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Absolutely AMAZING show that went like a train for three hours solid and didn't waiver once!
London,
John Aizlewood's rating
Reader rating
Description: The iconic Canadian singer-songwriter performs material from his repertoire.
Phone: 0871220 0260
Website: www.theo2.co.uk
Email: customerservices@theo2.co.uk
Trains: Tube: North Greenwich, BR: Westcombe Park Railway Station; Bus: 108, 129, 161, 188, 422, 472, 486 
Extra info: Food, Air Conditioning, Telephones, Pub
Times: Jul 11, 6pm
Price: £55-£65
Hats off to him: Leonard Cohen put on a fine show
Join the band: this team knows how to play
Like most gentlemen of 73, Leonard Cohen had planned to spend his time in comfortable retirement. Instead, having seen (or, rather, not seen at all) his ex-manager/lover separate him from his fortune, he was forced to go back to work and tour these shores for the first time since 1994, "when," he quipped, "I was just a 60-year-old kid with a crazy dream".
Laugh? Of course we laughed. For all his image as a vendor of only despair, anything more than a cursory listen to his canon reveals otherwise of the Canadian who admitted in the lugubrious Tower Of Song, "I ache in the places where I used to play".
If Cohen's presence was reluctant, once he had run - yes run - on stage, he behaved as if his skies were uniformly sunny. Wearing a fedora because it looked dapper rather than to conceal baldness, and dressed, as were his roadies and band, in a suit, he resembled a wry, impish hitman with a voice as deep as the Mariana Trench.
Three hours, one interval and four encores later, he ran - yes ran - off stage, leaving an audience including Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and former Culture Secretary Chris Smith overpowered by a magnificent performance - and not just magnificent for a 73-year-old.
Equally informed by both carnal and Biblical knowledge, his songs of comfort, longing and as on Everybody Knows ("Everybody knows that the plague is coming"), the occasional nod to the forthcoming apocalypse, hardly seemed made for arenas. Similarly, Cohen - an unashamed ham but no showman - would surely have been happier in an intimate setting.
Hardly. His warmth, his intelligence and his child-like delight in an adoring audience was enough. Indeed, when he recited A Thousand Kisses Deep, backed only by Neil Larsen's keyboards, to a backdrop of reverential silence until the standing ovation afterwards, it was if Leonard Cohen had set up camp in my lounge.
If he individually name-checked his crack nine-piece band once, he individually namechecked them a dozen times, as if to acknowledge that while the songs are his, the show is a collective effort.
Peak of peaks was the much-covered Hallelujah, which Cohen reclaimed for himself via an exquisite arrangement and his own depth and passion, but there was much more: the sinister First We Take Manhattan (its narrator is insane); a lachrymose So Long Marianne and Democracy, a jaunty reminder that Cohen is an acerbic social commentator too.
He left us with the Old Testament benediction Whither Thou Goest, which, momentarily seemed like the most final of farewells. It wasn't. He's back at the 02 on 13 November. This is turning into quite a retirement.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Here's a sample of the latest reviews published.
i've been a fan for over 30 years, have every album, cassette and cd he's ever produced but never dreamed i'd see one of his concerts. i was there last night in perth and the show was everything i hoped it would be. THE BEST LIVE CONCERT I'VE SEEN. every song was a classic. he sang rather than spoke. rather than the depressing tag his lyrics have been given by the critics i have always found them uplifting and theraputically positive. the whole experience of seeing him perform was magical.
- Neil Morrison, mandurah australia
Absolutely flawless performance from beginning to end.
Although a huge Leonard fan, I had never got to see him live, and was really going just to say "I saw him"
I didn't expect that he could put in a performance like that, sang flawlessly, with more energy than when he was younger, and backed up by superb performers.
10 out of 10 is an understatement.
- Tom Fahy, Ireland
Just as expected Leo was just great, my wife and I came all the way from Iran to see him on stage and we enjoyed the concert and of course the venue.
- Navid Etemadi, Iran, Tehran
This was my 1st visit to the 02 and 1st Leonard Cohen concert, like some of your other commenters I though I would never get to see him on stage. I must admit I was concerned that it would live up to my expectations, but it more than exceeded them. This concert will leave with me for ever and exceeds anything seen before. My wife and I laughed, cried and cheered our way through 3 hours of songs by an artist and professional. An emotional and exhilarating experience. Thank You.
- Simon Govier, Herne Bay, UK
My wife and I travelled from Thailand to see this astounding concert. Both of us were independently great fans before we met and in a way Leonard brought us together. Seeing him again live after 38 years will probably be one of the greatest highlights of our lives Leonard was brilliant and so appreciative. The O2, well it's close to central London, but what a shame the underground stops at 1230!
- Andy Thom, Pattaya, Thailand
Leonard was fantastic, exceeded even my very high expectations. Seeing him live was a once-in-a-lifetime treat. Despite the best efforts of the O2 management to ruin it. Messing about with passes and tickets, providing an execrable meal for £300 a ticket (when the concert started before the puddings arrived, our friendly waitress just grinned and shrugged) and generally being inept, poorly organised and couldn't-give-a-damn laid back, the staff almost spoiled the whole evening, despite the brilliant concert at the centre. I would never, ever go to see anyone at the o2 again, I'd rather save the money and see a gig abroad.
- Lenny, London, UK
I think that I saw Leonard Cohen on stage as three screens kept me in touch with what was going on on the stage. Luckily, I've seen him several times before in the flesh, when I could actually see his flesh! The sound was great, the songs were (obviously) great, the venue is rubbish along with the rip off price of the gig.
- Jeff, London
Fantastic - absolutely exceeded my expectations; the whole evening was truly magical. I never thought I would get to see Leonard Cohen live, and I certainly never expected he would be so good. The review captured the intimacy of the event perfectly; it was easy to forget you were in an arena full of people!
- Anon, London
Can I buy copy photograph of LEONARD COHEN?
If so, please tell me how!
PS your review of Cohen was flawless = I KNOW: I WAS THERE!
- Ms Carol Stevens, SUTTON, SURREY, ENGLAND
This was the third time I'd seen Leonard and I thought would be the last, but new shows just announced include Birmingham NEC, so it looks like I need to save my pennies again to see this truly incredible man. The o2 concert was mesmerising, and having met Leonard on Hydra in 1981 ,I can confirm that his humbling manner is sincere.
- Alan, kidderminster
I expected it to be magnificent and it was.
Had always said that I hoped to see Leonard Cohen sing before I die, little realising there was any likelihood of realising this dream.
By being forced out of near retirement Leonard has opened his music up to a new generation who generally have little idea of the power depth and range of his artistry but sort a thought he would be worth seeing.
The impact he had on people in our group last night who fell into that category was quite profound, they were all deeply impressed, without exception.
It was so good that I can't think of anything else worth adding except that his recital of A Thousand Kisses deep took me by surprise and was deeply moving. Hopefully all those who thought he was lyricist now understand that his first and foremost a poet.
Don't miss him, see him whilst you can with many more concerts now announced.
- Nick Lightbody, Sussex
Sublime serenity at it's wittiest and most delicious. Nigh on perfect.
- Tim Melton, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex
Please could somebody tell me if there is a recording of the duet between Leonard Cohen and Hattie Webb on the song "Take this Waltz"? That was the most stunning thing I have ever heard, it made every hair on my body stand on end.
Hattie Webb wasn't just a beautiful voice, her talent is like an ocean, swirling around Leonard and sea changing into colours as it ebbs.
It was worth being at the concert last night just to hear that. The venue is a monstrosity of advertising, unaffordable hospitality and struggles to find the loo, that left me cold, but somehow in the usual Cohen concert crowd dominated by unfriendly, ageing married couples there was magic that had no right to be there.
- Anon, London, UK.
Sublime. The man is an Orpheus for our times, and what an amazing line up of musicians accompanying him! My husband and I got tickets for his November London gig first thing this morning, we were so inspired and touched. For music and lyrics, Leonard Cohen and his fellow musicians are beyond compare.
- Diana Granger-Taylor, London, London
Awesome. The single best evening's entertainment I've ever had. Hallelujah was superb- delivered with 'getting-old-anger' and bitterness. But for me, it was the FUTURE and I'M YOUR MAN tunes which worked best- where the superb backing band compliments him perfectly as in the albums.
The older tunes seemed a bit like a sentimental journey- but beautiful none-the-less and originally delivered in all cases.
Would love to know the order of tunes...
- Daniel Taylor, London
