19-Apr-09 Royal Albert Hall London Concert Review

Nosey has this review:

Van came on about and went straight into Northern Muse (which was better than last night), come to think of it, it was quite a good rendition, followed by Troubadours (again, much better than last night). And it Stoned Me and Wild Night were next. Then came the proper version of Have I Told You Lately with Van playing sax for the first time this evening.

The next 3 songs were GREAT, Caravan, All In The Game and Healing Has Begun. BUT Common One was absolutely stunning, Van and Richie (as echo) were brilliant, the line where Van says "Going for a long long long drive" must have had about 40 "longs" in it, the audience even started to applaud part way through, but they just carried on regardless, just terrific. A much better 1st set than last night.


Now, the 2nd set (IMHO) was probably THE BEST 2nd SET so far. Van just kept playing guitar at the end of Astral Weeks, as if he was almost rehearsing by himself with the band just following him. Beside You had haunting violin pieces that just made my spine tingle. Slim Slow Slider was great with Van doing that heavy strumming thing that he does lately. Sweet Thing (Misty you missed a stunner) - this was an outstanding version, Van was virtually dancing at the end of this, then just seemed to be staring upwards (to heaven?) at the very end. Cyprus Avenue, we got a change of white guitars, this version was relatively short, but still very good. Ballerina, When Van sang "Here comes the Man" he actually Jumped forward (with both feet at the same time), Young Lovers Do was another shortish version, Madame George, we got an introduction Van said something about part of the song was around here somewhere (meaning West London, I guess) then he went on to say that he was offered some Heroin!!!!

The second white guitar was now "out of tune" so we got the 1st one back (or are ther 3 ?). This was probably one of the best ever versions I've heard and at the end Van sang "This is a Train" so many different ways, it sounded like he wasn't sure if he was on a train, or if a train actually existed, Tremendous, absolutely tremendous.
Listen To The Lion - WHEW, just about all I can say about it just another stunning version.
Finishing up with Mystic Eyes into Gloria and no encore.

Setlist:
set 1
Northern muse
Troubadours
And it Stoned Me
Have I Told You Lately
Caravan
Its all in the game
The Healing has begun
Common One

set 2
Astral Weeks
Ballerina
The Way Young Lovers Do
Beside You
Sweet Thing
Cyprus Avenue
Madame George
Slim Slow Slider
Listen to the Lion
Mystic eyes/Gloria

Big Hand For The Band(s)!
Tony Fitzgibbon
Bobby Ruggiero
Sarah Jory
Jay Berliner
Paul Moran
Liam Bradley
Richie Buckley
Bianca Thornton
David Hayes
John Platania
Terry Adams
Nancy Ellis
Rick Schlosser
Pauline Lozano