News Item about Oz tour

[honeyrose]

Just found this item about the Tour to Australia in 2009. Apologies if it has already been run elsewhere here - there is such a lot to read I am struggling to keep up.

http://music.generationq.net/bm/tour/au ... 1083.shtml

Leonard Cohen Australian & NZ Tour
By Natalie Kalow
Executive Producer
Published Oct 29, 2008
Leonard Cohen with very special guest Paul Kelly And Sam Hunt (NZ shows)

"He is our Shelley; he is our Lord Byron!" - Bono

"Leonard Cohen was the first artist I discovered by myself. He is the symbol of my musical independence. The sadness of Cohen was inspiring; it gave me a lot of energy. I always remember all this when someone says that my records are morbid or depressing." - Nick Cave

The Frontier Touring Company and Roundhouse Entertainment are honoured to present the legendary Mr Leonard Cohen in his first Australian and New Zealand concert tour in almost a quarter of a century. The tour will include a series of indoor arena concerts plus a day on the green winery shows.

Promoter Michael Gudinski said the Leonard Cohen tour is a must see for any self-respecting music lover.

"The Leonard Cohen concert I saw last month was almost a religious experience. Fans were captivated the moment Leonard walked out onto the stage. His band and backing vocalists are first class, and the man himself can only be described as magical.

"It's one of the few concerts that I've seen that has kept me in one spot from start to finish - not wanting to miss a moment of what ended up being more than three hours of musical genius."

Leonard Cohen is a true music icon, the writer of such timeless classics as "Hallelujah", "Suzanne", "Bird On A Wire", "Sisters Of Mercy", "First We Take Manhattan", "Everybody Knows", and countless other universally loved songs.

A celebrated poet, author, master songsmith and hypnotic performer, Leonard Cohen has received rapturous reviews for his recent shows across the UK, Europe and Canada, his first concert performances anywhere since 1993.

"It's a show which, as you might hope, illustrates both the gravity of Cohen's music and the great warmth of his wit. The poet-cum-20th century oracle steered the assembled throng through a sing-along of any of his hits that you could hope for." THE INDEPENDENT [UK]

Leonard Cohen's impact on modern popular music has been widespread and profound. Artists ranging from Bono to Nick Cave cite Cohen as a major influence on their own work. His songs have been covered by generations of artists from REM, Elton John, Jeff Buckley, Aaron Neville, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and many, many more.

Even before shifting his focus from poetry and novels to music in the late-1960s, Leonard Cohen has been the subject of countless books and films, most recently in the feature documentary "Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man" by Australian film-maker Lian Lunson. The film included footage
from the recent sold-out Cohen tribute concerts at the Sydney Opera House, which saw the likes of Nick Cave, Jarvis Cocker, Rufus Wainwright and many other celebrated performers gather together to pay homage to Cohen and his extraordinary cannon of songs.

Earlier this year, when Cohen was inducted into the US Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, his old friend Lou Reed put it most succinctly: "We're so lucky to be alive at the same time Leonard Cohen is."

It is only apt that Australia's own poet laureate, Paul Kelly, join Leonard Cohen on tour for the Australian dates. The eight-time ARIA Award winner and ARIA Hall of Fame inductee is renowned for his powerful lyrics and passionate performances. Paul will be releasing the follow-up to his greatest hits album, Songs From The South Volume 2, on November 8th along with a DVD collection of music videos he has made over the past 23 years.

At 74, Leonard Cohen is an undeniable master of song, a living legend. It is a privilege and honour that Mr Leonard Cohen and his amazing nine-piece band have accepted The Frontier Touring Company and Roundhouse's invitation to return to Australia and New Zealand after an
absence of 24 years.

This will be a once-in-a-generation concert event for all lovers of fine music, a spellbinding show from one of the true masters.

Ladies and gentlemen ... Mr Leonard Cohen.

The Leonard Cohen Band
Rafael Gayol - percussion
Roscoe Beck - musical director, bass, background vocals
Neil Larsen - keyboards
Javier Mas - bandurria, laud, archilaud and 12-string guitar
Bob Metzger - guitars, pedal steel, background vocals
Sharon Robinson - background vocals
Dino Soldo - saxophone, wind instruments, harmonica, keyboard and background vocals
The Webb Sisters - background vocal, harp & guitar

Tickets On Sale Monday 10th November 9:00am

Tuesday 20 January Wellington - TSB Arena
Ticketek 0800 842 538 or http://www.ticketek.co.nz

Thursday 22 January Auckland - Vector Arena
Ticketmaster 09 970 9700 or http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz

Saturday 24 January Yarra Valley - Rochford Wines, a day on the green
Ticketmaster 136 100 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.au

Monday 26 January Adelaide - Leconfield Wines, a day on the green
Ticketmaster 136 100 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.au

Wednesday 28 January Sydney Entertainment Centre
Ticketmaster 136 100 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.au

Saturday 31 January Hunter Valley - Bimbadgen Estate, a day on the green
Ticketmaster 136 100 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.au

Sunday 01 February Bowral - Centennial Vineyards, a day on the green
Ticketmaster 136 100 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.au

Tuesday 03 February Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Ticketek 132 849 or http://www.ticketek.com.au

Thursday 05 February Melbourne - Rod Laver Arena
Ticketek 132 849 or http://www.ticketek.com.au

Saturday 07 February Perth - Sandalford Wines, Swan Valley, an evening on the green
Ticketmaster 136 100 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.au

[swamidevabhakto]

It all sounds very wonderful, but I am frantically trying to allert people to the fact that the concert venue in Wellington Aotearoa is renound for its apalling accoustics and consistently bad reviews by concert goers and musos. The fact that Mr Cohen has such an enigmatic show and band should be foremost in the mind of the promoters, not how many bums they can get on seats. The T.S.B. Arena is a basketball barn and convention centre with apalling accoustics and the ambience of an aircraft hangar. There are several wonderful smaller venues in Wellington, Steve Earle having just received rave reviews for his concert at the Opera house. Micheal Fowler Centre and the Town Hall are also renound for the quality of the venue. Swamidevabhakto