Manchester 06-Apr-07 Concert Review

Van Morrison @ Bridgewater Hall

I have a list of musical icons to see before either of us shed this mortal coil.

I've done ok - Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page; although my all-time number one Neil Young still evades me.

And routed up there in that top 20, more out of respect and curiosity than anything, is Van Morrison.

My first experience of Morrison was as a 13-year-old at a cousin's wedding hearing Brown-eyed Girl. It's a song that encapsulates everything a song should: dreamy lyrics, a memorable melody, and a sudden urgency to make you
want to dance. Since then the tune has been engraved on my memory thanks to countless nights at my old student union.

Before tonight's gig I doubted Morrison would perform the classics. My understanding is that he's not a nostalgia performer; he's an ever-evolving
artist. Just take a look at his back catalogue, almost 40 studio albums to date, and no sign of fading into obscurity.

The 62-year-old Belfast boy is still three years off retirement, which, for him, is nowhere in sight. He appears on the stage of Bridgewater Hall
dressed in his characteristic sharp suit, hat and dark glasses, packed snugly amongst his broad band of musicians.

Growl

He ploughs through a mound of songs recreating not only blues, jazz and soul but Celtic folk, scat, rock 'n' roll with his unmistakable growl. Bright Side of the Road is bliss; Saint James Infirmary, more so; Brown-Eyed Girl, efolescdnt. Gloria, epic.

But for me this collection is about Precious Time, where Morrison sings "Precious time is slipping away, but you're only king for a day, it doesn't
matter to which God you pray."

This rings true for this treasured veteran; king for a day; coronated here tonight.

Morrison has been unfairly ciriticised about his disconnected and arrogant style of performance, but for me tonight he has been faultless. To say that
Morrison doesn't have an integral passion about his music would be a terrible inaccuracy. Morrison loves singing his songs. And he loves watching his songs played by the brilliant musicians around him
turning a 40-year-old idea into an unfurling orchestral soundscape.

It must feel amazing; and humbling at the same time.

My only issue tonight is that all-seater venues like Bridgewater Hall encourage a static audience. What I saw tonight was a 'mature' audience dying to break out and bust some moves, but were constrained by politeness and were made to 'feel their age'.

My advice to Morrison: ditch the seats, I promise it’ll turn back the clocks and change everything.

Setlist:
Opening song (Ned Edwards)
Enlightenment
All Work
Can't Stop Loving You
Don't Start Crying/Custard Pie
Playhouse
There Stands The Glass
Cleaning Windows
When the Leaves Come Falling Down
That's Life
Wild Night
Northern Muse
Goin' Down Geneva/Cadillac
Georgia
Jackie Wilson
Bright Side Of The Road
Days Like This
St. James Infirmary
Precious Time
Brown Eyed Girl
Gloria

-Thanks To Dan For Setlist