Nathaniel Rateliff has released a cover version of the late Leonard Cohen's "Winter Lady" on the eve of his two Cohen tribute concerts set for this weekend. The song originally appeared on Cohen's 1967 debut album, Songs of Leonard Cohen.
Best known for fronting his band Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, the Denver native is performing Friday and Saturday (April 5 and 6) at the city's Boettcher Concert Hall for a pair of shows dubbed "A Night of Leonard Cohen with the Colorado Symphony," which is part of the Imagination Artist Series.
Rateliff will also perform the tribute concert with the 40-piece Wordless Orchestra in Toronto at Roy Thompson Hall on April 20 and in Montreal at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier on April 22. He'll be supported for all the performances by his frequent collaborator pianist Phil Cook.
Rateliff is one of a few musicians who have taken to performing tribute concerts to their musical heroes, including Cat Power, who is honoring Bob Dylan with her Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert album and tour.
In September, Rateliff will reconvene with the Night Sweats for a co-headlining tour with My Morning Jacket. The bands will swap headlining spots each night and play equal-length sets, beginning Sept. 10 at Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park in Wilmington, N.C. The trek, dubbed the Eye to Eye Tour, will run through Sept. 28 at the Coast Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, N.C.
The bands have mutual admiration, with Rateliff and MMJ frontman Jim James sharing statements praising each other's bands. "We were lucky enough to see Nathaniel and some of the Night Sweats at Preservation Hall in New Orleans some years ago -- our minds were blown, our hearts were opened, and we got swept up in the joy of it all. We are so happy to share the stage with these fine folks for a run full of peace, love, music, and fun!" said James in a statement.
"We are long-time lovers of My Morning Jacket, and over the years have grown a close friendship," added Rateliff. "It's so special to become friends with musicians and peers that you admire and we're looking forward to bringing our love for each other on the road."
