Leonard

Leonard Cohen played the O2 yesterday night. I dragged Anna along, though she did protest and only listened to most of the albums that day, but she is now very glad I did. For it was a joy to behold.

He may be in his seventies, and he did introduce the band during every bloody song, but he was brilliant. Almost all the performances were great, save a slightly disappointing Democracy - the standout being a stunning Hallelujah. And he spoke and joked with charm that made the O2 feel like, well, a smaller 20,000 seater venue than it is. It was fab.


I think this was the setlist (I've stolen it, but it chimes with my recollection)

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. Tower of Song
11. Suzanne
12. The Gypsy's Wife
13. Boogie Street
14. Hallelujah
15. Democracy
16. I'm Your Man
17. Take This Waltz
18. First We Take Manhattan
19. Sisters of Mercy
20. If It Be Your Will
21. A Thousand Kisses Deep (spoken)
22. So Long, Marianne
23. Closing Time
24. I Tried to Leave You
25. Whither Thou Goest

The O2 was pretty good too; the only problems being a grim tube ride home and then the discovery of a murder on our doorstep (though we only realised this later).

I'm off to buy Cohen poetry which I shall probably regret; and part of me wants to go again in the Autumn.