This was my first Leonard Cohen concert and I’ve been listening to his music for almost 20 years. For the 9,000 people that sold out GM Place last night in Vancouver it was a concert to remember. At 3 1/2 hours long with only a 25 minute intermission, it was one of the longest shows I’ve been to. The 74 year-old legend RAN out on stage at 8pm and began “Dance Me to the End of Love” on his knees, serenading his brilliant guitar player. He danced, He swooned, he smiled (alot), and he was in great voice throughout the whole evening. I’ve never been to a show before where the audience were hanging on to every syllable. He made the GM Place hockey stadium (fresh from the Canucks victory 2 nights before) feel like a 500 seat theatre.

The brilliant backing band deserve to be mentioned here.

Roscoe Beck – Musical Director, Bass, background Vocals
Neil Larsen – Keyboard, accordion, brass instruments
Bob Metzger – Guitar, steel guitar & vocal
Javier Mas – Bandurria, laud, archilaud and 12 string guitar
Rafael Gayol – Drums & percussion
Dino Soldo – Keyboard, saxophone, wind instruments & vocal
Sharon Robinson – Vocals
The Webb Sisters – Vocals

Vancouver Sun
Leonard Cohen concert nothing short of a religious experience

Leonard Cohen mesmerizing
Globe and Mail (Toronto) – April 20, 2009 by Fiona Morrow

The setlist (not 100% for sure, but based on other shows…)
1. Dance Me To The End Of Love
2. The Future
3. Ain’t No Cure For Love
4. Bird On The Wire
5. Everybody Knows
6. In My Secret Life
7. Who By Fire
8. Chelsea Hotel No. 2
9. Waiting For The Miracle
10. Anthem

Set II
1. Tower Of Song
2. Suzanne
3. The Gypsy’s Wife
4. The Partisan
5. Boogie Street
6. Hallelujah
7. I’m Your Man
8. A Thousand Kisses Deep
9. Take This Waltz

First Encore
1. So Long, Marianne
2. First We Take Manhattan

Second Encore
1. Famous Blue Raincoat
2. If It Be Your Will
3. Democracy

Third Encore
1. I Tried To Leave You
2. Whither Thou Goest

(The first set started at 8:00 p.m; the second set started at 9:47 p.m.; the encores started at 10:42 p.m.)
Show was over at 11:20pm
(Leonard Cohen played guitar on “Who By Fire,” “Suzanne,” “The Gypsy’s Wife,” “The Partisan” and “I Tried To Leave You.”)
(Leonard Cohen played keyboard on “Tower Of Song.”)