What I don't like about these shows

[SteveMcK]

I was also struck by the very frequent introductions at the Glastonbury show, and loved it. Not because I feel that solo artists should introduce their backing musicians more, but just because I loved it. It was part of the event, and the event was magical. We can't cherry pick when it comes to genius.

[tomsakic]

I have listened to 6 Cds so far from this tour, and only small thing bothering me is that Dino Soldo is introduced so often... And he is simply too much for me. I think that Leonard Cohen melody has to be straight melody, as rest of the band is... He's great, though, on late Cohen songs (Democracy, I'm Your Man, Waiting for the Miracle, and particularly Boogie Street), but he almost ruined Bird on the Wire (which is otherwise unbelievable new rendition), and also, he should play more straight on Ain't No Cure for Love, it's Leonard Cohen, not a jam session.

[katzer]

How many risks are you going to take when you're in your 70's?? Just be thankful he's still there to regale us with his "golden voice".

[Diane]

Springsteen’s sound was rubbish.

It is unfortunate if the only venue at which people have recently seen Springsteen is The Emirates Stadium. The sound there was pretty dire up in the seated areas (you were right on that score, John Etherington). It was OK on the pitch. In his defence it's not usually bad. It seems there was a noise level restriction thing going on, in which case it was a mistake for him not to have used Wembley instead. At the 02 in December his sound was great.

I can't think of anything to complain about for the Leonard concerts. In Dublin the sound for an outdoor venue was excellent, even on the one night I was sitting far back from the stage. As a couple of people have said above, he has earned the right to deliver us whatever he sees fit, and judging by the level of audience euphoria and how elated Leonard is looking in his concert pics, he is doing an amazing job. I don't think we can ask any more from him.

With regard to the "over-rehearsed/too many introductions" criticism, it is his personality to be meticulous. That's why he has fashioned such outstanding work. Likewise with his decision not be be recorded for broadcast - it is in his nature to be extraordinarily sensitive to his environment. That's another of the reasons he is the greatest ever poet-songwriter. It's all part of the package.

[efc]

Hi Diane. I was in the pit at the Emirates and the sound was not good, but improved as the night went on. I would have liked it louder also, but found out about the noise restriction (as opposed to the early curfew, which Bruce ignored anyway) afterwards. It seems that the quality varied throughout the venue.

I was fortified in my comments by complaints re the sound at his other UK stadium venues (Old Trafford and Cardiff – where he asked for the roof to be left open), and this thread from Backstreets:

“Poor sound at Bruce's concerts”

http://www.backstreets.com/btx/viewtopic.php?t=98464

I also came across this shorter thread:

“GET THE SOUND RIGHT!!!”

http://www.backstreets.com/btx/viewtopic.php?t=99656

There are a lot of people making complaints re various venues, some even saying they can’t hear properly him when he’s talking. But as you say the O2 sound was good.

I quite like the Springsteen comparison because his fans laud his long shows, and there’s Leonard quietly doing the same thing.

Rob

[Diane]

Hi Rob,

That's a travesty if the sound quality issue was not just a one-off on this leg of the Magic Tour. I was at Emirates on the Saturday, when things had maybe improved a little. The time before the 02 I saw him on the Seeger Sessions Tour in the NEC, indoors which was excellent sound, the time before that, Crystal Palace, outdoors, excellent sound. I know outdoor acoustics are hard to get right, but for Bruce and the E Street somebody should call in an expert to get it sorted!

As for not hearing him, well I don't always hear what he sings on his records! I heard all his jokes and comments at The Emirates, though.

Regarding comparisons of Springsteen and Cohen - I am not going to go there. They create and deliver from different places, to different places in me, and I greatly admire both artists, and their live performances. At Bruce's gigs I find it hard to keep still, at Leonard's I am mostly riveted to the spot, but I need the variety . I think comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges.

Best,

Diane

[blonde madonna]

I have listened to 6 Cds so far from this tour...

Maybe this is the problem Tom. I have listened to the Manchester CDs and although the singers' voices come up well, the instruments are lost in the background and don't sound at all as I remember them in the concerts I attended. I hope you're not spoiling it for yourself when you finally get to see them.

BM

[osmachar]

What CDs? Where did you buy them?

Or was ist someone illegally recording.....

[tomsakic]

Go to the Collector's Section - so far, 11 shows is recorded from the audience and circulating (free download and trading).

Blonde madonna, I am not sure that poor recording has to do something with Dino Soldo's way of playing Btw, the Toronto rec is a good one, I am amazed by all those tiny sounds which sound slike imrpovisations, coming all the time from Javier Mass and piano and Hammond organ and from all places on the stage... Whoever does that on Waiting for the Miracle, it's a masterpiece. Drummer is absolutely amazing. Everybody are, to be truthfull...

[blonde madonna]

Btw, the Toronto rec is a good one...

I agree but I didn't mention that because it would just encourage you in this reckless behaviour.

BM

[Bela]

About the 'same-ness' complaint: not everyone has the money or the leisure to attend several concerts and hope for diversity every time. If I can only hear LC once (which is the case in this instance), I want the concert to be the 'ultimate', the one he thinks is his best, the one he's been rehearsing for again and again. I would be really p*ssed off if someone told me afterwards that what I'd heard wasn't somehow 'complete', that I had to attend another concert to get 'the whole picture', that I had missed out on something, or that I should have been there the night before because that one was 'better' somehow.

How would you feel if actors changed the script of a play every time they performed it - just because they were doing it every night? It is tedious for them to say the same lines over and over again, but the audience is always 'new' and cannot be short-changed.

[blonde madonna]

I want the concert to be the 'ultimate', the one he thinks is his best, the one he's been rehearsing for again and again. I would be really p*ssed off if someone told me afterwards that ...I should have been there the night before because that one was 'better' somehow.

Oh dear Bela - you need to stay away from here then.

BM

[efc]

Hi Diane,

The sound at the Wembley Seeger Sessions was fine also also. As you say it does seem to be an outdoors thing. People mentioned in the Backstreets thread that there was a time when Bruce used to test out the sound at different parts of a stadium, but he ought to be able to rely on advice. Again as you say it needs to be the right advice. It’s a shame where such an established live/stadium performer is having these sort of problems.

I suppose the common link between Leonard and Bruce is that they have each established their own particular, and very different, niches, as well as doing similar length shows :p

Have you seen this Bruce spoof video:

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/5ea1b68c78

Rob

[rhona]

Bela, if you haven't seen him before, it will be the ultimate. You will love it and not mind what is posted here. I had my "one night" in Manchester, and melted with happiness. Don't worry. I just wanted to see him so badly, he could have recited the telephone book to be honest. Well, ok, but you know what I mean.

I have no strong opinions about the changing material to be honest, I just know I saw the best... x

[Judith511]

I have never attended two shows close together of the same performer. In fact Leonard Cohen is the only performer I have seen 3 times live. I attended a second time cause I just didn't get enough the first time. I coiuld listen forever.

I think it is lovely that Leonard gives credit and introduces all the musicians and performers. He is such a gentleman and it made me feel like I was indeed spending and evening with Leonard Cohen. He shares the spotlight with everyone. I would love to see him again. No complaints here.