What can you say about a singer-songwriter who brings existential meaning to a silver Thunderbird, making it a symbol of an innocence that has been lost in America?
Here's what David Crosby had to say about Cohn, courtesy of marccohn.org:
I think Marc Cohn is easily in the top half dozen talents in the world. He writes and sings at an amazing level. He has consistently written some of the best songs in American music. I rank him with Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Paul Simon, and Shawn Colvin. I believe his music will last and be loved hundreds of years from now.
Marc Cohn, a native of Cleveland and the winner of the 1991 Grammy for Best New Artist, consistently a high level of emotion and meaning to tonight's performance at Bimbos 365 in San Francisco. Cohn was joined onstage by lead guitarist Shane Fontayne, bass guitarist Jennifer Condos and drummer Jay Bellerose. Fontayne has toured extensively with Cohn and has also shared the stage and studio with an impressive list of rock music’s elite including Bruce Springsteen, U2, Paul Simon, Shania Twain, Bryan Adams, and Rod Stewart.
Everyone in our group remarked on how amazing the guitarist was. No wonder!
Cohn and Fontayne delivered on standards such as "Silver Thunderbird" and "Walking In Memphis" while also introducing the audience to material from Cohn's new, yet unnamed album, due to be released in late 2004 or early 2005.
Cohn developed an easy rapport with the audience, kidding that it was hard to explain to his friends that he would be performing at The Luther Burbank Arts Center in Santa Rosa followed by a place called "Bimbos" in San Francisco. He quickly added, "I'm a Bimbos kind of guy" to which the crowd erupted with applause.
They also erupted with applause to the song he dedicated to his mother-in-law, when he promised to sing "My True Companion," every time he announced he had a new song to play, and when he came back for a second encore which was partly inspired by some fans who came all the way from North Carolina to hear him in concert.
The audience was not the same electrifying crowd that Jamie Cullum drew out a few weeks ago, but if you looked at the average age around you, and that everyone was seated vs. standing, and took into account it was a Sunday night, it was quite understandable.
The highlight of tonight's performance was "Walking In Memphis." Cohn led into the song by reprising James Taylor's "Walking Man." Cohn's performance of his signature song, which contains some of my favorite lyrics, sent shivers not only down my spine but throughout my whole body.
Now Muriel plays piano
Every Friday at the Hollywood
And they brought me down to see her
And they asked me if I would —
Do a little number
And I sang with all my might
And she said —
“Tell me are you a Christian child?”
And I said “Ma’am I am tonight
Cohn is clearly a deeply spiritual man and that spirituality creates the underpinning for the heartfelt emotion of his music.
Cohn performed his final number, appropriately, alone with his acoustic guitar singing "One Same Place" from his upcoming album:
Life is trial by fire
And love’s the sweetest taste
And I pray it lifts us higher
To one safe place
Amen, brother!
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P.S. Thanks Bimbo's for moving us from all the way in back toward the front as Cohn took the stage. What a difference!
From San Francisco, Cohn & Company will be heading north to Seattle where they will perform at The Triple Door on June 30th and July 1st ($48) - 206.838.4333.
On July 2nd, Cohn will be at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon ($25) 503.233.1994.
For his remaining summer and fall schedule, please go to: marccohn.org
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