(Feb. 19) at
New York's Beacon Theatre. The three-hour performance featured all
of Cohen's classics, including "Suzanne," "Bird on the Wire" and
"Hallelujah."
Cohen, 74, broke a 15-year hiatus from touring in 2008 with shows
in Canada, Europe and New Zealand. His AEG-promoted North American
tour will begin April 2 in Austin, Texas, and run through June 2 at
Red Rocks outside Denver. He will also make a previously announced
appearance on April 17 at the Coachella festival in Indio,
Calif.
In what was just the second show at the newly reopened Beacon,
Cohen dazzled the sold-out crowd with a career-spanning set, backed
by an ace six-piece band and three female vocalists.
(For
Billboard's complete review, please
click here.)
He frequently thanked the audience for its devotion, and the crowd
ate up Big Apple references in songs like "Chelsea Hotel" and the
funky "First We Take Manhattan."
Cohen was in fine, deep voice throughout, dropping to his knees to
sing "Hallelujah" and dabbling in guitar and synthesizer throughout
the performance.
As previously reported, Columbia will on March 31 release
Cohen's "Live in London," taped last summer at the city's O2
Arena.