Gainey family (L-R): Bob, Anna, Colleen and Stephen

Cohen, now 73, has freeloaded on the unblinking, unquestioning, sequacious adoration of Montrealers for generations, offering precious little in return. That he occasionally graces Plateau passers-by with his presence, his narrow form quickly glimpsed along the Main near his home, while adding to a poet's mystique, counts little towards a credible reciprocation of the love this man thieves from his devotees.

This is Cohen's first Montreal concert since his 1993 Forum appearance. I'm not even a fan, and I don't find that acceptable. There used to be some kind of not-so-secret Cohen society at McGill - every year they'd cook up a Cohen tribute, every year they'd invite him, and every year he'd refuse to acknowledge their existence. Also not acceptable. And now, on the eve of his first Montreal shows in forever, he has declined to speak to any members of the media, thus depriving fans of the opportunity to re-meet the man who has enjoyed a special relationship with this city, one-way love affair though it is.

Which is to say, where once Montreal was his confidante and muse, now it's his bottomless piggy bank. Here's a guy who closeted himself off from the world, closed his eyes to everyday life at the top of a mountain in California, and then was surprised to find someone had picked his pantry while he'd gone about the business of thinking about nothing for five years. (His ex-manager is said to have stiffed him to the tune of five million frijoles.) It makes you wonder if he's mystically idiotic or just transcendentally naive. I know what my money's on.

That said, if he managed to sell out three consecutive concerts at Place des Arts next week at prices ranging from $99.50 to $224.50 a pop (plus the usual extortions), he's not that dumb.

Others will argue he can do whatever he wants, that that's his right. And, of course, it is. There's absolutely nothing obligating him to return the affections of a fan club, there's nothing forcing him to perform for those who buy his music, there's no gun to his head making him ask a reasonable ticket price for his live shows, there's no one twisting his arm to talk to the press. He doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to do. And so he doesn't.

Just one question: Why did you pay $250 to see this guy again?

At the other end of the spectrum we have the Gainey family, who, despite tremendous losses - and because of said losses - have dedicated themselves to giving back to Montrealers, and all Canadians, through the Gainey Foundation.

Last December, Laura Gainey - daughter to Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey, and sister to Anna, Colleen and Stephen - was lost in a sailing mishap that came as a shock to everyone in the larger Habs family. This after saying goodbye to wife and mother Cathy after she succumbed to cancer in 1995. But in their memory came the creation of the Gainey Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to causes that were of interest to both Laura and Cathy, primarily benefiting young people.

"They both had that kind of magnetic personality," says foundation executive director Anna Gainey. "Kids just flocked to them and followed them around, my sister especially. And she really enjoyed teaching art classes to young kids - that's what she did during the summer. She liked being creative and getting her hands dirty. So that's certainly something we could see ourselves supporting, and that would really reflect what Laura loved to do."

Apart from that, Gainey says the foundation is already receiving applications "from everything from small community theatres that run summer programs for kids to Boys and Girls Clubs to summer camps that get kids out of urban centres and into the Canadian wilderness. Anything that generates an opportunity for a young person to have an experience that they might not otherwise have."

And things, according to Gainey, are headed in the right direction. "We're still in a fund development phase, although we are going to be in a position to write some of our first cheques later this summer."

The extent of the cheque writing will doubtless depend in part on the success of their latest fundraising endeavour, a blowout concert featuring headliners Great Big Sea and Sam Roberts, along with guests Michel Rivard, Nikki Yanofsky, beatboxer/comedian Charlypop, Shane Murphy and Bran Van 3000's Sara Johnston. It will be hosted by Marc Denis, and goes down at Métropolis, June 24, starting at 8 p.m.

According to Anna, a concert was a natural choice. "My dad's just a huge music fan. He's always got your paper, and he's always got the 'What's On' in The Gazette tucked into his bag, and when he travels he looks for opportunities to go and see live music in small venues. It kind of gives him a chance to get out of the hockey space a bit."

Does Dad's enthusiasm infect the rest of the clan? "We all enjoy music but we didn't really grow up playing piano and guitar and singing Kumbaya together or anything like that," she laughs.

So nobody should confuse the Gaineys with the Wainwrights?

"No, definitely not! We're a far, far cry from that."
 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

Ø     Yes, let's pretend I didn't already submit something here because what I said ruffled some feathers. Of course, since the readership is next to nil one tends to wonder who's really being protected from my poison. Whatever. This article on Leonard Cohen was bogus then, it is so now, it will be so tomorrow. I'm not the only one to think so--Gabriella Mastromatteo was the only one who summed it up in a succinct fashion. That's all I gotta say.
Pedro Eggers		July 15th, 2008
Yes, I would pay any amount of money to see a living legend play again and again....!     I've been listening to Leonard Cohen since I was in nappies,my mother was a fan of his work and even though i had to hate and rebel everything she did or said I couldn't help but love his words and music. I was recently at his Dublin show with three of my wildest friends so we floated into the venue with a bottle of vodka and we had one of the most amazing nights ever,we didn't get to meet him but we somehow got to the front row and welcomed him to Ireland and him being such a gentleman,he tipped his hat to us. We were the youngest people there but it didn't matter,the older generation seemed to be on our wavelength and posh ladies that had not smiled since the 70ties were in a frenzy of his beauty and now secretly wishing they could make love to everybody there. Men were singing along in his political voice and they were remembering what they promised themselves would do for the world ,before they became fat cats. We were all in a trance that this amazing man spun up with his thoughts and charisma and we all loved it and wished it could always be this way. So what if the man doesn't want to talk shite to the press,do you think he cares about plugging his favourite restaurant or telling everybody he hates this and loves that ?No Im sure he is secretly delighted with his fan club and im sure they know that. I am not a die-hard fan but the atmosphere that he can create is beyond silly cash and i would have been prepared to pay 95euros or any amount to see something original and unique especially now at days where its so hard to come by. I even priced a ticket back home to Montreal to see his magic once more and to tell you the truth if i were you i would be more interested in writing an article on the crazy prices airlines charge! thank-you.
Gabriella Mastromatteo		June 20th, 2008

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