Fringe review: My Leonard Cohen
Stewart DâArrietta and his band take us to âThe Church of Cohenâ, giving a bluesy revamp to Cohen classics. â â â Âœ
No one would dispute that Leonard Cohen is irreplaceable. Stewart DâArrietta and his band have taken that to heart with a tribute performance that puts their own spin on a string of Cohenâs most recognisable songs.
From rock to tango to klezmer inflections, DâArrietta takes each song in a different direction, not so much trying to channel Cohen as reinterpret him, delivering the numbers with a Tom Waits-style bluesy gravel.
Joined on stage by the incredible Jo Elms (guitar and backing vocals), Victor Rounds (bass), Mark Myer (drums) and Michael Kluger (piano accordion), he growls his way through a set that contains most of the favourites including âBird on a Wireâ, âSuzanneâ, âTower of Songâ, âDance Me to the End of Loveâ, âEverybody Knowsâ, âSisters of Mercyâ, âA Thousand Kisses Deepâ, âFirst We Take Manhattanâ and âSo Long, Marianneâ.
Interspersed with anecdotes from Cohenâs biography, the mid-song patter enriches the experience with insight into Cohenâs life and the inspiration behind the famous lyrics.
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Leonard Cohen was far more than a singer and musician, he was a poet and one of the worldâs most gifted songwriters. True devotees miss the spirit of the great man as much as his distinctive voice and delivery. DâArriettaâs best moments are when he lets the strength of Cohenâs poetry shine through.
In a beautiful touch, he recites verses of âA Thousand Kisses Deepâ as a poem before launching into the song, and the audience clearly appreciated the recognition of Cohenâs lyrical genius.
Of course, no Cohen tribute is complete without a rendition of âHallelujahâ, and DâArrietta does not disappoint, bringing down the house with a gutsy, Waits-flavoured version of the song everyone was waiting to hear.
My Leonard Cohen is being presented at The Octagon in Gluttony again on February 18 and 19.
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