November 13, 2009 · 2:19 AM

Late-night thoughts on Leonard Cohen

By Spencer Patterson

Leonard Cohen.

Photo: Courtesy

Read my full concert review in the November 19 print edition of Las Vegas Weekly. For now, a few semi-random thoughts, compiled sometime after 1 a.m. ...

*For those worried about Leonard Cohen’s health after his September onstage collapse: The folk-rock icon actually appears healthier at 75 than he did at 74. During his hour-long set at April’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Cohen took several rests, sitting while singing for parts of his performance. Tonight at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Cohen—who moved past the three-quarter-century mark on September 21) stood for the entirety of his colossal three-and-a-half-hour concert (save a 20-minute intermission), remaining upright even during full-song lead-vocal turns by his backing singers, Sharon Robinson (“Boogie Street”) and the Webb Sisters (“If It Be Your Will”). Cohen also galloped—seriously, no exaggeration—on and off the stage between each portion of the show, which ended with three separate encore segments comprising six total numbers. Take that, weary 20-somethings.

*Most significantly, Cohen’s famously dark voice sounded far more fit than frail, creeping through the filled 4,000-capacity room with relative ease (okay, the overall sound could have been more robust, but that’s no reflection on the man’s vocal fortitude). Perhaps Vegas lucked out, with Cohen coming in off two nights’ rest following a November 9 show in Kansas City. Wonder if Friday night’s gig in San Jose, California, will be any worse for wear …

*Best changed lyric: “I did not come to the Palace at Caesars to fool ya,” in “Hallelujah.”

*Best storytelling line: “I was taking a vacation from my deeply authentic life,” as Cohen related the backstory to “Chelsea Hotel #2.”

*To further tide you over, here’s Cohen’s complete Vegas setlist:

Set 1

“Dance Me to the End of Love”

“The Future”

“Ain’t No Cure for Love”

“Bird on the Wire”

“Everybody Knows”

“In My Secret Life”

“Who by Fire”

“Chelsea Hotel #2”

“Waiting for the Miracle”

“Anthem”

Set 2

“Tower of Song”

“Suzanne”

“Sisters of Mercy”

“The Gypsy’s Wife”

new song (“The Other Blues Song”)

new song (“The Darkness”)

“The Partisan”

“Boogie Street”

“Hallelujah”

“I’m Your Man”

“A Thousand Kisses Deep” (spoken word)

“Take This Waltz”

Encores

“So Long, Marianne”

“First We Take Manhattan”

“Famous Blue Raincoat”

“If It Be Your Will”

“Closing Time”

“I Tried to Leave You”

I think you are needlessly concerned about Leonard Cohen's frailty. His collapse in Spain was unconnected to any general health or age-related issues. He has been doing three-hour-plus sets every couple of nights in a different city each time since October 17. If you read the reviews you will see the kind of extraordinary focus and energy that he brings to each concert. Not only that, but he has begun performing two new songs on this leg of the tour. I just wish I was lucky enough to be going to San Jose!

Posted by: shoshana on 11/13/09 at 3:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Nearly every single person I've mentioned the Cohen show to over the past several weeks has queried worriedly about his health, so whether it's a concern of yours or not, it appears to be to the general public. You'll also notice I addressed the two new songs in the setlist.

Posted by: Spencer Patterson (Staff) on 11/13/09 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good story. Thanks for the information. Sad I missed the show.

Posted by: klampton on 11/13/09 at 6:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I saw the San Jose show, and Leonard was in just as good voice and energy as you described. I also read the full review of the Las Vegas show, and it sounds like it was pretty much the same show! He even said in the same words that he wasn't sure if he would pass this way again but he would give it his all. Except that in San Jose he thanked us for not going home during the intermission instead of not going back the casinos.

I had seen his show in Oakland in April. Many of the songs were the same, of course, but I think he did more of the old favorites in the April show. I liked the inclusion of two new songs at this concert. I had just been wondering aloud if he was still writing new material.

Also, we had two more encores after "I Tried to Leave You." I forget what the first one was because I had been yelling for "Democracy" starting at the first encore, and so when he finally did it as his finale, I forgot what had gone before :-)

Great supporting musicians! I particularly loved the Spanish flamenco player but they were all good. I also love that a couple of Leonard's musicians are in his age bracket.

It was an excellent concert, and if I'm not mistaken, it was his tour ender. I wonder if he made enough to make up for the crooked manager and give him a retirement in the comfortable style he deserves. I hope so.

Posted by: out-of-towner on 11/14/09 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

After a little looking around, I see that this was the end of Leonard's U.S. tour, but he will perform in Europe next year, starting March 1 in France.

Posted by: out-of-towner on 11/14/09 at 1:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

(Removed by site staff)

Posted by: tsimar on 11/17/09 at 10:13 a.m.

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