Leonard Cohen in Montreal - 6/23/08

From this broken hill

All your praises they shall ring

If it be your will

To let me sing

- Leonard Cohen

Seeing Leonard Cohen back on stage after 15 years - and in front of a hometown crowd - was an experience beyond description. When he sang the opening words of Suzanne it was as if all the time between now and 1967 just vaporized. And when he gave over one of his most stunning songs - If It Be Your Will, quoted above - to two of his backing singers, the humility of this genius was unquestionable.

He performed songs from every one of his studio albums, with the exception of Death Of A Lady's Man and Dear Heather. But the stunning arrangements of his early songs - including my all time favorite Famous Blue Raincoat - were sublime. 

I've seen him perform many times before. He was always great. But it's nice to see him smile at last.

Thanks Leonard.

Waiting for the show to start...

And here's more pictures and a review of the concert I saw. Forget what the reviewer says about ticket prices - I paid nearly three times that much, the only way to get tickets if you live outside of Montreal!

Montreal 6/23/08