leonardcohenforum.com

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":



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

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!

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.

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

Lorca Cohen!!!.....got to be a relative!?

Lorca is Leonard's daughter and has taken some amazing photos, there are some in the files.

Jarkko - what happened to the violinist (I forget her name ) who was originally scheduled to be with the band?

Christine is a wonderful violinist, but the schedules did not match - the tour will be much longer than the first plans suggested!

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.

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.

who is the drummer in this collection of photos? http://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2008/a ... nardcohen/

The drummer is "timekeeper" Rafael Bernardo Gayol - as always. Who else would it be?

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.

Either a haircut or he's borrowed Dino's ponytail ring

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.