Sunday, October 18, 2009

Leonard Cohen, Sunrise, FL


I had the honor to see Leonard Cohen performing in Sunrise this weekend. This was the second time I've seen him, the first being at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland in May of this year. Although this show lacked the excitement I felt at the first show, it made up for it in another way: During the second set, my friend Keith and I snuck up to seats very close to the stage, about 8 or so rows back. I was delighted to be so close. Here are some photos:

"Bank Atlantic Welcomes You to the BankAtlantic Center." Keith and I had a *huge* giggle over this.


Keith, left, and his friend Mike were part of the thousands at the BankAtlantic Center.


The 10 performers silhouetted in purple. Besides Leonard Cohen, there were three female backup singers, a drummer, a sax/harmonica/woodwind player, a steel guitar man (Bob Metzger), a Spanish guitar player (Javiar Mas), a bass player, pianist, and another guitar. That might have been 11.


The man himself: Leonard Cohen, left, with Bob Metzger, an accomplished guitar player in his own right.

Cohen, right, with backup singers. The man with the guitar in the middle is the group's leader, I think Cohen said.

I like the way the spotlight shines down on the group. At far right is the amazingly talented Javiar Mas playing Spanish guitar.


Cohen under a spotlight.


Yours truly. I was hoping to get Cohen in the background on stage, but all you can see are the backup singers.

The performers leave the stage after the second encore.


I got a set list at the end of the show. Although Chelsea Hotel is listed, they did not play it. So sad.