Changes to the set list?

[Mabeanie1]

If I was disappointed by anything at the Berlin and Antwerp shows, it was the lack of changes to the set list. This was more or less the same set as for the later North American shows and there was only one real change from the set list they toured Europe with last autumn, being the addition of Waiting for the Miracle. (The recitation of A Thousand Kisses Deep was sadly missing at thes shows but I assume that was down to the late start at both as Poem continues to appear on the list.) I am truly surprised that they have not thought to make some changes before bringing the tour back to Europe and I know from talking to others they feel the same.

I was lucky enough to get a copy of the set list in Antwerp on Saturday. This continues to show several songs as alternatives:

Heart with no Companion
That Don't Make it Junk
Passing Through
The Gypsy's Wife
One of Us Cannot be Wrong
A Thousand Kisses Deep (the song)
There is a War
Avalanche
Democracy

I thought Leonard might have gone "back to the drawing board" on Lullaby but that's still listed too.

I assume that all these songs have been worked up and rehearsed, so why don't they make it in to the set, particularly the songs which haven't featured so far (Passing Through, One of Us, There is a War) and those that have only featured a very few times (Avalanche, Lullaby)? We had a thread running over the past couple of months listing the songs we would love to be added to the set (my own personal favourite being Joan of Arc) but we don't get to hear the songs that have been rehearsed so there seems little chance of getting to hear any of our other favourites.

Surely the band must get bored with playing the same list day in, day out? I know some of us have complained when they've dropped some songs, notably The Partisan and Closing Time, but there are others which could be given a little rest to make room for something new.

Wendy

[Relate]

I am inclined to agree with you on this Wendy. I absolutely love the show, but did expect some change to the set list and I would really like to hear some of the songs that feature on the list of alternatives (particularly One of Us Cannot be Wrong).

But it may just be our fault for going to too many concerts!

[Mabeanie1]

Can someone confirm that they did Avalanche in Paris???

Wendy

[friscogrl]

I agree with Wendy, that they could have mixed up the set list a bit. Before I even knew that passing Through was even mentioned on set lists a friend of mine heard it and said "he should do this song, it would be perfect in the show'"and I agree. Leonard has so many great songs and some of us have seen these shows more than once and we would love to hear him do songs that he hasn't done previously.

Marsha

[parasian]

Can someone confirm that they did Avalanche in Paris???

They did indeed.
I was a bit worried they wouldn't be any changes in the setlist (after Lyon in July 08 and Paris-Olympia in Nov 08), but actually there was : Waiting for the Miracle and Avalanche was a first to me. And Hey, that's no way to say goodbye, Gypsy Wife and A Thousand Kisses Deep disappeared.
Little changes then, but enough to make my day!

[Paula]

I would love for him to do Avalanche and Joan of Arc. I would also love him to do Dress Rehersal Rag although I know that will never happen but it is one of my favourite songs.

Years ago we would not have known what songs had been played on the tour previously so it is probably standard practice to keep the sets to the well-honed songs at each concert.

[somewhat_nifty]

I would LOVE to hear Avalanche live, having seen it on YouTube at other concerts in Europe. I initially had the impression that he was tailoring his setlist a little bit, depending on where he was, adding some songs that were more popular in Europe (Avalanche, The Partisan) when he was there, and others in the US (Waiting for the Miracle, Closing Time) that had been more successful there, but it seems that Waiting For the Miracle has been added again back in Europe (and obviously he did Closing Time in London), so that's probably a rubbish theory.

I will be really sad if A Thousand Kisses Deep is dropped, that's such a high point of the night for me, no matter how often I've heard it.

[Mabeanie1]

Well, we got changes in Weybridge, with Hearth with No Companion & Democracy replacing Chelsea Hotel and Waiting for the Miracle which were good to hear. BUT NO AVALANCHE!!!

Please, please can we hear Avalanche in Liverpool?? Pretty please?

Suemerlyn also reported that they soundchecked Lover Lover Lover at Weybridge. Now that WOULD be something new to the set! I have since listened to a clip of the soundcheck on YouTube and the song sounds. It would fit in to the set perfectly.

I live in hope that one day someone will report that they soundchecked Joan of Arc or have added it to the list of alternatives.

Wendy

[burningviolin]

Having not been to a LC concert before I'll be delighted with whatever is sung having said that I'll contradict myself and say Gypsys wife is not on the set list at the moment though and thats a favourite. But fair play to them they are mixing it up a bit for those that have been to concerts before and I imagine for themselves too. I don't quite know how they manage to keep things fresh with over 150(?) concerts done. Well done, real professionals! So very much looking forward to Tuesday evening!

[sottovoce]

I think it makes a lot of sense to keep the set list fairly the same. If anything it's more fair to the audience than changing it over the tour. They're not expecting that many people to see the concert more than once, since it's a world tour, so this way everyone gets an equal share.

Plus, although the band does have to play the same batch of songs so much, they would also have to learn and rehearse all the other songs people wish they would perform at some of the concerts. I can't imagine them having a lot of time to expand the repertoire, you have to remember it's not just Cohen performing his songs, it's the whole band as well!

[burningviolin]

Definitely couldn't expect them to rehearse everything but from looking at the printed set list see here viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15812&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=30 they have a selection of different songs that are sometimes substituted.

[yaniv297]

Well, we got changes in Weybridge, with Hearth with No Companion & Democracy replacing Chelsea Hotel and Waiting for the Miracle which were good to hear. BUT NO AVALANCHE!!!

Did they actually drop Chelsea Hotel? It seems to be way too famous to disappear. But, as long as Famous Blue Raincoat stays in, I'm happy.

[Mabeanie1]

Did they actually drop Chelsea Hotel? It seems to be way too famous to disappear. But, as long as Famous Blue Raincoat stays in, I'm happy.

Yes they did. To the best of my knowledge, Chelsea Hotel has only been a "regular" feature in the set since the second night at the O2 (London) last November though it did make a few sporadic appearances in Europe prior to that. I missed it but it was good to have the changes.

I can't see FBR disappearing but I could be wrong ...

Wendy

[MaryB]

Perhaps we will be fortunate enough to get Lover... since it was part of the soundcheck at Wetbridge, but at what cost? What song would it replace? It must be very difficult for them to make the choice to add one song to replace another.

Best regards,
Mary

[bkmccalla]

Well, we got changes in Weybridge, with Hearth with No Companion & Democracy replacing Chelsea Hotel and Waiting for the Miracle which were good to hear. BUT NO AVALANCHE!!!

Please, please can we hear Avalanche in Liverpool?? Pretty please?

Suemerlyn also reported that they soundchecked Lover Lover Lover at Weybridge. Now that WOULD be something new to the set! I have since listened to a clip of the soundcheck on YouTube and the song sounds. It would fit in to the set perfectly.

I live in hope that one day someone will report that they soundchecked Joan of Arc or have added it to the list of alternatives.

Wendy

hi again wendy,

i'm with you on joan of arc. i would give anything to hear him perform that song. it's like when i first heard him do FBR in athens after seven shows where he didn't sing it and i just about fainted. i scared the lovely young greek man i was with. he ran and bought me a beer which i proceeded to cry into copiously...while the young man smiled at me compassionately and said "i didn't know an american could have such deep feeling." now that was a compliment. again, what a night.

see you!