Conspiracy of Beards ~ Leonard Cohen choir May 2, 2010

San Francisco's CONSPIRACY OF BEARDS is a 30-member male choir that performs gritty, original arrangements of the songs of LEONARD COHEN (who received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys this year). This is The Beards' 3rd annual springtime visit to NYC.

Formed in 2003 through the inspiration of the late performance artist Peter Kadyk, this a capella group has become a fixture in SF's folk scene. The Beards are well known for their live performances at Bay Area venues such as the Cafe du Nord, the Great American Music Hall, and The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and SF City Hall, as well as in bars, bookstores, hospices and various community centers. The choir has also been featured on National Public Radio's "West Coast Live," on KFOG, KPFA, WFMU and on PBS television station KQED-TV.

Transforming Cohen's simple melodies into complex 4- and 5-part harmonies, the group achieves a sound that is both robust and tender, with influences of indie rock, jazz, gospel, barbershop, classical and doo-wop in the unique arrangements the choir creates. Using the genius of Cohen's words, the Beards inspire audiences to ponder romance, politics, sex, longing and spirituality, all amid laughter and cheers.

"Like its inspiration, the group is deeply sincere, humble and humorous." -- Las Vegas Sun

"'Chelsea Hotel #2,'" as performed by the somber San Francisco all-male choir, is perfect in every way." -- San Francisco Chronicle

"...the troupe breaks Cohen's haunting warbles into multi-part harmonies, exploring the dark edges with complex, expertly rendered vocal interpretations." -- Andrew Phillips, flavorpill (NYC)

www.conspiracyofbeards.com