Leonard Cohen at the Wang Theatre

This review seems to be based on only a cursory listening to Cohen's music over the past 25 years.  There was nothing jarring about it if you actually know Cohen's work.

This review begs to be different from the hundreds of rave reviews from the Leonard Cohen World Tour. Wrong reviewer to a tremendous show.

Only Daniel Gewertz of the Boston Herald caught the "klezmer-like merging of tragedy and merriment" that was so often at the heart of this beautiful show. What a shame to think that someone who could have appreciated that could have been sitting in Mr. Brockman's seat.

I am glad I didn't waste money going to this. It sounds like adult contemporary hell for people with more money than taste.

 I agree w/ some of the points made by the reviewer. I had some additional issues w/ the musicianship that I won't get into here, but my main concern was the length of the show. 3.5 hours is just too long to sit and listen to music.

 Worst show I've ever seen. I will never get those three hours back (yes, I finally left with a half hour to stay). I wanted out after about three songs, but was there with someone who wanted to stay. Schlock like that outside of Vegas or a late-night show's house band is so jarring and such a waste of the beautiful interior of the Wang (I spent a lot of time scrutinizing the ceiling, too horrified to watch the hat tipping and sax-thrusting fiasco). The keyboardist hit an giant klunker in the middle of his spotlighted solo and the crowd cheered. Have you ears?? To assume that someone who found the show tacky and musically cringe-worthy is the "wrong reviewer," is likewise to assume that a musical legend doesn't deserve the same scrutiny as any performer.

 Worst show I've ever seen. I will never get those three hours back (Yes, I finally left with a half hour to go--I wanted out after about three songs, but was there with someone who wanted to stay.) Schlock like that outside of Vegas or a late-night show's house band is so jarring and such a waste of the beautiful interior of the Wang (I spent a lot of time scrutinizing the ceiling, too horrified to watch the hat tipping and sax-thrusting fiasco). The keyboardist hit an giant klunker in the middle of his spotlighted solo and the crowd cheered. Have you ears?? To assume that someone who found the show tacky and musically cringe-worthy is the "wrong reviewer," is likewise to assume that a musical legend doesn't deserve the same scrutiny as any performer.

I agree with the reviewer wholeheartedly.  I should have known before I ponied up 150 bucks plus service charges to see this show that it would be a total letdown.  Sacrilege, right?  not really.  I have been following Cohens carrer and work for the wrong side of 35 years.  This show was instrumental ear rape.  That's right.  the sax player should be arrested.  After viewing clips of recent LC shows, I thought there was something a bit off, but his voice was still wonderful and the band sounded, well, tight.  To see these cruise ship hotel house band rejects hack up and retool Cohen's already brilliant arrangements was just such a horrorshow.  I have seen LC on four continents and seven (or eight) different countries.  He has aged well.  His voice was still powerful and moving  Unfortunately his audience of Johnny come latelys and his Berkelee sideshow monkeys really ruined what shoiuld have (and always has been) a near religious experience for me.  It was pathetic to witness a legend and a pioneer try to reinvent himself with results that were just plain silly.  Luckily Cohen has the goods to make even this adult contemporary fluffing appear genuine, but alas I will not be fooled again.  I still have my memories of Cohen's greatest years in my brain and it was just a total shame to see him slumming with this band of bozos playing music for people who clearly do not get it.  Also what kind of dope beings electronic drums on tour.  I mean really, this isn't your practice space you idiot.  It is a near acoustically perfect theater and you have the audacity to hump a bunch of rubber pads and a laptop into the venue like that's "cutting edge" or something?  Why would you think anyone wants to hear that tin sounding midi crap?  Still the bleating and warbling sax guy was the joke here.  Maybe the punchline too.  It was just so unnatural sounding and disingenuous. 

I agree with the reviewer wholeheartedly.  I should have known before I ponied up 150 bucks plus service charges to see this show that it would be a total letdown.  Sacrilege, right?  not really.  I have been following Cohens carrer and work for the wrong side of 35 years.  This show was instrumental ear rape.  That's right.  the sax player should be arrested.  After viewing clips of recent LC shows, I thought there was something a bit off, but his voice was still wonderful and the band sounded, well, tight.  To see these cruise ship hotel house band rejects hack up and retool Cohen's already brilliant arrangements was just such a horrorshow.  I have seen LC on four continents and seven (or eight) different countries.  He has aged well.  His voice was still powerful and moving  Unfortunately his audience of Johnny come latelys and his Berkelee sideshow monkeys really ruined what shoiuld have (and always has been) a near religious experience for me.  It was pathetic to witness a legend and a pioneer try to reinvent himself with results that were just plain silly.  Luckily Cohen has the goods to make even this adult contemporary fluffing appear genuine, but alas I will not be fooled again.  I still have my memories of Cohen's greatest years in my brain and it was just a total shame to see him slumming with this band of bozos playing music for people who clearly do not get it.  Also what kind of dope beings electronic drums on tour?  I mean really, this isn't your practice space you idiot.  It is a near acoustically perfect theater and you have the audacity to hump a bunch of rubber pads and a laptop into the venue like that's "cutting edge" or something?  Why would you think anyone wants to hear that tin sounding midi crap?  Still, the bleating and warbling sax guy was the joke here.  Maybe the punchline too.  It was just so unnatural sounding and disingenuous. 

This reviewer is an absolute dipshit and must have been a different show the one as was at, which was in a word: flawless.

This reviewer is obviously a dipshit and must have been at show other that the one I attended, which was in a word: flawless.

This reviewer is obviously a dipshit and must have been at show other that the one I attended, which was, in a word: flawless.

 I picked up the phoenix, a once relevent paper, because I saw the headline announcing the review of the recent Cohen show at The Wang. I read the review. I also read some of Brockman's other reviews, and I must say; Danial Brockman should seek other work. Perhaps something that requires less of an attention span. I saw both Cohen Shows and both Springsteen shows. Brockman went on about how great the Springsteen show on the 21st was. Really? It was mediocre. Has Brockman ever seen a great Springsteen show? Did he see the second night? That was a great show. So far as his dislike of Leonard Cohen's current band, he is simply wrong. I actually went out and bought cds by some of his players after seeing them live. If you don't like those guitar players or that sax/synth player, you should return to watching your favorite band, the flight of the conchords.They possess a level of musiciaship that you will be much more comfortable with.