10-Apr-08 Milan Concert Review

La Stampa:
Full grey tailoring, hat, dark sunglasses. Never a muscle that moves, even when he sings or plays the sax or guitar and even the ukulele. Indifference (seemingly) total to two thousand devotees dell'Arcimboldi (plus another two thousand yesterday), mostly middle-aged. Van Morrison is a legend who stubbornly to behave as one who simply plays and sings instead of the hydraulic system. The affair lasted for years, such talk as a bear; its discs are no longer promoted, even this trentacinquesimo Keep It Simple, released recently, singing his distrust for the media.

Precisely with the title track, Van The Man has closed (gorgogliando "whatever you do, do simple" and then disappearing into thin air after an hour and a half precise), the most beautiful of its concerts in Italy over the last ten years, flanked by a band of nine elements plus two coriste. A delightful company, and trippona agée, attentissima because Van never even does not say what they play and it seems that if someone falls behind to understand, then fly furie tremendous behind the scenes. The artist has inspired swing open with the classic This Love of Mine, went into ballad with Magic Time, is risprofondato in swing Have I Told You Lately and its vocione roboante also omaggiato Ray Charles with a poignant I Can not Stop Loving You. In an eclectic mixture as he is, has incorporated blues, folk, jazz, r'n'b ', with the help of tosto ensemble guitar and slide guitar that reveals how much sweetness, basically, quest'orso hide.



Here's a review from an Italian message Board called Roots Highway:

(Translated via Google)

Cmq beautiful concert, for 30 of 90 minutes the best I have seen (Real real gone, Vanlose stairway, Tupelo honey / Why must I always explain, I can not stop loving you for Ray Charles version country / folk).
Beginning instead somewhat 'shaky (seemed very scazzato, the first verses that sang almost did not feel anything because it is located next to the microphone Very Happy, a half meters, which promptly raised the volume, then he has noticed that the microphone was not there, it was moved and felt fortissimissimo for 3 seconds, which of course he has some 'angry but do not know who ... with the usual myth!).

The second part of the concert devoted to the new album, played all but 2 pieces (2 of the 3 worst left out, ie Do not go to nightclubs and No. thing that therefore there beccherete tonight Wink). In this part, sometimes there were electric guitars 2 + 2 + acoustic mandolin and ukulele, guitar sound and almost rock never seen his concerts + percussion, in addition to battery, very present). Some live more beautiful, because no other has all accelerated and thus lose some 'their charm (or type Soul Lover come back) or conclusive Behind the ritual, which seemed to have much hurry to return to his home, what that the end always leaves you a little 'nasty taste in the mouth. Among the new high How can a poor boy, with a chorus of coretto entries very low, in contrast with the rest of the piece, very bad ".

But since playing 88-90 minutes, making nearly the entire album takes away space to the other pieces. As usual, nothing a (part of the public remained there for 15 min. To ask loudly, I now these things, Van, we do not believe more) and this time or even Gloria Brown eyed girl, but for me this is not a problem.
Excellent band, great John Platania (double Giorgio Gaber), and good violinist Sarah Jory to slide, the beautiful songs. The other guitarist, Mick Green, which is not a pivello, at some point you an overturned by Mestro, who yelled "come on, come on" and did sign with their hands out to wake up after have drawn attention to giving some coup sull'ukulele (of course while playing), but someone will say that it wanted to play well.