Van Tops Off '06 With A Solid Vegas Gig

Rave reviews came in from many Van fans for his 30-Dec-06 show at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas: "Good energy... cordial... cracking an occasional one-liner... band is in top form..." was one way one fan described it.

One veteran Van concert goer observed: "Van was just JAMMING! During 'Stop Drinking that Wine' he says into the microphone, 'Maybe I'll be having a glass of wine after the show!'.... (Wow!)....Very animated...very talkative...."

Setlist:
Domino
Bright Side of the Road
Stop Drinkin'
There Stands the Glass
Cleaning Windows
Can't Stop Lovin' You
Not Feelin' It Any More
Moondance
Wild Night
Saint James Infirmary
Wonderful Remark
Have I Told You Lately I Love You
Precious Time
Help Me
Brown Eyed Girl
Healing Has Begun ~ The Healing Game
Gloria

Van also played the previous night at The Grand in San Francisco, 29-Dec-06. Van paid tribute to one of his greatest influences, James Brown, by playing "Out Of Sight".

One fan wrote: "Van started a few minutes early and ran 5 minutes over for all those who keep track of his sets. If there was any downside, it was that the songs were, well, compact. There was no over-the-top extended riffing, but enough of it within pieces, to make me a very happy camper."

Another wrote: "Nothing new from Van last night in San Francisco. Just the same amazing voice, professional band and occasional hints of that musical magic we all know he is so capable of producing. His catalog of transcendental music is so rich and deep; it's such a shame that he won't perform it for us anymore. And I don't mean BEG and Gloria. That being said, Van, as a great artist, can do whatever he wants; he's easily earned that right for eternity. Dammit!"

Finally another long-time fan summed it up the San Francisco show this way:

"I have to add how pleased I was that he did not play "Precious Time," "Have I Told You Lately," or "Moondance." All in all,though heavy on the r&b and honky tonk, and way too light on the songs that channel in from the slipstream, it was, once it got going, a great show."

Much thanks to Art for these terrific pictures above. Fantastic shots!