Conspiracy of Beards, a San Francisco based 30-member male choir performing original, a capella arrangements of the poetic songs of Leonard Cohen, return to the Throckmorton Theatre.
Now in their 13th season, the choir brings an energized live choral music experience out of churches and tabernacles and into the taverns, art houses, and theaters around the Bay Area and beyond. Drawing on influences ranging from jazz and gospel to barbershop and doo-wop, the choir transforms Cohen’s lyrics and simple melodies into complex 4- and 5-part harmonies.
Directed by Bay Area composer, Daryl Henline, this group of dapper men in suits conspire to capture all of the emotion and humor of Leonard Cohen’s original music with their dynamic, original arrangements and expressive stage presence. They are stewards of Cohen’s words.
Sylvie Simmons, born and raised in London, ran away to California in the late ’70s to be a rock writer. The BBC made a documentary on her, The Rock Chick. She’s an award-winning author. Her most recent book is I’m Your Man: The Life Of Leonard Cohen, which the New York Times called “Definitive – mesmerizing, fearless and smart.” Sylvie’s unorthodox Cohen book tour took her around the world for a year, singing his songs with a ukulele. In 2014, Simmons signed a record deal, stepping forward as a singer-songwriter. The Guardian newspaper called her self-titled debut album, “One of the most beautiful albums of the year”. When she’s not on the road, Simmons is in San Francisco, writing about music for MOJO magazine, working on a second collection of short stories and plotting her new album.
Join us for a special Mother’s Day concert!
