From: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org (seven-seas-digest) To: seven-seas-digest@smoe.org Subject: seven-seas-digest V4 #24 Reply-To: seven-seas@smoe.org Sender: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-seven-seas@smoe.org Precedence: bulk seven-seas-digest Monday, January 31 2005 Volume 04 : Number 024 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 30 Jan 2005 08:42:20 -0500 From: Red Subject: seven-seas Cohen Tribute in Sydney! In case anyone is interested, I just read this review that someone posted on the Nick Cave list: Subject: Came So Far For Beauty Awesome! A great show. What a fantastic array of talent on one stage at the Sydney Opera House. The show started at 7.50pm and went till 11.30pm with a half hour intermission. Predictably the opening set was a little slower and featured a higher proportion of obscure songs. The second set in contrast really built in intensity Nick performs three songs in this tribute to the poetry and music of Leonard Cohen, opening the first set with I'm Your Man and doing a very creditable version of Suzanne in the second during which he combined well with Julia Christiansen and Perla Batalla . He was arguably the best dancer in a weak field but his contributions were the least compelling for some reason. Nick seemed to be the token rocker (Jarvis Cocker insinuated himself far more effectively), he didn't seem to quite connect with the other performers, he danced with his back to the audience for 70% of the time and he hadn't bothered to learn his words by heart. This simply did not contrast well with the love, passion, commitment and professionalism of everyone else. The simple fact is that Nick's contribution was the most modest of all the assembled performers that included Beth Orton, Jarvis Cocker, Rufus Wainwright and his sister Martha Wainwright (what a voice), Linda Thompson the Mcgarrigle and the Handsome family ... and a guy called Anthony with an amazing Roy Orbison like falsetto who toured with Lou Reed in 2003 (and got to sing his very own song in a Lou Reed show - an indication of how talented this guy is). This was a wonderful show and the highlights were many ... Rufus Wainwright really does do the definitive 'Hallelujah' post Jeff Buckley but his version of Everybody Knows - which he introduced as being Doris Day -inspired - was just fooping fantastic. He also did a great version of Chelsea Hotel. Great voice. Almost as good as his sister, Martha whose vulnerable reading of 'Tower of Song'' was sensational. (I never got the joke of the Bad Seeds version on I'm Your Fan. Leonard described it as witty. I just thought it was adolescent crap!). I loved the version of ''There is a Crack in Everything" - performed by Julia Christiansen and Pearla Batalla. If I had to name the highpoint in the show for me, this was it. Swooningly beautiful. Those girls also did an electrifying 'Bird On A Wire'', lovely version. I smoked a cigarette and I tightened up my gut .... Jarvis Cocker made a fine contribution with "I Can't Forget" ... . The Handsome family offered Famous Blue Raincoat, and if Anthony sounds like Roy Orbison, then with his strong baritone, this guy sounds like Johnny Cash. Anthony did 'If It Be Your Will', all flapping arms, falsetto and post-adolescent vulnerability! The other really great moment was Beth Orton doing a song off 'Songs', I think it was "Stories of the Street" but I'm not sure. (It's been a while). Whichever it was, it was great. So many great moments I can't quite remember them all and I was too cheap to but a program and then when I decided I need one after the show, too late! The argument was advanced that a lot of these versions were better than Leonard's originals but they say that a lot about Dylan too! I have never seen Leonard Cohen live and I suspect this is now the closest I'll ever come. I am sure that Leonard was happily practicing non-attachment to his past achievements somewhere in North Americalast night but still, it must be tremendously gratifying for him to momentarily reflect that somewhere in the world, his songs were being played with great love and irreverent reverence by so many great performers in the Sydney Opera House! (I noted with interest that his Buddhist name translated as 'The Silent One." Those monks must have a sense of humour!) ===================================================================== Bunnymen Online Presence: http://www.bunnymenlist.com * http://www.bunnymen.info * http://www.bunnymen.com * http://www.fotolog.net/sgtfuzz/ * http://bunnymen.nexuswebs.net/ * http://www.angelfire.com/wy2/discog/ * ====================================================================== ------------------------------ End of seven-seas-digest V4 #24 *******************************