Leonard Cohen Forum
Swan Valley, Sandalford Wines, Feb 7
Post by Greg Ross on Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:14 pm
Salutations people
It's late (2.00 in the morning), too tired to write a review, will try tomorrow eve, in the meantime, here's three photos from the stunning concert. If you'd like to see more (probably another 40 or so, I'll post them on my Blog site later this (Sunday) morning. The address is: http://www.loconut.com.au/myplace/gregross/default.aspx They'll be in an album called "LEONARD COHEN CONCERT."
The night was pure magic.
Cheers
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All Good Things
Greg
Re: Photos from the West Australian Concert (7th Feb)
Post by Cangura on Sun Feb 08, 2009 4:06 pm
Thanks so much for sharing these photos! You've really captured the smoky nightclub feel of the concert. What a night!
Sandalford Concert Review (Sat 7th February 2009)
Post by Greg Ross on Sun Feb 08, 2009 5:35 pm
In the past five decades, I’ve been privileged to attend some fabulous concerts – from the sublime (Pavarotti) to the surreal – the Rolling Stones and Roy Orbison singing together with Gene Pitney playing organ. I’ve been to concerts vowing never to watch the artist again (Bob Dylan and Tom Petty). But I have never experienced anything like the Leonard Cohen concert at Sandalford last Saturday night.
Now integrity demands full disclosure, I am a fan – well, a Cohen tragic really - since buying his first LP for five pound nineteen and six pence, back in 1967. I still have it. I long ago discovered that I inevitably tested new friends with Cohen’s music when first they would visit my home, (wherever that has been over the years). And as a result, I’ve slowly established an eclectic, disparate group of friends who also love the words and melodies of the man from Montreal. Consequently, last Saturday afternoon, almost 50 of us climbed aboard a chartered charabanc and were chauffeured out to the vineyard.
First a brickbat and one I suspect should be thrown at the Liquor Licensing bureaucracy, rather than the winery. One could only purchase one bottle of wine at a time, consequently there were constant huge queues of people shaking their heads in disgust at the stupidity of it all. For God’s sake, we all set up picnics then one of us goes to get the wine. Hello? How simple is it? We really are the most stupidly over-governed State. Back to the music – well no – drop that bottle off and go back in another queue, which segues into the support act, Paul Kelly
I am shocked (and more than a little ashamed) to admit that such was the single mindedness of many of us, we sat in the shade and picnicked, whilst we took turns at queuing for wine and consequently ignored one of Australia’s greatest-ever singer- songwriters – Paul Kelly. Normally I will go out of my way to attend his concerts, but his presence almost failed to register with me.
Suddenly 10 minutes earlier than scheduled, the band strolled on to the stage and then the Fedora skipped out. I looked around, there were tears welling in people eyes as far as my own moist eyes could see, as they waved and cheered, then we truly had a music.
There is often a religious undercurrent to most of what Cohen writes and it struck me when at one stage, he mentioned he’d spent considerable time studying the different religious philosophies of the world, but in the end, cheerfulness had won out, this event was almost spiritual. He has a line in the song “Light as a Breeze” … “drink deeply pilgrim” … we were.
It would not be wrong to say that the crowd was quietly worshipping a man they never thought they would ever see perform live, after all he’s 74. But here he was skipping impossibly around and on and off the stage, dropping to his knees in supplication to a subject, or bowing gracefully to the glorious voiced Sharon Robinson (his muse) and the other incredibly talented people surrounding him.
And the voice, it’s not possible, but somehow it’s better than it ever was, in fact it’s now quite hard to listen to the first couple of albums, that youthful voice now seems reedy and lacking in depth. The years of experience, smoke and wine, have combined to produce a voice that would not be out of place giving some sermon on the mount. Yet at the same time, there is lightness and humour that just grabs your soul.
Now I’m not for one minute suggesting that his is technically a fine voice, in the mode of a Frank Sinatra, or a Pavarotti, but it has depth, structure, phrasing, passion and an understanding of each word that burns. And yes, the female singers are vital instruments in any Cohen equation. There was a moment with his song, “If It Be Your Will,” that was spellbinding. Cohen recited one or two verses, then the Webb Sisters began to sing, accompanying themselves on acoustic guitar and harp. I don’t know to this moment where they took that work, but 5,000 hushed people moved not a muscle while this extraordinary performance took place.
Then there’s the band. Now Sandalford is notorious for the wind that channels off the river and often ruins the sound, at times, it can be almost as bad as the disastrous Burswood Dome. Bands often compensate by playing too loudly, but these guys were beyond anything I’ve ever witnessed, in terms of audible clarity – nothing was loud, but everything was crystal clear. I laughed, thinking of Jimmy Barnes at the Kimberley Moon Concert in Kununurra last year, where painful distortion ruined his show.
It’s trite to say you had to be there to understand , but it is true. This group of musos and their sound techs have mastered the black art of amplified music past the ephemeral point where any other band I have ever seen has managed to go. This is one band that could play with West Australian Symphony Orchestra and not try to drown it.
It’s a little pointless to go on about Cohen’s clarity and diction, as 99% of the crown knew every word by heart anyhow. Every person there had a favourite, although undoubtedly “Hallelujah” was a massive crowd pleaser. I love them all, but a personal favourite, one I have loved seemingly forever, is “The Partisan.” Sung in English and French, it tells the story of a resistance member on the run as the Nazis swept across Europe.
And therein is the magic of Cohen’s music, reaching out,as a voice of hope for our troubled world, when he sang out his prophetic words, “Democracy is coming to the USA,” a tremendous cheer rang out from the crowd. Amongst my treasured friends that might, was an American diplomat. I can’t talk for that person, but it seemed to me the crowd was welcoming the US back from the wilderness – there’s that spirituality again.
Another lovely friend is German, she and her daughter love Cohen and were in tears of joy for much of the concert. We sat and talked and realised that many years ago, thousands of kilometres apart and continents away, we had both been teenagers, spell bound with Cohen’s magic and here we were 40 years later, still spellbound, still emotionally blown away by this impish, humble little poet, who took 5,000 people on a mythical, impossible feast of music, imagery and artistry on an unforgettable summers night.
There was a quiet elephant in the room. Dazed, yet somehow complete, we walked slowly away after his three hour concert – yes, 74 years of age and three hours! – knowing that he probably will not pass this way again.
A New Zealand reviewer wrote a couple of weeks back, that it was quite simply the best concert he had ever seen in his life. Something he never thought he’d write, or would write again. His statement made me slightly nervous, high expectations can be difficult to uphold. But I will go further than he. Not only was it the best concert I have ever seen in my life, I feel humbly blessed.
All Good Things
Greg
Attachments
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All Good Things
Greg
Re: Sandalford Concert Review (Sat 7th February 2009)
Post by flopearedmule on Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:55 pm
Beautifully done, Greg. I've been happy to read of how many other people couldn't keep from crying -- glad I wasn't the only one!
From memory they had the same alochol restriction at Bowral? We were up the front and didn't dare move lest we missed something so we didn't go get any grog but I think I read that. So maybe its a DOTG thing generally.
Only one more show to go. I think Melbourne on Tuesday will be particularly emotional, given events.
Re: Swan Valley, Sandalford Wines, Feb 7
Post by Trenton J on Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:48 am
Bravo, Greg. What a magnificent description of a magical night out west...
And thanks for sharing the photo's!
Rgds,
Trenton
Re: Swan Valley, Sandalford Wines, Feb 7
Post by NickShears on Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:22 am
Thanks for your eloquent and moving words, Greg, and fine photos to go with them.
Nick,
London 1979, London 1983, London 1988, Brisbane 2009
Re: Swan Valley, Sandalford Wines, Feb 7
Post by Lizzy-beth on Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:12 pm
Hi Greg,
Really enjoyed your review of Saturday evening's concert - and reminiscing a little!! It was a wonderful experience....I guess you read the review in today's West Australian, which I thought captured the magic as well..... yet another happy customer - DEFINITELY "FOOD FOR THE SOUL"
Re: Swan Valley, Sandalford Wines, Feb 7
Post by devadeborah on Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:41 pm
Hi Greg, I just have to say that i agree with everything you have said, i have just spent one of the most amazing nights with a friend who I havent seen for 35 years, and the night was divine and magical and seriously one of the happiest experiences of my life. I couldnt stop smiling and literally keening, everyone was ecstatic , Ive been blissed ever since. It felt like such a pouring of love and presence, thank you for putting words to a night that was beautiful beyond words... Mr Cohen I kiss the air that you breathe...and the earth that you walk...Thank you
