Concert review: Leonard Cohen at Chicago Theatre

I fell in love all over again with Leonard Cohen last night. I had no idea a concert at the Chicago Theatre could somehow feel that intimate. And I couldn't stop the tears during If It Be Your Will.

Congratulations to the reviewer for staying awake.

The song "Democracy" is particularly apt in light of the recent election and our new President.

Democracy has come ... to the U.S.A.

Thank you Leonard.

And thank you Greg.

Greg, where did Cohen play 16 years ago that is 1/4 the size of the Chicago Theatre?

Greg replies: He played Park West in June 1993.

Great review, Greg!

I have been a Leonard Cohen fan forever. I am looking forward to seeing him this Saturday in Detroit. I have read that his concert is reallllly long but everyone appears to not care except for the Mighty Quince.

Kot should have mentioned that Cohen is broke as a result of being ripped off by his manager and needs to do this tour.

Did anyone yell out "We love you!" during the performance? It's that kind of show---the rabid fans already knew it was great before Cohen sang his first song.

It was a fantastic show. It ran from 8-11ish, but didn't seem long or stretched at all. Leonard Cohen came across as spry and energetic, and didn't show signs of aging throughout the show. 5/5, an amazing experience.

What an experience. Leonard Cohen is better than ever, and it's impossible to overstate his sense of drama, poetry, emotion, and delivery. The hat in his hand gesture reminded us all of his humble ego/non-ego. This was a one in a million experience for me... I cried many times during the show, moved beyond words.

Leo-
Get yer ass home! Hurry up.
Jesus wants to go for a walk and
is running around the house whining
and carrying his
little leash.
Quit with the agony already.
The sisters of mercy await your magic hands.
MaryAnn called. Again.
I thought you settled that thing.
And bring a quart of milk.
Then pick up that damn raincoat.
It's torn and I'll Goodwill it if I pick it up again.
Oh and
If I hear you've been at the Chelsea Hotel
there'll be no doubt about who by fire.
It'll be you by boot.
I’m tired of shopping at the Salvation Army thrift store.
I'll show you some democracy.
It be my will!

Sincerely,
S. Cohen

PS: The cable guy called
yes you can get the sports package
and yes
there’s Canadiens hockey on every night.

With regard to the Democracy song being particularly apt, I noticed that he changed "the birth betrayed" to " the birth delayed". Could this be a reference to Obama?
Thanks, Greg, for a great review. I was at the Park West for Leonard's last concert. Although his following was enthusiastic, and some went from state to state, I could never have imagined that he would finally be recognized enough to be at the Chicago Theater. It was a gift for us just to know that more people are now aware of his work.

"These arrangements had nothing to do with rock’s Southern, rhythm-oriented sound. "

--When has any Leonard Cohen song or arrangement had anything to do with "rock's Southern, rhythm-oriented sound."?

"God, if he exists at all, looks down on the whole thing with a bemused silence."

--Not only does God "exist" in most every leonard cohen song, he seems to play a lead role in several.

Good review Greg. Especially the bit about the endless sax solos. You're one of my favorites, but these points felt odd to me. All the best--

He's 74 and performed 26 songs without any bells and whistles. Leonard wants to give his audience what they come for and he does. His voice seemed to grow more powerful as the night went on. He was someone I wanted to see in person as I don't think the opportunity will come again. If you enjoy his music, the video "I'm Your Man", is something you should see. It's a tribute to Leonard with some fantastic performances of his work.

I'm so glad to read that others cried, too. I cried the minute he came out on stage. I was overcome with awe to be in the presence of a man whose music has touched and moved me like no other for almost 40 years. I never thought I'd get to see him perform and I am so glad he decided to do another tour (though I wish the reason why it were necessary were not so).

Most of all I am just so glad that Leonard Cohen has been writing songs and singing for so many years. He has added so much beauty to my life. Leonard, if you are reading these reviews and comments, thank you more than words can ever express. So many times you have been the light that comes in thru the cracks.

I saw him in Oz Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Feb 09..He was wonderful..About this crying thing..me too..couldn't even tell my workmates the next day what the first song(Dance me to the end of Love) was without tearing up..His music resonates from my car,,no-one is allowed to change the cd..My son is living in Montreal and he quotes from 'Beautiful Losers'..my xmas pressie to him..Bravo Leonard, I love you and your music will live forever

I'm going to get killed for saying this, I am nearly certain....but I gots to say what I gots to say.

I JUST got home from the show and I'm listening to the LIVE album from London. It is, almost to the note, the same as the show I just saw.

I was very close to the stage tonight and I also shed tears, during the "reading" of A Thousand Kisses and Chelsea Hotel. I couldn't stop the tears. I was so moved by him, his band, his back up singers, his connection with Sharon, etc.

But...why was his hand over this mouth with each song? And, why, tell me why, does this LIVE album sound EXACTLY like the show I saw tonight? Not a single word is different. I am really questioning if what I saw tonight was indeed "live".

Just making it back to Milwaukee after night two. The same songs in the set, though a little change up (I think). I too was awed by his ability to keep my attention for 3 hours. It was a high ticket price, that, for once equaled my enjoyment.

I'm going to be on a Leonard Cohen Bender for at least a month now.

PS - great review of night one.

Leyla - Cohen wasn't just holding his hand over his mouth. In case you didn't notice, there was a microphone in it.

Yes, the show I saw Tuesday night was almost the same as the one on the Live in London DVD. It's a well-rehearsed show, and I'm not aware that Cohen has tried to pretend otherwise.

Anyway I enjoyed Tuesday's show a lot, and I'm glad that the DVD will enable me to enjoy it again and again.

Well put, Mr. Kot. The Cohen show was remarkably good, just an exceptionally affecting performance. I've seen "better" shows, if such a thing can really be measured when comparing excellent shows to one another, but few concerts if any have affected me as deeply. The pinnacle for me was "Bird on a Wire," then "Suzanne." More than once, it was difficult for me to keep a dry eye. I like his newer material just as much as those old favorites, and those two songs just happened to hit me the hardest last night. The critic in me must note that the show went on just a bit too long, but what a treat it all was.

FYI Leyla, he didn't play "the partisan" on the "Live at London" DVD/CD, and he didn't play "famous blue raincoat either."

I do agree that on the North American leg of his tour (since april 13 in oakland) the setlists have been exactly the same as the show he played here in chi-town.

BUT, with that said, on April 13 in Oakland he premiered a brand new song entitled "Lullaby" which he has not performed since. So while the show, the banter, and the setlist is very very similar it's not an exact redux by any means and there was never a moment in my mind when I was watching the show on Tuesday that I questioned anything about the creation of the show. For example, he never mentioned anything about "tricky weather" on the DVD! lol.

i was at the show on wednesday & was overwhelmed by seeing Leonard just ten rows in front of me. Loved it all but wondered where was the perfect song for the end after the encores
"closing time" Did he play that anywhere else?
It was a magical evening

It seems somewhat beside the point, although interesting, to critique the setlist, it's order in comparison to other venues, the position of the hands, the number of hours spent, comparisons with genres of music. For those of us who have been for so long devoted to Leonard Cohen, none of that matters, really. What's important is that he shows us the beauty and the terror of this life we all share as sensitive, vulnerable, and glorious beings.

I saw him in Philadelphia the other day and it was amazing. He's such a great songwriter, even someone young can appreciate it.

http://www.phrequency.com/blog/Photos_Leonard_Cohen_at_the_Academy_of_Music_.html

Leonard Cohen New Images - Radio City Music Hall
http://www.msg.com/photos/leonard-cohen-live-at-radio-city-/slide/1/
This guy is awesome!

The concert was wonderful. I am watching the DVD of the London concert as I write this. Sure, some of the banter is the same on the DVD as the Chicago concert. But I'm glad I was at the live concert, and glad I have the DVD as well.

The concert in Chicago was great. Leonard Cohen is an amazing poet, songwriter, singer, and person. I thought the band was great, and the arrangements interesting. Some very interesting changes from the arrangements of the '80s (see the DVDs of his Austin City Limits performances for comparison). The solo by Javier Mas at the beginning of The Partisan was one of the most interesting instrumental stretches of the evening... Mas is from Barcelona, the emotional heart of Catalonia, which is at least intriguing and perhaps significant.

All in all - it was a wonderful performance; the encores were essentially an extra set's worth of songs. I took my wife as an anniversary present to her - it was one of the best concerts either of us had ever heard.

Thanks, Leonard Cohen, for all you've done, and for keeping going!