Rehearsing is always a pleasure. Especially when it's for one of my favourite small festivals - Melbourne Ukulele Festival - and one of my favourite songwriters - Leonard Cohen. I was going to post a clip of Leonard singing Come Healing live in Dublin, but the musical wormhole is a rich place. So much material
When I left Melbourne for the country, I remember people saying to me that I was leaving any hope of a musical career. What they didn't understand is that country audiences are wonderful and while it may be a different musical career, it's a more connected one. I find country audiences are more varied -
I listened to Leonard Cohen's posthumous album today. It's beautiful and gentle and very Leonard. The songs of a man who knew he was leaving. It needs a lot more listening, and that will be a pleasure because it warms the heart in a dark kind of way. Watch the video for the story of
When was the last time you heard poetry being read out loud? Or read poetry to someone else? Tonight I read poems to the audience between songs at my Leonard Cohen gig. It's such a gentle and vulnerable thing to do and to listen to - just the human voice and beautifully crafted words. With
Learning new songs is always a pleasure. I've been learning Come Healing for my Leonard Cohen tribute gig on Wednesday night. I love its simplicity, and the hymn-like beauty and harmonies paired with carefully crafted secular poetry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pKUwTooZ3o