummer is "timekeeper" Rafael Bernardo Gayol - as always. Who else would it be?
    confetti
    Posts: 415
    Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:59 pm
    Location: northern ireland
    Contact:

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by confetti »

    it just he looks completely different, I can't see Rafael's face in that picture, but maybe it's just a bad image of him. I shall look again.
    "I needed so much, to have nothing to touch - I've always been greedy that way"
    User avatar
    margaret
    Posts: 1856
    Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2002 1:21 am
    Location: UK

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by margaret »

    Either a haircut or he's borrowed Dino's ponytail ring :roll:
    User avatar
    hydriot
    Posts: 895
    Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 3:07 am
    Location: back in the UK

    Re: Leonard's tour band and the tour crew

    Post by hydriot »

    What on earth is Ed Sanders, Leonard's manager, doing as "Sound: Recording"?? And what is Robert Kory, noted in an article as Leonard's yet-to-be-paid lawyer in the Kelley Lynch affair, doing as "Manager" (do you think he is the one responsible for the insulting Norwegian photo contract?) They can't both be moonlighting, surely??

    And why is Counsel described as "Michelle Rice, Esq."? Michelle is a girl's name and 'Esquire' is a title any one can adopt provided they are male. I myself am addressed like that from time to time, and it means nothing ... so why include it in this list?

    And why on earth would Leonard even need a barrister??

    Curiouser and curiouser.
    “If you do have love it's a kind of wound, and if you don't have it it's worse.” - Leonard, July 1988
    Post Reply

    Return to “The Summer Tour 2008”