Computer Age

(Marine Walk of Algés, July 19, 2008)

(Warning: part one-on-gray rolls are personal, to read the chronicle of the concert to start directly in the black letter)

On July 19, newly released holiday in Galicia, I woke up remembering that day acted Leonard Cohen in Lisbon. Had not made any plans to go to the concert, but I got up with the idea that I had to take this opportunity, did not have work or family problems that prevented me going to see it. There were many miles and many hours of travel, but I could not miss that chance "why not now or never." The concert by the Benicassim had ruled out, I wanted a concert dedicated to him. I decided to go without knowing if tickets remain, but something told me that there would be no problems, the biggest drawback would be to find the site and arrive on time. More than five hours in the car given to believe many things, among them judging my way of acting. I would have preferred to have it all planned weeks in advance, having enjoyed the preparation of an event as important, be accompanied and spend the weekend with my wife also would have been good idea, however, I was just there, the adventure, as whether the youth had not gone through my life many years ago, with a camera that had caught at the last minute and was unable to verify whether it was loaded. I came through that Portugal had an hour's delay compared to Spain, 50 minutes before the concert. When I said "YES" a huge weight had tickets left to crush. Do not give me time to eat anything, I wanted to be ahead of it, see it up close, a coca-cola for espabilar a bit, and after the concert would have time to go back to the earthly life.
Lately, this page looks like the Olympus of the gods of rock (Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen ...), I would add one more to this temple polytheistic, because what we lived there was a genuine act of communion and worship. In Lisbon, we were fortunate enough to find a paradise for a day, we hear the impassioned words of our God, at his side six apostles made us levitate with the sound of their instruments, reaching ecstasy mecidos by the choirs of three angels who sang the message divine: do Dowman Dowman Dowman da do Dowman Dowman ( "no Pareis," asked L. Cohen).

As I read in the press come between 8 and 9 thousand people, from different countries, languages and ages. While in principle it was the outdoors might seem a disadvantage, the environment became magically decorated in the perfect, achieving moments of intimacy and silence difficult to imagine in a concert of this nature. Leonard Cohen came out on stage time after the components of the band, all with dark suit, shirt them with clear and hat. The first impression, in addition to seeing more thin and pale of what we imagined, was to confirm what we already knew: "Wow, if it looks too old," but so many years internalized his music and his books were made that my mind was watching on stage but not something outside reflects a very important part of my life. Nothing else begin to sing his old disappeared, struck by the good condition of his voice, just as it always seductive and much less cascade of what I expected (it just broke in a few moments of great intensity). Every gesture he made, every word that followed were made unanimously by laughter, shouting and applause from the public, not lacking in a number of occasions the launch of red carnations, as significant in a country like Portugal. We saw a man who radiated magic and mysticism, with a gentle smile full of humility and an unlimited power of attraction. Excitement, joy, choirs, silent tears ... we had completely in your hands, like waves in a bathtub and that he was shaken to its wise choice. Even the temperature and the moon facing the stage, which was noted when a stanza referring to it, allied to everything that was perfect. The essence of the concert was a spectacle of rock, but taken to limit the personal, with influences from jazz, country, blues, pop or flamenco, but led throughout by the elegance and respect for the intelligence, to the ear ( that sounds so perfect!), the individual as a whole physical and psychological. The code was based mainly on its many successes, making a tour through most of his records, with special prominence surely the "I'm your man." It started with the "Dance me to the end of love," kneeling before the virtuoso Javier Mas (acoustic guitar, lute, bandurria ...). In many cases benefited from the "alone" of the band members for submission and removed his hat to them (that sounded good old body - Hammond - in the hands of Neil Larsen!, And what the sensitivity of Dino Soldo to the harmonica and the flute and saxophone electric!), Also discovered the head before the public thanking each applause, implying that they were all there (were) essential part of the trip. Among the best known themes sounded (forgive not remember the order) "Who by fire," "Everybody Knows," "Closing Time", "Bird on the wire" ( "like a little bird" would change the lyrics), "Tower of Song "(with the single keyboard as simple as that characteristic and to be applauded, aware of its limited dexterity to the keys, recognized that we were too kind ... more laughter)," First we take Manhattan, "a beautiful version of" Suzanne "with just voice and guitar (the Tagus river near the scene came to the hair), the wonderful" Hey, that's no way to say goodbye, "" The Gipsy's wife, "" I'm your man " coreada the entire lung from the public to reach the refrain, "Democracy" (I think it was before this issue when he said: "it is fortunate to have wonderful moments like these when there is so much chaos, darkness and sadness in the world") "In my secret life," the popular "So long Marianne", an unforgettable "Hallelujah" (adding "I have not come to Lisbon to deception"), "Take this Waltz" before the finish line did what we all try to dance best we could, and many more equally wonderful that accompanied us for nearly 3 hours, with a break of 15 minutes and several bises of those who came out and dancing again, giving nice jumps increasingly energetic, which King doing the work of buffoon , In which children dress happy old man, as if each song was a dose of the elixir of youth.
It would be unfair not to mention, for their hard work and genius, the other musicians: Bob Metzger (guitar, steel guitar), Roscoe Beck (bass, bass) and Rafael gayola (drums and percussion). The angels who were choruses also had great moments: Sharon Robinson in the song "Boogie Street" and the Webb Sisters as a duo with the interpretation of the exciting "If it be your will" (Hattie Webb harp and voice, guitar and voice Charley Webb ). To end all sang in the choir farewell while Leonard Cohen to thank you for giving us a very memorable evening.
When I learned that Spain had acted only 1 hour me doubly happy to have taken the decision to go to Portugal.

"Suzanne takes you to your site by the river,
you can hear the boats sail,
You can spend the night at his side.
You know that she is half crazy
but it is why I want to be there "
(Suzanne)