PHOTO CREDIT: theatermania.com

Given the circumstances surrounding Leonard Cohen‘s first U.S. shows in about a decade and a half, allegedly being ripped off by a former manager, one might think Cohen is not as thrilled about his current tour as he might normally be. However, if his 26-song, two and a half hour performance at The Chicago Theater on Wednesday, May 6, is any indication, Cohen might be more pleased than anyone to be back on the road again.

Make no mistake, the massive crowd was pleased as can be to sit through beautifully performed Cohen classics such as “Bird on a Wire” and “So Long, Marianne,” lavishing him with multiple standing ovations, but if there was one vibe attained from Cohen throughout the whole night, it was one of appreciation and reverence. It could be heard in the way he twice took time to introduce each and every member of his nine piece backing band, and it could be seen in the way he took his hat off and stood with his hat over his heart and studied his band mates every time one of them played a solo. It seemed very much like Cohen felt privileged to be a part of the performance. And by the end of the night, the crowd made sure the feeling was mutual.

The band was a ten piece, Cohen included, and all wore suits with some dawning fedoras. The show itself offered two hour long sets, divided by a 25 minute intermission, and three encores running through Cohen’s classic sixties, seventies and eighties material. There were a few newer numbers played like “In My Secret Life,” “Boogie Street,” and “A Thousand Kisses Deep” from 2001’s Ten New Songs album. “A Thousand Kisses Deep” ended up being as poignant as any of the more highly regarded classics that comprised the majority of the set with help from the beautiful spoken word intro Cohen provided.

Nevertheless, it was the classics that most of the middle-aged or older audience came to hear. Cohen indulged them time and time again during the set. His voice has held up remarkably well over time. It’s perhaps a bit raspier than when he was younger, but his voice has retained its signature baritone quality. His renditions of songs he first sang decades ago sounded fantastic. “Hallelujah” was as moving as ever, and classics like “Suzanne,” “The Partisan,” and “Famous Blue Raincoat” have lost none of their power. Much to the crowd’s excitement, the set leaned heavily on 1988’s legendary I’m Your Man LP from which six tracks were played. A beautiful version of “Tower of Song” featured women backup singers, and Cohen delivered the album’s opener “First We Take Manhattan” with startling force and power.

At 74, Cohen wasn’t bouncing around the stage, but he managed to entertain and fill the stage with his presence. He often went down on one knee to sing and even attempted some graceful dancing. The banter was kept to a minimum. But when he did speak to the audience, it was either to express his gratitude or to crack a joke. When addressing the lengthy gap between his last Chicago show, he referred to his then sixty year-old self as “just a kid with a crazy dream.” Based on this performance fourteen years later, Cohen seems to be living that dream.