CONCERT REPORTS: Sligo, Ireland, July 31 & August 1, 2010

[Aloevera]

"I came so far for beauty
I left so much behind:"

Leonard and the UHTC came to a beautiful part of our little island and left behind 20,000 satisfied, adoring fans.

I don't have the words to adequately express my feelings about Saturday and Sunday night - my heart is still bursting. So many wonderful memories - the stunning location, the sense of a unique event taking place surrounded by the spirit of WB Yeats, Constance Markieviez etc, the music, the songs & poetry, the amazing atmosphere. The obvious delight of Leonard and the band - they were beaming - Leonard's and Sharon's smiles are seared into my memory. The singing of 10,000 in unified harmony - can you imagine what it must be like to have your words and music resounding around the Sligo countryside, the utter silence when Leonard recited 1,000 Kisses Deep. The sight of one of the crew coming on stage to start dismantling the instruments and Leonard skipping back on to sing Lover, Lover, Lover for us.

As I said before on this forum - we are the luckiest fans in the world.

And what makes it so special is meeting friends from far and near.

Diana (thanks from the bottom of my heart for the set list), Lesley, MaryB and George, SharonE, Kenadian and Morgan, Ciaran, Maarten - I sincerely hope it was worth all the travelling.

To the home crew and Carlowmike - see you all soon (in Krakow perhaps).

To Robert and Ed for not dismissing the exhortations of a wonderful Irish woman last November.

To Leonard, the band and the UHTC thank you for the magic.

In song.

Paula

[Liamberney]

[quote="TipperaryAnn"]Burningviolin,
Delighted to hear you recorded "Heart with no Companion" - will be looking forward to that; it sounded great on the night with its lively country rhythm. Its presence on Sunday, with Chelsea Hotel, Hey, that's no way to say goodbye, and the recitation of a thousand kisses deep, means that the Sunday concert was my favourite, quote]

Yes, it was great to hear Heart with no companion - I wondered if LC had planted a subliminal message along the lines of ' everyone, your bladder is full and you need to go to the toilet' for as he started the song, hundreds rose and left their seats!

TipperaryAnn, My guess is that you were in block A (which behaved impeccably), but to see so many leaving during this song was astonishing.

The absence of half the audience at the start of the second half (that prompted Leonard to jest 'it's good of you to stay with us)had more to do with the relatively low number of loos (and the vast quantities of heineken consumed!)

On a personal note - i had the worst seat in the place, but I was there, and loved it!

[FanForLife]

Just added

Born in Chains - Lissadell - 2010 07 31

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM-G4RMtZHQ

Famous Blue Raincoat, Anthem and Lover, Lover, Lover are next

[Inge]

Duma,

I can't help because to my shame, I never cracked how to do the whole upload thing. I've in my ignorance just benefited from those who can. However, I've pm'd Kencrowley who I know from Dylan forums and he may be better educated in such matters. If so, I've asked him to maybe send you a pm giving pointers.

If anyone else knows the magic formula, could they help in case Ken can't? It clearly is in everyone's interest to have access to a quality recording of an historic event like Lissadell

Hi Duma and JudasPriest

Maybe someone could start a "vine". How that works is explained in the thread: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=11407
Through these kind of vines I got cd's from the concerts in Manchester, Copenhagen, Brugge and Amsterdam.

Inge

[sturgess66]

Just added

Born in Chains - Lissadell - 2010 07 31

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM-G4RMtZHQ

Famous Blue Raincoat, Anthem and Lover, Lover, Lover are next

Thank you, thank you!

[TipperaryAnn]

On a personal note - i had the worst seat in the place, but I was there, and loved it!

Good on you ! ( wonder where the worst seat was...)
Yes, Liamberney, I was in Block A on Sunday for the first time ever, and it was great not to have people passing in front of me. Block B on Saturday, but in the centre and not too far back, so I didn't notice too much movement - maybe that was worse on Sunday? Yes, it is infuriating that people can't stay put for an hour and a half ; after all, Leonard and the band do ! All this coming and going tends to be worse at outdoor concerts, although it was bad enough at the Willie Nelson concert in the O2 as well.
Of course there is no bell as in the theatre to summon people back before the second part begins - maybe there should be, or even a few announcements asking people not to move in and out during the performance unless absolutely necessary !

[ladydi]

Hi all,

So much has been said about the concerts that it's difficult to find new words or phrases. I'm now back in the United States but my heart is laying at Lissadell. I was fortunate, in that both nights I was nowhere near some of the disruptive and drunk "fans". For me, Saturday was the most emotional and moving experience. Perhaps because it was my first hearing of "Born in Chains", which is so powerful. "A Singer Must Die" was a total surprise, and at the end...the post-end...of the concert, suddenly we get "Lover, Lover, Lover" sung by a Leonard who looked as fresh or fresher than he did 3 hours and 35 minutes ago! Saturday set a record at 3 hours and 45 minutes!!! Amazing.

Sunday will always be special to me for a few personal reasons...especially "they've summoned up a thundercloud".

Leonard was in top form, and of course, the entire band/singers are the best there are in the business! Roscoe, is conductor supreme, and there can be no talents greater than Sharon, Dino, Javier, Bob, Neil, Raphael, Hattie and Charley! Each a master on their own...but creating sublime moments when in unison with each other.

I promised the lovely Marie (and Ed Sanders) in a hotel lobby in San Jose that if there was ever another concert in Ireland, I would be there. Several of us did that evening....and we were ALL there!!

Thank you Marie for your words of encouragement to Ed and Robert! And a HUGE thank you to the wonderful people of Ireland! First of all to Marie and Albert...Trish, Paula, Tony, Ciaran, Bernadine, Afric, Sarah and Peter. It was also so special to be together again with friends from other countries...Maarten, MaryB and George, my wonderful friend Leslie, Sharon, Vlasta, and meeting up with new friends.

Mick...what can I say. You have been stalwart from the beginning and helped us all so very much! What a delight to spend the time with you in Dublin and get to know you better!! Thank you for all your caring.

Thank you to the UHTC for the special time we had together....

A HUGE thanks to our taxi driver, Terry, who protected us and toured us, and treated Leslie and me to warm scones and tea that his wife had just made!

But...thank you incredible Irish audiences!! I will never experience those moments again, and Saturday/Sunday will live within my heart forever!!! I bow to you in humility and love!

Diana

[FanForLife]

Just Added

Famous Blue Raincoat - Lissadell - 2010 07 31
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbnCnYL0EHU

For me, this, together with Lover,Lover,Lover were the highppoints of the evening. Some magic moments here, worth watching in HD if you have the bandwith..............

1.30-1.42 LC stops, smiles, and has a look that says - "WOW this is for real"
2.55-3.37 Dino's solo - just close your eyes and listen
3.37-4.09 LC and Dino and the entire band stop, and seem genuinely surprised/appreciative of the audience

Alsso well worth watching rosskelly009's version - much better video than mine - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIenxBf9Dw4

[Mikeaus]

We are back in Australia safe and sound. It was all just amazing for us. A thousand thanks to that wonderful Irish audience for making our Saturday night at Lissadell a night never to be forgotten. Ah, you sing so pretty.

[Karen 01]

I thought that the number of people leaving their seats was astonishing! We were in block c which was very well behaved but had a prime view of the constant stream of people leaving and returning to block B. I agree that there was probably not enough toilets but think they should have closed the bar until the interval which may have discouraged some people from leaving their seats. I also got the impression that some people there were not exactly great fans but had heard what a great concert LC gives his audience and wanted to say they had been there, but hopefully most of them were converted by both astonishing shows! I suppose at the end of the day some of us were there to show our respect and love for the great man and others were just there for the craic! I know my reason for being there and I was rewarded a thousand times over. Just have to wish and pray that he comes back to us

[Katrina21]

I thought that the number of people leaving their seats was astonishing! We were in block c which was very well behaved but had a prime view of the constant stream of people leaving and returning to block B. I agree that there was probably not enough toilets but think they should have closed the bar until the interval which may have discouraged some people from leaving their seats. I also got the impression that some people there were not exactly great fans but had heard what a great concert LC gives his audience and wanted to say they had been there, but hopefully most of them were converted by both astonishing shows! I suppose at the end of the day some of us were there to show our respect and love for the great man and others were just there for the craic! I know my reason for being there and I was rewarded a thousand times over. Just have to wish and pray that he comes back to us

For yourself and all the people so astonished at people leaving their seats - get over yourselves! Did you seriously expect 10,000 people to remain seated for 3 and a half hours? I am a dedicated Cohen fan and have been for over 30 years and I was more than delighted to have the opportunity to be at the concert which was nothing less that an amazing experience, but I have to say when one of my least favourite songs came on (shock horror - yes there are one or two) I took the chance to get out of my seat and do whatever. It is not realistic to think that every single person there will love every single song. If I had been in a seat where I had to disturb people to get out then I would have stayed put, but we were just in front of the walkway so I just had to hop up on my own seat and over the back of it. Probably like me, the people who did move during the concert did so to avoid the mad rush for the toilets and standing in a queue during the interval. (And yes block c would have seemed very 'well behaved' considering it was less than half the size of B.) And one last thing - at 125 euro a pop for the tickets I don't think anyone was there just to say they had been. You can take it that everyone who went to the expense of a ticket, travel expenses, and overnight accomodation (and whatever other expenses for the weekend) loves Cohen's music. So jump down off your high horse there, and stop being so condescending.

[JudasPriest]

I was at or nrear the front of Block B both nights and due to drinking slowly over the course of the day it was inevitable that a toilet break (just the one each night was required) during the gigs. This was particularly so on the second night when the first set was two songs longer than normal (which was of course a treat- everyone is saying Saturday's was the longest concert ever etc. but he played 31 songs on the Sun (I'm including Thousand Kisses as a track and not the Yeats recitations as they were only a few lines) compared to 29 on the Sat).

Anyway, the point worth making was on both nights when I sprinted for the toilets, on the way back, I tried both times to crouch at a spot where I wouldn't interfere with people's views so that I could return to my seat inbetween songs and minimise disruption. The staff were having none of it though and insisted that I return to my seat straight away. I pointed out the reasoning but it fell on entirely deaf ears. I wonder did others find that?

[Katrina21]

Yes - that was definitely the case - the stewards moved everyone on immediately. I have to admit I tried to get closer to the stage (we were quite far back) a couple of times to get photos, and like yourself crouched down in an inconspicuous spot, but the lads were on the ball and moved everyone on straight away. But what can you say to that? They did a good job of keeping order so fair play to them for that - if everyone was wandering about as they pleased it would have been chaos.

[mamcglynn09]

Still in awe of Leonard and the Company for their wonderful performances on both nights in Sligo. A lot of people welcoming the beautiful 'Born in Chains'.
I don't think we even realise how privileged we have been witnesses to the first major concert performances of this song. Thanks to the fabulous post by Irish Al from Sunday night I can catch most of the words now. I think in years to come this song will become as iconic as 'Hallelujah'. It is spiritual, melodic, and truly, truly meaningful. ( We know every word is pored over for many hours and chosen deliberately.) Somewhere in there is reference to the 'Cloud of Unknowing' . The reference early in this thread to the healing power of Leonard's voice is so correct. For anyone struggling with the 'meaning of life' - get listening.
Thanks to Carlow Mike,to Maarten for the lovely badges, and to the fellow forum fans I didn't get to spend as much time with as usual - looking forward to the next time.
As my friend Aloe Vero said earlier, - we are the luckiest fans in the world.
Addiction not yet cured.

[Karen 01]

Didn't mean to cause such offense Katrina!!!! I was only saying in response to complaints about people leaving that in my opinion while there are fans who like to watch the whole show and not miss one tiny detail there are others who while enjoying the show like to move around the venue meeting people and soaking up the atmosphere(especilly at an outdoor event). And I was actually speaking to a group of people from Sligo who told me that while they loved the concert they were not big fans + didn't know most of the songs so I had to warn them that was how I started out(taking my mum to the 1st Dublin shows) and 3 concerts later Im more obsessed than her! I certainly am not on any high horse and again didn't mean to offend anybody.