Leonard Cohen at The O2? Really? (From News Shopper)

Leonard Cohen at The O2? Really?

12:17pm Friday 14th March 2008

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When the announcement Leonard Cohen would be calling in at Greenwich’s O2 arena in the UK leg of his world tour dropped into the Leisure inbox, it triggered two conflicting thoughts.

Firstly, I thought ace news. I love Leonard Cohen and will snatch the chance to see him live. It may be my only opportunity; he hasn’t toured in 15 years.



But the afterthought was more: ‘Leonard Cohen? The gloomy, introspective poet with beautiful but haunting songs about the darker side of the emotional spectrum; isolation, complex relationships and lost love and hate at The O2?’

I can’t see his down-beat material, delivered in a baritone deeper than the darkest depression, perfect for a more intimate space, the IndigO2, suiting the 20,000-seat mega arena.

This is the venue which kicked off a long run of sell-out superstar acts with stadium-rockers Bon Jovi, enjoyed a two-year (well, it felt like it) residency from Prince and launched the never-seen-before-fanfare of the Spice Girls comeback shows.

I just don’t see how Cohen fits into this roll call.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to be vying for my tickets with the other musos who enjoy depression and despondency in their minimalist folk.

And who knows, the fans may come away from the gig hailing the venue’s sophisticated acoustics and praising Cohen’s, err, crowd-pleasing showmanship.

It is his first tour in 15 years, afterall, and who wouldn’t want to make an impact? He’s clearly feeling the confidence after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this month.

Interestingly the tour does include plenty of intimate dates, especially in the US and even the Manchester Opera House, Glastonbury and the Spanish sunshine fest Bennicasim make more sense.

Am I alone? I won’t be on the July 17 gig, that’s for sure.