Talk about perfect timing! Like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, Leonard Cohen seems to be getting an inordinate amount of late-period career press, so much so that recordings of their latest dentist appointments are leaked “inadvertently” then discussed fervently in the darkest forum corners. Meanwhile, the legend-cementing continues unabated as musicologists are now attempting to amend all historical accounts to reflect the fact that Leonard Cohen built the Great Pyramid at Giza. It really has become a bit much.
Most of this type of idolatry is inane blather by inferior ninnies hopping on their virtual soap-boxes, but some of it is inspired and all of that important blather is by us at Tiny Mix Tapes. First came Drew Cordes’ brilliant and saucy two-part dissection of Cohen who is revealed, in verse at least, as a sexual roleplaya of the highest order. Then Kat Gardiner jumped into the fray and discussed Cohen’s recent master-baiting of Tickermaster’s dubious ticket-gouging practices. If you have not read these posted pièces de resistances... why the hell not? They will make you think with your mind, your head, and your brain. It goes without saying that, when discussing Cohen, all three of these are located “below the equator.”
Leonard Cohen is your man and needs no introduction -- unless you are completely unfamiliar with his work, of course. If that is the case, then you could do no wrong with picking up his The Best of Leonard Cohen album, because that’s what those greatest hits albums are for. If you would prefer your Cohen captured live, then you will soon get the chance to buy a concert performance of Cohen singing many of his best loved songs recorded at a July 17, 2008 show at London’s O2 Arena. The double-disc or DVD Live in London is released March 31 on Columbia Records and features an ultra-scarce cover version of Semisonic’s classic piece of poetry, “Closing Time.” Just kidding, kids.
Disc One:
1. Dance Me to the End of Love
2. The Future
3. Ain’t No Cure for Love
4. Bird on a Wire
5. Everybody Knows
6. In My Secret Life
7. Who by Fire
8. Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye
9. Anthem
10. Introduction
11. Tower of Song
12. Suzanne
13. The Gypsy’s Wife
Disc Two:
1. Boogie Street
2. Hallelujah
3. Democracy
4. I’m Your Man
5. Recitation w/N.L.
6. Take this Waltz
7. So Long, Marianne
8. First We Take Manhattan
9. Sisters of Mercy
10. If It Be Your Will
11. Closing Time
12. I Tried to Leave You
13. Wither Thou Goest
Although many touted that his first U.S. show in 15 years (February 19 in New York City) would be rarer than a dodo bird on a wire, it seems those same people spoke too soon. Cohen has announced a slate o' dates that will take him throughout the U.S and his home and native land starting April 1 in post-SXSW Austin, TX.
First we take Manhattan, then we take Saskatoon:
04.01.09 - Austin, TX - Long Center for the Performing Arts
04.02.09 - Austin, TX - Long Center for the Performing Arts
04.03.09 - Grand Prairie, TX - NOKIA Theatre Grand Prairie
04.05.09 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theatre
04.07.09 - San Diego, CA - Copley Symphony Hall
04.10.09 - Los Angeles, CA - NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE
04.11.09 - Los Angeles, CA - NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE
04.13.09 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre
04.14.09 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre
04.19.09 - Vancouver, British Columbia - GM Place
04.21.09 - Victoria, British Columbia - Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre
04.23.09 - Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater
04.25.09 - Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place
04.26.09 - Calgary, Alberta - Jack Singer Concert Hall @ The Epcor Centre
04.28.09 - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Credit Union Centre
04.30.09 - Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Centre
05.03.09 - Minneapolis, MN - Orpheum Theatre
05.05.09 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
05.06.09 - Chicago, IL - Chicago Theatre
05.09.09 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre
05.11.09 - Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion
05.12.09 - Philadelphia, PA - Academy of Music
05.14.09 - Waterbury, CT - Palace Theater
05.16.09 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
05.17.09 - New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall
05.19.09 - Hamilton, Ontario - Copps Coliseum
05.21.09 - Quebec City, Quebec - Pavillon de la Jeunesse
05.22.09 - Kingston, Ontario - K-Rock Centre
05.24.09 - London, Ontario - John Labatt Centre
05.25.09 - Ottawa, Ontario - Southam Hall @ National Arts Centre
05.26.09 - Ottawa, Ontario - Southam Hall @ National Arts Centre
05.29.09 - Boston, MA - Wang Theatre
05.30.09 - Boston, MA - Wang Theatre
06.02.09 - Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
