Leonard Cohen Webcast

by Bob Boilen

Tonight, Leonard Cohen is going to give his first U.S. performance since 1993, at the Beacon Theater in New York. I'm on a train there now, and I'm thrilled. I've never seen him on stage. A concert by this 74-year-old poet, musician, singer and novelist is an event.

We recently wrote a blog post about the incredible prices that ticket brokers were asking for the Leonard Cohen show. Prices for some seats were being "brokered" for more than $3,000 -- money that doesn't go to the artist. The initial ticket prices were $65 and topped out at $250. Those sold out quickly.

In an effort to fight the ticket brokers, Cohen's management is allowing us to stream a recording of this entire Beacon Theater performance. We'll post it online on Feb. 26. Details will appear in our show on Monday, and on our Twitter feed @allsongs.

We're thrilled that Leonard Cohen and Columbia Records are giving us permission to webcast this entire concert. Far too many people have missed his songwriting, or perhaps only know "Hallelujah" or "Suzanne." "Dance Me to the End of Love," "Everybody Knows," "Who by Fire" and, of course, "Bird on a Wire" are just a few songs you must hear before you die.

Tell us your favorite Leonard Cohen song here -- or maybe your favorite interpreter of that song, if it isn't him. And please feel free to share any Cohen story you may have.

I've just heard a recent Leonard Cohen concert recorded in England. There are many breathtaking moments and a collection of songs that spans his entire carreer. That concert from the Arena in London will be released in early spring as a 2-CD set and as a DVD.

6:21 PM ET | 02-18-2009 | permalink

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