There is a delightful sense of freedom when you go to a show with no expectation. I had never heard Adam Cohen sing before, but I figured if he could sell out two nights at Theatre St-Denis, then he can’t be that bad.
I have been a Leonard Cohen fan ever since I can remember. There was never any period of my life where his music and writings did not hold a special place. Beginning in my awkward, bookish adolescence, continuing into my 20s, as a McGill graduate who studied English Literature (just like Leonard), and every single decade thereafter. I never did get to see Leonard Cohen perform live, but now, 10 years after his death, I knew I couldn’t miss the chance to see his son and grandson bring to life the songs that meant so much to me. And judging by the enthusiastic crowd on Wednesday night, meant so much to so many others.
A little after eight, when the theatre went dark, two large screens displayed black-and-white photos of our beloved Montreal poet. The visuals created by Moment Factory added a surreal quality to the show. The images were smoky, larger than life, and at times throughout the night Leonard’s baritone could be heard with musings and philosophies as deep and as rich as his voice. The stage was practically bare, with Claire Hunter (vocals) and Taylor Jackson (vocals and guitar) on the left, bass player Cassius Cohen on the right, and multi-instrumentalist Jesse Alexander Kotansky, who played the oud and violin so brilliantly, seated behind Adam Cohen, who stood in the centre and played acoustic guitar.
Opening with Dance Me to the End of Love, which had everyone cheering and singing along, I was pleasantly surprised at Adam’s vocals. They were not as deep as his father’s, yet there was a remarkable similarity. They were softer and sweeter, and I felt that it was the perfect voice to represent the timeless and beloved songs that have touched so many of us.
The mostly senior crowd seemed to know all the words to each song, and the set list felt like a greatest hits double album. Adam made sure to include everyone’s favourite, addressing the crowd mostly in French. Often sharing little anecdotes before a song. He was quite relaxed on stage, creating a feeling of intimacy in the tightly packed theatre.
So relaxed, in fact, that when he forgot some lyrics on Everybody Knows, he simply laughed and kept right on going.
One of my favourite moments was when Ariel Posen appeared to play electric guitar on In My Secret Life. I was not expecting this on the set list and truly enjoyed Ariel’s moody slide guitar.
Tower of Song was another of my favourites. Adam brought a lot of humour to the performance, addressing the audience in the middle of the song, asking us if we wanted to know the answers to the bewildering mysteries of the world, while the backing vocals chanted “da doo dum dum dum…” (which was the answer).
It was great seeing Martha and Rufus Wainwright perform Hallelujah together, but unfortunately, that was the only one they sang. Rufus popped in towards the end of Chelsea Hotel, leaving us wanting more.
At one point towards the end of the night, Adam glanced over at his son Cassius on bass and simply exclaimed, “I love you.” And for me, that summed up the entire evening. It wasn’t about how many famous artists could appear or how perfectly each song was executed, but more about celebrating a man who wasn’t only a public figure known for his songs and poems, but a man who loved his family and would be proud that his legacy lives on in his son and grandson.
There’s a reason why these songs have lasted so long. Why the first night sold out immediately and they had to add a second show. Why the giant mural of Leonard Cohen on Crescent Street makes locals and tourists alike swell with emotion.
Music is the emotional life of most people – L. Cohen
You’ll be hearin’ from me baby long after I’m gone, I’ll be speaking to you sweetly from a window in the tower of song (Tower of Song) – L. Cohen
DANCE ME TO THE END OF LOVE
BIRD ON A WIRE
LOVER LOVER LOVER
WHO BY FIRE
EVERYBODY KNOWS
TAKE THIS WALTZ
SUSANNE
HEY THAT’S NO WAY TO SAY GOODBYE
IN MY SECRET LIFE (+ Ariel Posen)
TOWER OF SONG
SO LONG MARIANNE
HALLELUJAH (+ Rufus & Martha, – Ariel Posen)
IF IT BE YOUR WILL
(Outro with audio) (intro with audio)
CHELSEA HOTEL
Review – Annette Aghazarian
Photos – Steve Gerrard
