It was a rainy night in the desert when Marc Cohn came into town. But that sure didn't stop him from putting on an incredible show.
I saw Marc perform several years ago in Minneapolis, MN, but this show far exceeded the last one. I was fortunate enough to have a seat in the front row; even though I'm sure those sitting in the farthest seat back felt Mr. Cohn's soul just as intensely last night.
The show opened with a great performance by Amy Correia, and really got the crowd going.
Marc took the stage around 9:00 and got off to a great start. He played a great collection of new songs mixed with the standard old favorites, each with a special "live" twist that you won't find on any CD.
My favorite part of the show was the between-song banter Marc and his band had with the audience.
Everyone has their own interpretation of his music, but it is especially great when you get to hear about the real meaning behind the songs. There was a great back and forth between the audience and the band calling each other "hot" and the story about how Marc and Elizabeth met (told right before her song, "Let Me Be Your Witness").
It was an incredible show all around. Marc sounded great, the band sounded great (Shane Fontaine was incredible!) and the audience was really into it.
Another added bonus of the evening was Marc out front after the show signing autographs. It was great to be able to shake the man's hand and tell him thank you for a terrific show in person.
This performance was simply amazing, and has set the bar very high for future concerts.
Scott F.
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The show was amazing! An incredible mixture of outstanding music, laughs, and intimacy.
It was so great to see Marc and the band up there, glowing, loving every moment of the experience they were sharing with us.
It seemed like the whole audience understood that this was a special live event, a rich special moment in our life to enjoy together. I will remember it for many years to come.
If you haven't seen Marc in concert, get your tickets now. He's amazing.
David M.
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As a musician/drummer myself it's often difficult for me to enjoy live performances of most bands without a critic in my head noticing things like the too-loud guitarist, the too-fast tempo of a favorite familiar song, the phoned-in performance by the artist who's had to play that hit song a thousand times...
But, oh my God, Marc and his band showed everyone at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater what can happen when gifted, mature musicians come together and pool their talent to deliver perfect, magical performances of one man's original music.
It was remarkable how every musician on stage played with so much sensitivity and heart, making each and every song breathe and groove.
The more-laid-back version of "Ghost Train" just killed me, and the in-your-face trashy/bluesy rendition of "Paper Walls" was a real treat.
Throughout the evening the band backed Marc so perfectly, each musician playing only what needed to be played to enhance a song's mood and feel. This was a "Master Class" performance by musicians, FOR musicians . . . everyone else was just lucky to be there.
Marc was candid and genuine, spontaneous and giving. This was one of the best concerts I've ever seen. Thank you to Marc and his band for the very, very special evening.
Mark
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I've been a huge fan for well over 10 years...So many of your songs are my "favorite" song.."Perfect Love"..mmm...perfect...
The show was spectacular, the band incredible, the energy was magical, uplifting,powerful, poignant; an experience I'll keep with me forever.
I look forward to the next time that I see you...and hear you...Thank you.
Shoshana
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This was the second performance that my husband and I have seen and it was awesome!!
This concert was a birthday present for me and it was the best...Marc is a truly wonderful performer...so gracious and appreciative of the crowd...you just don't want it to end.
Luckily for us, he returned to the stage 3 times for encores! We could not get enough and cannot wait for Marc to return!
We love you in Portland, Marc!!!
Roann M.
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I had asked for Marc's new CD for my birthday after seeing him perform on Ellen Degeneres. I have been a fan for many years and was so excited he was BACK!
I was amazed that instead of just buying me the CD, my husband gave me tickets to see the show in Harrisburg on my birthday. I couldn't have asked for anything better.
When Marc & the band performed "Live Out the String," I cried through the whole performance. The words and music touched me in my core and to this day that is the song I play most often and the loudest!
Thanks for a great song and an unbelievable concert. It was a very personal, small setting and I felt like Marc was one of our buddies...he joked and talked to the audience like old friends. Can you say "sagacious"?
Now I can't wait to see him perform LIVE again. Thanks!
Tina K.
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I had the chance to see Marc in concert recently in Toronto thanks to the free tickets I won courtesy of marccohn.net. Since this was Marc’s first tour stop in Canada in nine years there were many eager fans in the audience (myself included) and Marc did not disappoint.
Marc opened the show with “Live Out The String” off his new album which was a great way to start the evening. The next song he did was “Girl of Mysterious Sorrow” which was exciting since that was the one song I really wanted to hear that evening. He then followed that up with “Ghost Train”, and as the very recognizable opening chords were played, the music felt like a warm hug on a cold day and I thought, “Ah yes, I think I would have waited twenty years for this…but I’m really glad I didn’t have to.”
One of the great things about seeing Marc live is that I always come away with a new appreciation for a song I hadn’t really listened to in a while. The last time I saw him in concert, “Paper Walls” totally blew me away to the point that I listened to it on continuous repeat for almost two weeks after. It would have gone on for longer if not for the complaints I started receiving. Apparently, it’s not the most appropriate song for the workplace. Anyway, this time around the song that I rediscovered was “Miles Away” which fortunately is totally safe for work.
The other thing I love about Marc’s concerts is the song selection. There’s nothing more frustrating to me than seeing someone in concert who’s put out fifteen albums and you have to sit through a bunch of shuck and jive just to hear the one song you came there to hear. Since Marc’s song catalog has more quality than quantity, you’re pretty much guaranteed to hear many of your favourites. The set list had a good mix of the new stuff, as well as the classics (which I guess is anything from his first three albums). Marc even took requests at one point which he qualified with “anything but ‘True Companion’”. I’m guessing Marc is hoping this song will die a slow and quiet death, at least in the live setting. I’m fine with it if it means he might play “From The Station” in its place. At least that would be my choice if there was some sort of song exchange program.
This was the third Marc Cohn concert I’ve been to and have to say that it was definitely the best concert (Marc Cohn or otherwise) that I’ve been to. Marc and his band have a really great chemistry and seem to be having a lot of fun playing the music which is contagious.
Although I hope Marc doesn’t wait another nine years to come back to Toronto, I can’t say it wasn’t worth the wait. If you have the chance to see Marc Cohn live, I suggest you run, don’t walk, to get tickets. You will not regret it.
Heather, B.
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Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Not only was the music beautiful, soulful and gutsy, Marc himself made me feel like I was sitting in the living room of good friends sharing laughs, tears and life.
"Silver Thunderbird"...great as always.
"If I Were An Angel"...words don't do it justice.
The new stuff is absolutely fabulous.
Thanks Marc for coming out after the show and letting us see your smile and grateful heart.
Dawn S.
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We saw Marc for the 3rd time in Madison. We loved the show! We have all of Marc's CD's and really treasure each one...of course we have our favorites but we enjoy his stories and fantastic melodies.
Marc gave an exhilarating performance, highlighting many of his new songs and humoring us with some old favorites. We loved seeing Marc on drums...very impressive and fun to watch him make his way all around the stage.
We are true fans and can't wait to see him in these parts again!
Thanks for sharing your stories and your life with us Marc!
See you again soon!
All the best,
Kris and Mike
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I am so excited to be able to submit a review of Marc's St Paul show. My husband and I saw him perform at the Fitzgerald Theater on October 30, 2007, in St Paul, Minnesota. We have seen Marc perform in and around this area close to a dozen times before over the last 15 years. And, this was by far, the best of the best. Marc played a number of tracks off his new cd, Join the Parade. And, he mixed in a good number of older tracks as well. He shared a lot of personal anecdotes between songs that made his already beautiful lyrics, even more poignant. I had never heard the story behind, "Walking in Memphis"....and didn't know that Muriel was a real woman he'd met. So, hearing his memories of that time really allowed me to hear that song with different ears and a new perspective. Same with "Miles Away." That has always been one of my husband's favorites and at the concert, Marc shared some of the frustrations he was feeling when he wrote that song. Then, listening to him perform it, I realized that I had a whole new reaction to it. A deeper understanding.
"Live out the string" is one of the most inspiring and energizing songs I've ever heard from ANY artist. He opened with that - which seemed highly fitting. Setting the bar high for an amazing evening's worth of musical gifts to his audience.
Afterward, he stayed in the lobby of the Fitz to sign copies of his cd. We waited in a long line and watched as he was personable, intimate and gracious with every single person in line. When it was our turn, he agreed to take a picture with us and he generously autographed my cd with both my name and my daughter's name. He took the time and care to make sure he spelled our names correctly and he looked directly into my eyes when I was telling him what a true honor it was to meet him in person.
It is such a warm and lovely feeling, to have someone you admire, turn out to be everything you envisioned they'd be.
I highly recommend anyone and everyone goes to see Marc perform live. And, goes to purchase his new album, Join the Parade. He is a gifted human being and has really made an imprint on my life.
Joanie T.
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I approached seeing Marc Cohn in concert with some trepidation. Would hearing him live be as good as his albums? What if he altered the arrangements so much that the songs would be unrecognisable? After wanting to see him in concert for so many years, would I be disappointed?
I'm sure many people travel to see Marc. I did too - from Australia.
My brother's wedding was the reason for the trip, but when I found out Marc would be playing a single concert while I was in the US, I changed my travel plans to include Chicago and Crystal Lake.
The venue was intimate, a beautifully restored and maintained theatre. The stage was empty of anything but instruments, there was no need for elaborate sets or fancy lightshows, it was just about the music. And what music!
There was the perfect blend of some of Marc's classics, as well as a showcase of a few of his new tracks. He gave us a sneak peak of Join the Parade, which was due to be released a few days after the concert.
To hear new songs, live before hearing them on an album, was memorable. "Listening to Levon," "Let Me Be Your Witness" and the others were stunning! Not to mention hearing some of the classics, like "Rest for the Weary" and "True Companion," or the rush of anticipation hearing the first few bars of "Walking in Memphis."
Along with the great music, Marc himself was warm, engaging and entertaining, even getting into some banter with people. A few dinner invites were issued from the audience, some for Marc, some for Marc and Shane, one for Shane alone!
Best of all was witnessing the joy Marc so clearly derives from his music and performing.
The concert was a highlight of my trip and I hope it's not the last time I see Marc live. And I really hope I don't have to wait another 10 years for his next album!
Sally C.
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If you have been lucky enough to catch one of Marc’s live performances we would love to hear about your experience.
Please take a few moments and submit a show review and let all of us know what you thought about Marc live in concert.