Live in London

OAP releases best live album ever?

Jackie Hayden, 24 Apr 2009

Cohen’s concert in Kilmainham last summer was for me, a veteran of such affairs, one of the best ever. The man had for too long been stereotyped as the ultimate purveyor of bedsit morbidness. But he confounded such silly notions by turning out to be humorous, playfully self-deprecating – a true poet and prophet of the age.

Live In London is a fitting 2-CD memento of a tour that many foresaw as a wake of sorts, a fond farewell to an ailing soldier (Field Commander Cohen, as his 1979 album called him) but which instead turned out to be a triumphant, spiritual reaffirmation of the power of music to lift the human spirit. And with his resonant voice in extraordinary condition after 73 years, he breathed renewed life into such impeccible songs as ‘Who By Fire’, ‘In My Secret Life’, ‘Everybody Knows’, the hopeful, martial menace of ‘Democracy’ and the sheer exuberance of ‘Closing Time’.

Cohen raised special cheers with the line “I was born with the gift of a golden voice” in ‘Tower Of Song’, and repaired the damage done to ‘Hallelujah’ in recent times. The Canadian says he has studied many religions but that “cheerfulness kept breaking through”. It’s that blend of the zen poet and laconic wit that makes this album an extraordinary aural document.

Key track: 'Everybody Knows'

Jackie Hayden

Older and wiser, Cohen gives us a tingle-inducing sign-off.

2012-02-03

You won’t find a deeply religious old guy moving a giant crowd to stand and cheer his deeply pessimistic philosophy anywhere else except possibly the Vatican...

2010-08-13

We'd recommend grabbing your tickets now!

2010-04-26

The singer's website seems to have jumped the gun.

2010-04-19

He's playing Lissadell House on July 31.

2010-04-17

Cohen is received rapturously by a crowd of 10,000 at the 02

2009-07-31

It goes on sale next Monday.

2009-04-20

With tickets for Leonard Cohen's July dates selling out in less than an hour this morning, promoters have added a third date, on sale now.

2009-04-07

Voted as one of the top live performers of 2008 in both the Hot Press Readers' and Critics' polls, Leonard Cohen returns for 3 Irish dates this summer.

2009-03-31

Paul Nolan gets a taste of what the Dublin O2 will have to offer, as he visits its London counterpart for a truly stunning Leonard Cohen gig.

2008-12-11

Leonard Cohen has announced on his website that he’s paying a return visit to the venue formerly known as The Point, the O2, on December 1.

2008-07-18

73-year-old maestro creates magic at Kilmainham

2008-06-19

Having sold the previous two out in double-quick time, Leonard Cohen has added a third Royal Hospital Kilmainham show.

2008-03-20

Leonard Cohen will play two dates at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham in June.

2008-03-11

Leonard Cohen fans may be interested in Who By Fire, the Watertowne Theatre Company’s new play.

2007-05-16

Rumours of Bono and Len himself turning up proved to be unfounded, but that didn’t stop Came So Far For Beauty: An Evening Of Leonard Cohen Songs being the stuff legend is made of. Click to view the gallery