40th Anniversary of Van's His Band And The Street Choir Album

Van Morison's His Band And The Street Choir was released 40 years ago today on 15 November 1970. Originally titled Virgo's Fool, Street Choir was renamed by Warner Brothers without Van's consent. Van had intended to record the album a cappella with only vocal backing by a vocal group he called the Street Choir.

Side one

"Domino"

"Crazy Face"

"Give Me a Kiss (Just One Sweet Kiss)"

"I've Been Working"

"Call Me Up in Dreamland"

"I'll Be Your Lover, Too"

Side two

"Blue Money"

"Virgo Clowns"

"Gypsy Queen"

"Sweet Jannie"

"If I Ever Needed Someone"

"Street Choir"

Street Choir peaked at number 32 on the Billboard 200 and number 18 on the UK Album Chart and was help mainly by the Top Ten hit Domino. Some songs on the album were previously recorded a few years earlier: I've Been Working was an out-take from the Astral Weeks sessions in 1968 and the Moondance sessions in 1969; If I Ever Needed Someone was also originally recorded in 1968; Virgo Clowns was first recorded at the start of 1969 as (Sit Down) Funny Face; Crazy Face evolved from "Going Around with Jesse James", a song Van first recorded for Astral Weeks on 15 October 1968.

Rolling Stone magazine's, Jon Landau, reviewed Street Choir and described it as follows:

His Band and the Street Choir is a free album. It was recorded with minimal over-dubbing and was obviously intended to show the other side of Moondance. And if it has a flaw it is that, like Moondance, it is too much what it set out to be. A few more numbers with a gravity of "Street Choir" would have made this album as close to perfect as anyone could have stood.

But notwithstanding its limitations. His Band and the Street Choir is another beautiful phase in the continuing development of one of the few originals left in rock. In his own mysterious way. Van Morrison continues to shake his head, strum his guitar and to sing his songs. He knows it's too late to stop now and he quit trying to a long, long time ago. Meanwhile, the song he is singing keeps getting better and better.

RTE Radio 1: Listening to Van Morrison

A special programme, Listening To Van Morrison, with Greil Marcus, American music and cultural critic, author of Listening to Van Morrison (Faber), as he explains what he has come to understand about Morrison's music from paying it deep attention, with special emphasis on the achievement and enduring appeal of Astral Weeks (1968).

24-Oct-10 Royal Albert Hall, London, England

Van reached some incredible heights at the RAH last night. The range in his voice once he opened up with Fair Play, after the toe-tapping ‘greatest hits’ openers, was simply stunning. We saw Van the jazz musician, the blues-man and the pop singer but it is those searching, searing moments of stunning ‘Celtic soul’ that make Van so unique and that bring shivers to the spine and tears to the eyes. And there were plenty of them last night, with Fair Play, In the Garden, Into the Mystic, and Ballerina simply stunning and all worth the ticket price alone. Beautiful, beguiling, rousing, compelling, life-affirming music that just touches something, who knows what…. So, a fantastic show and thank goodness that Van is still performing, still playing and singing these songs. But when a Van show ends though you’re always left wanting just that little bit more which is, I guess, a good thing….Thank you Van.

-Simon

At 45 minutes last night after a sublime In The Garden I thought "This could be the best show ever". He then took us higher still, but it trailed off a bit, and the crowd-pleasing Have I Told You Lately and Bright Side were extremely flat, with a rousing Help Me and Gloria bringing it back up.

Thanks to Paolo for photos.

Fair Play was wonderful, Little Village merely great and Moondance - as ever - let the band stretch out. Although I groaned when it started, Keep Mediocrity At Bay was enjoyable, as was Keep It Simple later - just goes to show that Van does things with songs on stage that don't happen in the studio.

The first hour, after the now traditional throat warmers (Baby Please Don't Go>Here Comes The Night>BEG) was stunning - it summed up the reason why we all do this. All In The Game, In The Garden, a great Celtic Excavation>Into The Mystic and the rendition of Ballerina was the best I've heard - a completely different song - but then..............

But I still came out smiling. I bumped into Simon at the merchandise stand - he thought it a '7', I'd have said '8' - just for Fair Play, Garden and Ballerina. What's great is that Van is performing these songs now as well as - or better - than ever and his voice is still way beyond what anybody else can do. It could have been sublime, but he was merely wonderful. Are we setting our expectations high again, and isn't that great?

The band were on the whole excellent, although the drummer needs a bit of education - I heard him too much. Good to see Paul Moore back on bass. Nobody can ever replace David Hayes, but I thought Paul was good in the shows before the Astral Weeks tour. Jay Berliner continues to be perfect, and Paul Moran holds it all together. The lead guitarist (Andy Jones?) was impressive on his solos without being over-indulgent. The two young horn players, one on trombone, the other on tenor sax, flute, clarinet and oboe, were excellent. As JC said afterwards, it's great that Van uses young players in his band. They played with real confidence. At one point, we had trumpet, trombone and two saxes wailing out - when did that last happen? (I know - Glasgow the night before).

As ever, it was equally wonderful meeting a load of old friends, and even more new ones. I'll forget people, for which usual apologies, but there were fans from Belgium, Holland, France, Spain and probably loads of other places. Great to see Pat again after too many years, the wonderful, Dail, Peter, JC, Brenda, Julia, Marion, Bert, Brendan - the list isn't endless but it may as well be with my memory! Nosey took pains to make introductions - a real Vanbassador.

Just before we left the pub for the show, Nosey and I were talking to a young couple. It was their first van show. He'd always loved his music, her dad had always been a fan and brought her up on it. I hope they enjoyed what we all got.

Cheers

-Jez

This was Van 2010 version. Greatest hits live it was billed as and taking away Keep Mediocrity At Bay that is what we got.

For those of us fortunate enough to have witnessed the sensational Astral Weeks shows at The RAH this show was always going to be difficult one.

Van however was at his professional best. Most importantly he gave 100% to all the songs. The newish band were excellent however Van without Richie Buckley is always a sadness.

The new start with the medley of Baby please don't go, Brown Eyed Girl and Here Comes The Night was fine. Fair Play was wonderful. The £200 price tag was actually made good value by a 15 minute period during which he took us all into that higher ground in a way that only he can.

In the Garden was remarkable - always a strong closing song at his live gigs in the late 80's - his sensitive delivery was just stunning. Definite highlight of the night.

However many times I have seen him play Game live it never disappoints and this version was one of the best.

I have a feeling that we may only see Van on odd occasions in the UK in years to come. I hope that we don't just get greatest hits shows. I will keep going even if it is for those magical few minutes which still enthrall and amaze us.

Also while he still cares it is worth going. There was a sense of real effort last night. Thanks Van - come back again.

-Johnny Longley

Sunshine In London

I knew it was going to be a great Sunday. I woke to see three swans gliding on the glass water of our dock, in the weak autumn sun of a chilly blue sky. It was a majestic start to a day that ended with a Van Morrison concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

If you have read any of my blog posts, you will know I am crazy about Van Morrison’s music. Like silly crazy. So when my husband got this new job, we celebrated by buying tickets for this one-night-only Classic Van concert at the Royal Albert Hall. He knew it was a big treat for me, as I had eyed this show since it was first announced back in June. I think we got the last two tickets in the house. We didn’t even sit together. And our seats were in the “choir” section, above and behind the stage. We had a fabulous view of the band, and – knowing Van and his propensity to turn to face his band – I was pretty confident we’d see more of his face that way. And we did.

We had to brave the cold London evening and cross the city on unreliable weekend public transport, but we arrived a good hour early. The Royal Albert Hall is a beautiful, regal venue in South Kensington, built as part of Prince Albert’s vision for the promotion of the arts and science. It was completed after Prince Albert’s death from typhoid, and opened in 1871. Directly opposite it, in Hyde Park, is the famous golden memorial to the Prince Consort, described as one of the grandest, high-Victorian gothic extravaganzas anywhere. At night it stands in grand, spot-lit splendour against a dark sky.

We went into the Hall as soon as the doors opened, bought some coffee and hung around the foyer and the corridors. We looked at brochures and framed photographs of stars on the hall’s hallowed stages, reckoning we’d take our seats about 15 minutes before the show was due to start. I was so excited I couldn’t stand still … classic Van, man! Does it get better than that? Seriously? I don’t think so.

Our seats were not too bad, one row and about five seats apart. Enough for me to keep looking at my husband and smiling and waving and winking and smiling and waving and, did I say smiling? There was not much leg room between the rows, and I was glad not to be long-legged, nor to have shoes one size bigger. The seat was big enough for me to boogy in, though, and boogy I did!

I sat next to a stiff-lipped English couple, and a cheerful Dutch chappy in a checked shirt. Turns out he was as much of a Van fan as I am – sheesh, he’d flown in from the Netherlands for the concert – and we soon became new best friends.

The band started to arrive on the stage, the lights went down and that big voice said, “Ladies and gentleman, MR VAN MORRISON!” I like that voice. And that’s when I began to scream. And whistle.

Van, in trademark dark suit, dark glasses and black fedora, walked on to the stage, microphone in hand, harmonica in mouth, and opened his show with a medley of Baby, Please Don’t Go and Here Comes the Night. I felt like crying. He went on to sing his well-known favourites like Brown Eyed Girl, Moondance, Have I told You Lately, Into the Mystic, Ballerina, Bright Side of the Road. My personal favourite was All in the Game, which he teased out into the most incredible arrangement with solos from each of his band members: trombonist, pianist, saxophonist, drummer, double bass player, lead guitarist and acoustic guitarist. The double bass player doubled as a bass guitarist, and Van doubled as a saxophonist and harmonica player. I can’t even describe the music they made – just sublime.

I loved watching Van control his musicians with the flick of his hand and a trilling of his fingers. He did what he does so well – brings the music to a stomping crescendo and then right back down to a whisper. I was with him on his every word, every note and I didn’t want to miss a thing. He closed with a rousing version of Gloria, which brought the entire audience to its feet. It was indescribable to experience a packed Royal Albert Hall, filled to the rafters, with Van-loving punters clapping and screaming and whistling for his music never to end. We couldn’t take photographs, but that sight – and feeling – overwhelmed me as it etched itself in my mind.

I made a note of Van’s playlist, lest I forget, and my Dutch neighbour chipped in when he thought I might not know the title – which, believe me, wasn’t often! If I couldn’t sit with my husband, it was wonderful to sit beside another fellow Van fan. After the show finished, we agreed we had just experienced a very very special concert. I told him I had felt like crying, and he said, “Yes, I had some of those moments too.”

One thing about Van’s music is that it is so difficult to categorise. When I look for his music in a music shop, I never know whether to look in the soul section, R & B, jazz, blues, folk. His music could be in any or all of those. But last night, I was reminded that he is in a category all of his own: awesome. Totally awesome.

Setlist
Baby Please Don’t Go->Here Comes The Night
Brown Eyed Girl
Fair Play/Autumn Song
Keep Mediocrity at Bay
Little Village
Moondance
It's All in the Game
In The Garden
Celtic Excavation->Into The Mystic
Ballerina
Have I Told You Lately
Bright Side Of The Road
Keep It Simple
Help Me
Gloria

Big Hand for the Band!
Chris White - Sax
Alistair White - Trombone
Jeff Lardner - Drums
Paul Moore - Bass
Paul Moran - Organ
Jay Berliner - Guitar


Much thanks to Paolo for his amazing photos - see them here. Grazie!

23-Oct-10 Glasgow Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow, Scotland

Van's performance was very impressive. He was in the centre of a group of exceptional musicians who played quietly for the most part. The effect was entrancing as Van sang beautifully and effortlessly controlled the proceedings.

Band: No band introductions, but no Richie Buckley, no David Hayes
Two short points of note:

In The Garden was performed with the stage bathed in violet light for the duration of the song. This evoked thoughts of his "father and his mother' as well as the No Guru album sleeve. After singing the "father and the son and the holy ghost" once, he changed it to "holy guardian angel" which he repeated many times towards the end of the song.

Secondly, in over thirty years of attendance at Van's Scottish shows this was the first I have experienced with any empty seats. In fact entire rows in the more expensive sections remained unused. It was clearly a reaction to the ticket prices which were double what had been charged for his last visit.

Regards (and thanks for all your great work)

-Stephen McGinn

Thank you, Stephen. Stephen is a long time Van fan and created of the Van Morrison Newsletter over 20 years ago.

Setlist

Baby Please Don't Go/Here Comes The Night

Brown Eyed Girl

Fair Play

Little Village

Playhouse

Keep It Simple

Rough God Goes Riding

Keep Mediocrity At Bay

It's All In The Game/You Know What They're Writing About

Moondance/My Funny Valentine

St James Infirmary

Celtic Excavation/Into The Mystic

In The Garden

Ballerina

Help Me

Gloria

Big Hand for the Band!
Chris White - Sax
Alistair White - Trombone
Jeff Lardner - Drums
Paul Moore - Bass
Paul Moran - Organ
Jay Berliner - Guitar

Solomon Burke 1940-2010

09-Oct-10 Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara, USA

Here's Christopher's review:

I was lucky enough to go to both these shows and they were both terrific. Van was in a good mood and in good voice both nights. The set lists were very similar. Ballerina in San Francisco but not Santa Barbara. Precious Time in Santa Barbara. Most importantly, he seemed into the music both nights so there were lots of surprises along the way. During All in the Game in San Francisco, he sang "Open up your heart," while looking straight up in the air and then said, "That's really hard......I don't want to do that." During the same song in Santa Barbara, he sort of got the giggles early on and never really recovered. He kept breaking himself up laughing. It actually seemed like a nice change.

He also tried to tell a joke both nights before Playhouse (in which jazz guitarist Jay Berliner plays an unlikely banjo). I couldn't hear the answer the first night, but it goes, "What's the difference between a banjo and a trampoline?" "You take off your shoes before you jump on a trampoline." (rim shot).

He played In the Garden wonderfully both nights but kept it very quiet for a long time in Santa Barbara. During "No Guru.....," he said something like, "That line came from a man not far from here...Ojai!" A reference to Krishnamurti, I think. Because then he said, "One more time for K" before singing another chorus of "No guru."

The Santa Barbara Bowl is a wonderful outdoor amphitheater. The sound was gorgeous but it's a hike to get in and I wondered if he would stick to his usual on-time start while lots of people were still filing in. I think he actually started almost 5 minutes early.

For awhile, I'm healed...........

- Chris

Setlist

Baby, Please Don't Go

Here Comes the Night

Brown Eyed Girl

Fair Play

Keep Mediocrity At Bay

Little Village

Playhouse

Keep It Simple

Back on Top

Rough God Goes Riding

It's All in the Game

Precious Time

In the Garden

Celtic Excavation->Into the Mystic

Moondance->My Funny Valentine

Help Me

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

David Hayes

Paul Moran

Jay Berliner

Andy Jones

Richie Buckley

Bobby Ruggiero

Becky Ramsey

08-Oct-10 Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco

Here's Art's Review:

Did you want some hits?  Did you want to hear the blues?  Philosophy? Jazz? Lengthy interior ramblings accompanied by glorious rolling grooves?  or a big, powerful classic ballad?  Anyway, it was all on display last night at the Nob Hill Masonic.  Van was energetic, very committed to every song, even the 60's material played with conviction at the very start.  And did he extend the instrumental part at the end of Brown Eyed Girl a few extra bars because 4 or 5 nubile women were up and gyrating in front of him?  Probably.

From there to the first of the bucolic, meditational pieces, 1974's "Fair Play", with extemporized lyrics about church bells in the distance and beautiful solos, especially Richie Buckley on flute and Paul Moran on both piano and trumpet.  Then uptempo  to a shouted, rousing and defiant "Keep Mediocrity at Bay", which this time around has a harp intro and an infectious New Orleans style groove,  and back down to the sublime "Little Village", highlighted by Jay Berliner ..was he playing jazz banjo on this one? Lengthy scat singing, beautiful sax from Richie Buckley.

Rough God follows, and Van finishes with his bit about ridin' on in like Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and when he gets to Clint Eastwood he turns to the band and says "He's local, right?".  Then some joke about a banjo.. I think it was this one: "What's the difference between a banjo and a trampoline? You take your shoes off to jump on a trampoline. "

Playhouse, Jay on banjo and putting the band through their paces, then Keep it Simple, with some new lyrics.  Now he's "down here on the killing floor" instead of "running board", referencing Willie Dixon and Howlin' Wolf, and he's gotta keep it simple "just to keep from getting screwed".

Now for the traditional centerpiece: "It's All in the Game/You Know What They're Writing About", a superb version of a song that hasn't left his repertoire since the late 70's.  The new violinist, Rebecca Ramsey had a chance to shine on this one, and she added a distinctive voice, sometimes echoing movie music from the 30's, sometimes playing like a string quartet.  When Van gets to the part where the abashed lover is knocking on her door to apologize, he beats repeatedly on the microphone, then comes out with "open up your heart?  that's scary, I won't do that."  One of many standing ovations after this was over.  As Mark Watt said of the Los Angeles performance earlier this week he sang "like a man helplessly in the throes of love, heartbreak, or both.."

My personal highlight, "In The Garden", a great song that took a 7 year hiatus until it started reappearing in the shows starting last year. The band really made this performance, by turns their solos talked of eroticism (Jay), brightness and romance (Richie) and then a statement from Paul and the grand piano:  "This is a Song".  Majestic solos, really.  Then Van seems a little perturbed, but he's getting into the deeper part of the song.. "Long notes, long notes... keep it goin'" he shouts to the band...and that triggers the return of the rolling groove, this time with the long notes that let Van counterpoint with his delirious vocal into a big orgasmic final rave-up.

Moondance follows, the still unnamed band taking turns on their instruments, finishing with Van on sax, Paul on trumpet, Richie on sax.  A typically great David Hayes played a deep and interesting bass solo.  Shana Morrison then came out for a crowd-pleasing duet on "Sometimes We Cry".  She did a fine opening set last night, but started 45 minutes before the ticket said the show started, so she played only to the early and the tipped-off.  "Back on Top", a big, bad "Georgia", then the fourth of the night's quintet of  "deep" pieces, Ballerina.  The new violin was a big part of the success of this one, mixing notes of string quartet, country and Hollywood.  Another loud, standing ovation, and the band noodled through the fairly obscure instrumental "Celtic Excavation", reborn this year as a medley/intro for "Into The Mystic", a song which rolled and tumbled and reached more than one big crescendo, including one with repeated shouts of "rock your gypsy soul" that had the crowd where I was whipped into a frenzy.

"Help Me", Sonny Boy Willamson II's loud blues romp,  started with Van on the harp and moved into great  solos from the sax and Hammond organ.  Van name-checks Sonny Boy and Junior Wells "in the Chicago and Detroit area", and winds it all up with a big chorus of screaming "nightshirt"'s.  Big singalong for "Gloria" ends it all.

In sum, no throwaway material.  Five great adventures into the music, lots of commitment from Van and the band.

Huffington Post
Singing Lessons: The Truth About What Motivates Us To Sing, Play and Hear Music

As we walked in the house that Van built on Friday night, it was like walking into a church in the midst of a ferocious revival. Van was on fire. The band was on fire. The crowd was the kind of crowd that gave its all with gratitude and love. I have heard that that sometimes shows are less inspired, but every time I have seen Morrison in concert, he has never disappointed and this night was the most thrilling.


He wore a dark suit, gray hat and black shades. We couldn't see his eyes. He cracked a few jokes, but Morrison's not gregarious. He accepts you'll come to him or you won't and doesn't seem to care what you choose. Although, you sensed he was pleased to be loved that night.

*****
What Phil (my fiance) and I heatedly discussed Saturday morning was the difference between what we saw and what we heard. Phil thought it was an amazing show, but that Van Morrison couldn't care less about the audience (we saw Chris Isaac recently -- Isaac reaches out to the audience, he cares about the audience). I contended that though Van Morrison doesn't necessarily reach out with banter or facial expression, you often can barely understand what the man is even saying, still -- his voice cries out in such a way that each person is pulled close to his soul. If you close your eyes, what you hear is sheer contact, though what you see may appear to be an introvert. "Of course, Van cares about the audience," I said, "what else would drive him to be there and to sing like that?" I don't think it's money or adulation. He is there because he cares about and feels connected to the music and the audience.


There are performers that come to us and performers that force us to go to them. Bruce Springsteen. Thelonious Monk. There are different ways of connecting.

*****
As a performer, I generally go to the audience. As a singing teacher and vocal coach, I take care not to push my students to do the same, because both kinds of performance are valid. What we connect to is subjective. Who we connect to, from their personalities to what they are saying, how they are saying it, the frequencies of their voices, all of it -- what moves us is subjective. It is about intention and perception. Performance is a two way street. What I bring to a show as a listener is as important as what the performer brings. There are three components to a song: the music, the performer and the listener.


This same concept applies to any communal endeavor. If you have to give a presentation, if you are teaching a class, if you need to inspire your kids to memorize their times tables, what makes it work is connection.


In the book Drive, Daniel Pink says "human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another."


What drives us to perform is connection. What drives us to attend the performance is connection. The show was so good, because we were all in contact.


*****

Sometimes it feels like magic or miracle, but we can approach it technically as artists and individuals and engender connection. The first step is creating a space. (The Masonic felt like Van's house.)


Before I go on stage, I create a space in my mind. I practice sensorial memory, so that wherever I am performing, I can make it my home.


I ask my students, before you go to sleep, lay in bed and use your imagination to create every detail of a space that belongs to you, a beach somewhere, a mountain top, your room. Know the sounds and the smells, build the details. Who is there? Who could be there, so that when you walk on stage, or in front of your classroom, or when giving an important pitch -- you will know where you are, and the room will belong to you.


How you welcome your audience into your space is a matter of individual expression. It does not have to be done with a grin, an incessant shake of your head or wide open arms. If it's your house, we'll feel it. We'll come to you and want to know what it is you are there to say.


Being connected makes us love our work. Being disconnected can make us hate vacation. Connection is what gives us meaning and makes us feel like we're somewhere.


Connection is why we are driven to sing, play and hear.


Van cares, that's why everybody is there.
-Ruth Gerson

Setlist

Baby Please Don't Go

Here Comes the Night

Browned Eyed Girl

Fair Play

Keep Mediocrity At Bay

Little Village

Rough God Goes Riding

Playhouse

Keep It Simple

It's All in the Game

In the Garden

Moondance->My Funny Valentine

Sometimes We Cry

Back on Top

Georgia On My Mind

Ballerina

Celtic Excavation->Into the Mystic

Help Me

Gloria 

Big Hand for The Band!

David Hayes

Paul Moran

Jay Berliner

Andy Jones

Richie Buckley

Bobby Ruggiero

Becky Ramsey

Thanks to Art for photo.

06-Oct-10 Civic Theatre San Diego Concert Review

Here's Sean's review:
Vegas was a very good show featuring a revamped setlist and two new band members. LA Greek was perhaps a notch below although a great Game made the show feel substantial. The crowd in LA was late arriving and extremely chatty. It was also a cool and wet evening which didn't help matters. It all came together last night in San Diego. Van was on fire from the beginning. The setlist speaks for itself. It was the equal and perhaps even a slight notch above the wonderful Calgary show I saw in August. San Diego was one of those special shows. A long time Van follower, Nosey, declared it to be in his Top Ten and that it was "better than the Albert Hall." While another long time Van gig veteran, Dan Murray, noted how Van "made sounds tonight that I've never heard him make before." That ability to make his art new again, to keep us guessing, to drive the band onward and upward, to create that special kind of magic that only he can...All those gifts were on full display last night. I sat beside a woman who had never seen Van perform before. Afterwards she looked at me and said "I feel like I've been taken some place tonight that I didn't know existed." She was seriously considering a flight to SF for the Friday night show when we said our goodbyes. San Diego was the type of show that gets you hooked. Van took us on another one of those ventures into the slipstream last night. Such a rare and wondrous treat. Off to SF...
-Sean

Setlist

Baby, Please Don't Go

Here Comes the Night

Brown Eyed Girl

Fair Play

Keep Mediocrity At Bay

Little Village

Foreign Window

Keep it Simple

End of the Land

Precious Time

Philosopher's Stone->Didn't He Ramble

That's Entrainment

Moondance->My Funny Valentine

Celtic Excavation->Into the Mystic

And It Stoned Me

Playhouse

It's All in the Game

Help Me

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

David Hayes

Paul Moran

Jay Berliner

Andy Jones

Richie Buckley

Bobby Ruggiero

Becky Ramsey

05-Oct-10 Greek Theatre, Los Angeles Concert Review

Here's Mark's Review:

Tuesday night's show started in low gear despite all the old hits (e.g., "Baby Please Don't Go," "Here Comes the Night," "Brown-Eyed Girl) because the weather was cold and wet, and people kept wandering in to find their seats during the first half hour.  Van found his groove with "Fair Play" (the fourth song) and concluded it with half a minute of brilliant scat singing and humming that reminded me of "Cul De Sac."

"Mediocrity at Bay" was jaunty, almost humorously angry, and more forceful in concert than on the studio album.

"Moondance" was another surprise -- lively, fresh, and intricately arranged with Van playing plenty of saxophone like he did all night.  Maybe this version was so good because it was performed "beneath the cover of October skies" like the song says.  It gave the band a chance to stretch out and impress. The new violinist (Becky Ramsey) and guitarist (Andy Jones) fit in comfortably with the band, and Van called on both of them to solo often.  However, it's going to take awhile before their chops are in the same league as other grand Van veterans like David Hayes (on both stand-up and electric bass tonight), Jay Berliner (on banjo several times as well as guitar), and Richie Buckley (still wailing on sax like a man possessed). 

Tuesday's version of "It's All in the Game" was a tour-de-force jazz singing workshop, one of the best versions I've ever heard.  Van kept his shades on all evening but he came across completely vulnerable in the song tonight, like a man helplessly in the throes of love, heartbreak, or both.  Van all but ascended on this version and earned a rousing ovation for it.

"Ballerina" became another vocal improvisation workshop with Van creating altered states by twisting and distending syllables into different time signatures.  Then the band clicked into place and put the pedal to the metal as Van sang "Here comes the man and he says the show must go on!" 

"Help Me" featured a gruff and gutteral vocal from Van, as he alternated between sax, harp, and vocals.  He put lots of body English on it tonight too, swaying back and forth at the "VM" mike stand.  

In short, Van seemed in high gear for about half of this show, and improvised and rearranged enough to make a lot of the old songs (e.g., "Moondance," "Fair Play," "Help Me") sound fresh again.  The band impressed me more as individual virtuosos rather than as one tight cooking unit, but I'm sure they'll gel more cohesively as the month goes on.  I'm tempted to attend Saturday's show in Santa Barbara so I can see how this band evolves, and whether Van brings out more nuggets from his 45-year-old songbook and finds fresh ways to interpret them.  

Cheers,

-Mark

Setlist

Baby Please Don't Go

Here Comes The Night

Brown Eyed Girl

Fair Play

Keep Mediocrity At Bay

Keep It Simple

Bright Side of The Road

The Mystery

Playhouse

Rough God Goes Riding

Moondance

Real Real Gone

It's All in The Game

Celtic Excavation->Into the Mystic

Ballerina

Help Me

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

David Hayes

Paul Moran

Jay Berliner

Andy Jones

Richie Buckley

Bobby Ruggiero

Becky Ramsey

03-Oct-10 The Joint At The Hard Rock Hotel, Las Vegas Concert Review

Here's MM's review:
Van Morrison is music itself. He is more than talented; he is gifted. He came out on the stage on time and immediately started playing. No warm-up band - just Van Morrison all night. This concert is the best concert I have ever been to. Van started with 2 songs fromThem, then went into songs from his solo years - Moondance, Brown-Eyed Girl, and Into the Mystic!! Yes, he played Into the Mystic this time!! Thank you, Van. But, he didn't sing them like they are on the albums. And, unlike any other performer, any version of a song that Van sings is as wonderful (if not better, if that is possible) as the original classic. He is truly an amazing, fascinating talent. Van had the audience in the palm of his hand all night. He was witty, charming (remember "Clint Eastwood - Howdy do, Ma'am"? Hilarious!!), and magical. I will go see Van Morrison every time he comes to town. His band was a talented group as well, from the tender, fluid notes of his violin virtuoso to the sax player, keyboard player, banjo man, and bass fiddle - what a group. They all improvised on several songs, and it was pure joy listening to all of them. Oh, and he also sang "St. James Infirmary" which was magnificent. (An old Louis Armstrong tune from the 1920s.) Van can play any genre - pop, folk, country, jazz, blues - and it stones you just like a jelly roll. And he is so very prolific and has so many classic songs, his concerts could go on much longer and he wouldn't run out of original Van material. Plus, Van was just having fun on stage. He would sing some scat and make the audience scream, whistle, and clap; and when he started listing names of American cowboy folk heros, and he tipped his hat to say "Howdy, Ma'am", he made cry from laughing so hard. Just a perfect, joyous, fun concert. Van still has his voice, his creativity (no mediocrity in Van's music, that's for sure), his sense of humor, his toughness and tenderness. One of the great artists of all time, this man. Thank you so much, Van Morrison, for sharing your music, your talent, and your wit with us.

-MysticMusic

Seltlist

Baby Please Don't Go

Here Comes The Night

Brown Eyed Girl

Fair Play

Keep Mediocrity at Bay

Moondance

Celtic Excavation

Into the Mystic

St James Infirmary

Real Real Gone

And It Stoned Me

Bright Side of the Road

Keep It Simple

Playhouse

Have I Told you Lately

Rough God Goes Riding

The Mystery

Ballerina

Help Me

Gloria

Big Hand for The  Band!

David Hayes

Paul Moran

Jay Berliner

Andy Jones

Richie Buckley

Bobby Ruggiero
Becky Ramsey

Dick Clark Interviews Van on American Bandstand In 1967

Shana Morrison Singing on Philadelphia TV

Recent TV appearance. Shana is currently touring - find concert dates here. Includes brief interview.

Van's TV Interview On The Imus In The Morning Show October 26, 2009

Van Interviewed By Don Imus Part I

Van Interviewed By Don Imus Part II

Van Morrison In Concert 1967-1979

This list was provided to this blog by long time Van fan David Chance aka "DCat". Much thanks to him for all the great research he has done over the years. If you know of any other dates that are not on this list, please feel free to email me or write in comments section below. There will be another list covering 1980-2000s.

1967

03/09/67 BuitenSocieteit Deventer The Netherlands

09/04/67 The Bitter End New York NY

09/11/67 The Scene New York NY (2 shows)

09/12/67 The Scene New York NY (2 shows)

09/13/67 The Scene New York NY (2 shows)

09/14/67 The Scene New York NY (2 shows)

09/15/67 The Scene New York NY (2 shows)

09/16/67 The Scene New York NY (2 shows)

09/17/67 The Scene New York NY (2 shows)

09/30/67 Earl Warren Showgrounds Santa Barbara CA

10/07/67 Hullabaloo Club Hollywood CA

10/13/67 The Family Dog Denver CO

10/14/67 The Family Dog Denver CO

10/17/67 Crystal Ballroom Portland OR

10/20/67 Avalon Ballroom San Francisco CA

10/21/67 Avalon Ballroom San Francisco CA

10/22/67 Avalon Ballroom San Francisco CA

11/11/67 ABC TV Studios - Los Angeles, CA 'American Bandstand'

??/??/67 Loser's South San Jose CA ???

1968

??/??/68 unknown location New York NY (TV appearance)

??/??/68 unknown location Boston MA (TV appearance)

11/21/68 Steve Paul's Scene New York NY (2 shows)

11/22/68 Steve Paul's Scene New York NY (2 shows)

11/23/68 Steve Paul's Scene New York NY (2 shows)

11/24/68 Steve Paul's Scene New York NY (2 shows)

Late-'60s Les Cousins London England ???

1969

01/31/69 Avalon Ballroom San Francisco CA

02/01/69 Avalon Ballroom San Francisco CA

02/02/69 Avalon Ballroom San Francisco CA

02/05/69 Whiskey-A-Go-Go Los Angeles CA

02/06/69 Whiskey-A-Go-Go Los Angeles CA

02/07/69 Whiskey-A-Go-Go Los Angeles CA

02/08/69 Whiskey-A-Go-Go Los Angeles CA

02/09/69 Whiskey-A-Go-Go Los Angeles CA

02/21/69 Grande Ballroom Detroit MI

02/22/69 Grande Ballroom Detroit MI

02/23/69 Grande Ballroom Detroit MI

??/??/69 The Gaslight Boston MA

??/??/69 The Catacombs Boston MA

05/01/69 The Ark (Lansdowne Street) Boston MA

05/02/69 The Ark (Lansdowne Street) Boston MA

05/03/69 The Ark (Lansdowne Street) Boston MA

07/20/69 unknown venue Newport RI "Newport Folk Festival"

08/29/69 Cafe au Go Go New York NY

08/30/69 Cafe au Go Go New York NY

08/31/69 Cafe au Go Go New York NY

09/15/69 Ungano's New York NY

09/16/69 Ungano's New York NY

09/17/69 Ungano's New York NY

09/18/69 Ungano's New York NY

10/21/69 Le Hibou Ottawa Canada

10/22/69 Le Hibou Ottawa Canada
10/23/69 Le Hibou Ottawa Canada

10/24/69 Le Hibou Ottawa Canada

10/25/69 Le Hibou Ottawa Canada

10/26/69 Le Hibou Ottawa Canada
??/??/69 Queens College Flushing NY

1970

02/01/70 Village Gaslight New York NY

04/03/70 Fillmore East New York NY (2 shows)

04/04/70 Fillmore East New York NY (2 shows)

04/11/70 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy NY

04/23/70 Fillmore West San Francisco CA

04/24/70 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

04/25/70 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

04/26/70 Fillmore West San Francisco CA

05/24/70 Autostade Montreal
06/16/70 Boston Tea Party Boston MA
06/17/70 Boston Tea Party Boston MA
06/18/70 Boston Tea Party Boston MA
06/19/70 Cole Field House College Park MD

07/11/70 Summer Theater Mountaindale NY
07/17/70 Downing Stadium Randall's Island New York NY "Pop Festival"

07/20/70 Wollman Skating Rink Theater Central Park New York NY "Schaefer Music Festival"

07/22/70 Harvard Stadium Boston MA "Schaefer Music Festival"

08/01/70 Powder Ridge Ski Area Middlefield CT "Powder Ridge Festival"

08/07/70 "Harmonyville Music Festival" Harmonyville NJ

08/27/70 San Diego Community Concourse San Diego CA

08/28/70 Civic Auditorium Santa Monica CA
08/30/70 Berkeley Community Theatre Berkeley CA

09/23/70 Fillmore East New York NY (Bcast 11/10/70 on WNET-TV)

09/27/70 The Spectrum Philadelphia PA

10/02/70 Baldwin Gym Drew University Madison NJ
10/08/70 Fillmore West San Francisco CA

10/09/70 Fillmore West San Francisco CA

10/10/70 Fillmore West San Francisco CA

10/11/70 Fillmore West San Francisco CA

11/13/70 Academy of Music New York NY (2 shows)

11/14/70 Academy of Music New York NY (2 shows)

11/15/70 Academy of Music New York NY

11/16/70 Academy of Music New York NY

11/21/70 Electric Factory Philadelphia PA

12/18/70 Symphony Hall Boston MA
12/22/70 Symphony Hall Boston MA

1971

02/02/71 War Memorial Gymnasium - University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada

02/04/71 Paramount Northwest Theater Seattle WA

02/10/71 Lion's Share San Anselmo CA

02/11/71 Fresno Exhibition Hall Fresno CA

02/12/71 unknown venue Santa Clara County CA

02/13/71 Berkeley Community Theatre Berkeley CA

02/22/71 Capitol Theatre Montreal Quebec Canada (2 shows)

02/??/71 Le Hibou (?) Ottawa Canada ???

02/26/71 Fillmore East New York NY (2 shows)

02/27/71 Fillmore East New York NY (2 shows)

04/15/71 Fillmore West San Francisco CA

04/16/71 Fillmore West San Francisco CA

04/17/71 Fillmore West San Francisco CA

04/18/71 Fillmore West San Francisco CA

04/30/71 Keystone Korner San Francisco CA

05/01/71 Keystone Korner San Francisco CA

05/02/71 Keystone Korner San Francisco CA

05/06/71 New Orleans House Berkeley CA

05/07/71 New Orleans House Berkeley CA (2 shows)

05/08/71 New Orleans House Berkeley CA (2 shows)

05/13/71 Inn Of The Beginning Cotati CA

05/14/71 Inn Of The Beginning Cotati CA

05/15/71 Inn Of The Beginning Cotati CA

05/16/71 Inn Of The Beginning Cotati CA

06/??/71 Matrix Club San Francisco CA (possibly 4/71 or 5/71)

06/??/71 Lion's Share San Anselmo CA (possibly 4/71 or 5/71)

07/04/71 Fillmore West San Francisco CA

09/05/71 Pacific High Recording San Francisco CA

09/17/71 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

09/18/71 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

09/25/71 Fairgrounds Expo Hall San Jose CA

10/03/71 University of California - Riverside Los Angeles CA

10/16/71 Pauley Pavilion at UCLA Los Angeles CA

11/05/71 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

11/06/71 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

1972

??/??/72 Ruthie's Inn Berkeley CA (as per Ronnie Montrose)

01/14/72 Boarding House Theatre San Francisco CA (2 shows)

01/15/72 Boarding House Theatre San Francisco CA (2 shows)

01/21/72 The Village San Francisco CA (2 shows)

01/22/72 The Village San Francisco CA (2 shows)

03/03/72 Berkeley Community Theatre Berkeley CA

03/25/72 Convention Hall San Diego CA

04/14/72 Freeborn Hall - University Of California at Davis CA

04/16/72 Civic Auditorium Stockton CA

04/19/72 Travelodge Theater In The Round Phoenix AZ (2 shows)

04/26/72 Granada Theatre Santa Barbara CA

04/27/72 Santa Monica Civic Santa Monica CA

04/28/72 Santa Monica Civic Santa Monica CA

05/05/72 unknown venue (possibly Paramount Theatre) Seattle WA

05/06/72 Salem Armory Auditorium Salem OR

05/07/72 Queen Elizabeth Theatre Vancouver BC Canada

05/12/72 Macky Auditorium Boulder CO

05/13/72 Macky Auditorium Boulder CO

05/14/72 Oklahoma City Civic Center Music Hall Oklahoma City OK

05/16/72 Constitution Hall Washington DC

05/18/72 Carnegie Hall New York NY

05/19/72 Orpheum-Aquarius Theatre Boston MA

05/20/72 unknown venue Providence RI

05/21/72 Academy Of Music Philadelphia PA

05/??/72 Civic Auditorium Santa Monica CA

05/26/72 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

05/27/72 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

05/28/72 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

05/29/72 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

Summer 72 Desiderata Cabaret King's Beach Lake Tahoe CA

11/17/72 Bermuda Palms San Rafael CA (w/Joe McCord)

1973

01/??/73 Armadillo World Headquarters Austin TX (Thu)

01/??/73 Armadillo World Headquarters Austin TX (Fri)

01/??/73 Armadillo World Headquarters Austin TX (Sat)

01/??/73 unknown venue Arlington TX (Sunday)

01/??/73 Armadillo World Headquarters Austin TX (Mon)

02/15/73 Lion's Share San Anselmo CA (2 shows)

03/11/73 Marin Memorial Auditorium San Rafael CA

04/??/73 Shrine Auditorium Los Angeles CA

"Don Kirschner's Rock Concert"

04/??/73 Berekeley Community Theatre Berkeley CA

04/14/73 Fox Theatre Long Beach CA

04/15/73 Fox Theatre Long Beach CA

04/22/73 Lion's Share San Anselmo CA

05/08/73 Performing Arts Center Milwaukee WI

05/21/73 The Odyssey Room Sunnyvale CA

05/24/73 The Troubadour Los Angeles CA

05/25/73 The Troubadour Los Angeles CA

05/26/73 The Troubadour Los Angeles CA

05/27/73 The Troubadour Los Angeles CA

06/22/73 The Orphanage San Francisco CA

06/29/73 Santa Monica Civic Auditorium Santa Monica CA

07/07/73 Convocation Hall Toronto ON Canada

07/10/73 Syria Mosque Pittsburgh PA

07/12/73 Philharmonic Hall New York NY

07/13/73 Philharmonic Hall New York NY

07/14/73 Lenox Arts Center Tanglewood MA

(previously noted as 7/16/73)

07/19/73 Carre Theatre Amsterdam The Netherlands

07/20/73 De Doelen Rotterdam The Netherlands

07/22/73 Town Hall Birmingham England

07/23/73 Rainbow Theater London England

07/24/73 Rainbow Theater London England

"Old Grey Whistle Test" (BBC-TV and RTE-TV)

07/25/73 Colston Hall Bristol England

07/26/73 Free Trade Hall Manchester England

07/27/73 City Hall Newcastle-Upon-Tyne England

07/31/73 Carlton Cinema Dublin Ireland

08/20/73 The Orphanage San Francisco CA

08/21/73 The Orphanage San Francisco CA

Autumn/73 Carnegie Hall New York NY (Yorke pg.115)

11/02/73 RTE Studios Dublin Ireland "Talk About Pop" (RTE-TV)

12/01/73 Sports Arena San Diego CA

12/13/73 Texas Hall University of Texas - Austin TX

12/19/73 Keystone Berkeley Berkeley CA

12/21/73 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA (2 shows)

1974

??/??/74 Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim CA

??/??/74 Celebrity Theatre Phoenix AZ (unconfirmed)

01/??/74 McFarlin Auditorium Southern Methodist University Dallas TX

(with Little Feat) --see 12/13/73 above

01/11/74 University of Houston Houston TX (2 shows)

01/13/74 Texas Hall University of Texas Arlington TX

01/16/74 Armadillo World Headquarters Austin TX

01/17/74 Cowtown Ballroom Kansas City MO

01/18/74 Ambassador Theatre St. Louis MO (2 shows)

02/01/74 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

02/02/74 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

02/12/74 unknown venue Oxnard CA (possibly 02/13/74)

02/15/74 unknown venue Portland OR

02/16/74 Paramount Northwest Theatre Seattle WA

02/17/74 War Memorial Gymnasium University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada

02/23/74 Waikiki Shell Honolulu Hawaii

03/07/74 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA (2 shows)

03/14/74 Harvard Square Theater Cambridge MA (2 shows)

03/15/74 Felt Forum New York NY

03/16/74 Capitol Theatre Passaic NJ

03/27/74 Town Hall Birmingham England

03/29/74 Olympia Theatre Dublin Ireland (2 shows)

03/30/74 Olympia Theatre Dublin Ireland (2 shows)

04/01/74 unknown venue Paris France

04/02/74 unknown venue Mannheim W Germany

04/03/74 unknown venue Munich W Germany

04/04/74 unknown venue Frankfurt W Germany

04/05/74 'Ancienne Belgique' Brussels Belgium

04/06/74 Falconcenteret Copenhagen Denmark

04/08/74 Carre Theatre Amsterdam The Netherlands

04/09/74 unknown venue Groningen The Netherlands

04/10/74 Hammersmith Odeon London England

04/??/74 Sophie's Palo Alto CA

04/19/74 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA

04/22/74 unknown venue Montreal Quebec Canada

05/01/74 Chico State College Chico CA

05/03/74 Humboldt State University Arcata CA

05/08/74 University Of Maryland Baltimore County MD

05/12/74 unknown venue Bridgewater MA

05/16/74 unknown venue Kent OH

05/17/74 Memorial Auditorium Sacramento CA ???

05/19/74 unknown venue University Park PA

06/30/74 Congres Montreux Montreux Switzerland "Montreux Jazz Festival"

07/08/74 Kongresshalle Frankfurt W Germany

07/10/74 TV Studios Bremen W Germany "Musikladen Extra"

07/20/74 Knebworth Park near Stevenage England "Bucolic Frolic: Knebworth Fayre"

07/29/74 The Orphanage San Francisco CA (PBS-TV)

08/28/74 The Orphanage San Francisco CA (2 shows)

09/02/74 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA (2 shows)

09/03/74 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA

09/13/74 Auditorium Minneapolis MN

10/16/74 unknown venue Columbus OH

10/17/74 Masonic Temple Detroit MI

10/18/74 Auditorium Theatre Chicago IL

10/19/74 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo MI

10/19/74 Hara Arena Dayton OH --as per attendee

10/20/74 unknown venue Flint MI

10/21/74 Maple Leaf Gardens Toronto ON Canada

10/23/74 Constitution Hall Washington DC

10/24/74 The Spectrum Philadelphia PA

10/26/74 Palace Concert Theatre Providence RI

10/27/74 Boston Music Hall Boston MA

10/28/74 Coliseum New Haven CT

10/31/74 Dome Arena Rochester NY

11/01/74 The Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden New York NY (2 shows)

11/02/74 Capitol Theater Passaic NJ (2 shows)

11/03/74 University of Maryland Baltimore MD

11/07/74 McFarlin Auditorium at Southern Methodist University Dallas TX

11/08/74 Music Hall Houston TX

11/09/74 Coliseum Austin TX

11/16/74 Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim CA

12/30/74 Keystone Berkeley Berkeley CA

1975

03/24/75 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA (2 shows)

03/25/75 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA (2 shows)

04/18/75 Sophie's Palo Alto CA

04/19/75 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA (2 shows)

04/20/75 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA (2 shows)

04/21/75 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA (2 shows)

06/15/75 Civic Auditorium San Francisco CA All Day, All Night Boogie

06/26/75 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA (2 shows)

06/27/75 Great American Music Hall San Francisco CA (2 shows)

1976

03/30/76 Shangri-La Studios Los Angeles CA

08/05/76 Odeon Theatre Birmingham England (guest of Eric Clapton)

08/06/76 King's Hall Belle Vue Manchester England

08/26/76 Apollo Victoria Theatre London England

11/24/76 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

11/25/76 Winterland Arena San Francisco CA

1977

03/28/77 NBC Studios Burbank CA "Midnight Special"

06/15/77 Maunkberry's London England "Press Showcase"

06/??/77 The Speakeasy London England with Eric Burdon

06/??/77 Vara Studios Hilversum The Netherlands "Wonderland"

06/22/77 Vara Studios Hilversum The Netherlands

1978

08/??/78 Sweetwater Mill Valley CA (2 shows)

09/30/78 unknown venue Santa Clara CA

10/01/78 Coconut Grove Ballroom Santa Cruz CA (Our Times promo)

10/05/78 Old Waldorf Theatre San Francisco CA (2 shows)

10/06/78 Old Waldorf Theatre San Francisco CA (2 shows)

10/07/78 Old Waldorf Theatre San Francisco CA (2 shows)

10/??/78 unknown venue Boston MA

10/12/78 Wesleyan University Middletown CT

10/13/78 University of Connecticut Hartford CT

10/14/78 University of Vermont Burlington VT

10/15/78 The Paradise Boston MA

10/16/78 Orpheum Theatre Boston MA

10/20/78 Tower Theater Philadelphia PA (2 shows)

10/21/78 Orange County Community College Middletown NY

10/22/78 State University of New York Stoney Brook NY

10/23/78 Rutgers University East Rutherford NJ

10/26/78 O'Keefe Center Toronto ON Canada (2 shows)

10/27/78 unknown venue Buffalo NY

10/28/78 Music Hall Cleveland OH

10/29/78 Masonic Auditorium Detroit MI

11/01/78 The Bottom Line New York NY (2 shows)

11/02/78 The Palladium New York NY

11/??/78 The Palladium New York NY (guest of Johnny Winter)

11/04/78 NBC Studios New York NY "Saturday Night Live" (NBC-TV)

11/06/78 Constitution Hall Washington DC

11/16/78 Armadillo World Headquarters Austin TX

11/22/78 Blue Note Boulder CO

11/25/78 Royce Hall at University Of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles CA

11/26/78 The Roxy Los Angeles CA

11/27/78 Terrace Theatre Long Beach CA

11/28/78 Paramount Theatre Seattle WA (possibly 12/1/78)

12/01/78 Paramount Theatre Portland OR

12/02/78 Winterland San Francisco CA

1979

02/18/79 City Hall Cork Ireland

02/20/79 Whitla Hall Belfast N Ireland

02/21/79 Whitla Hall Belfast N Ireland

02/22/79 National Stadium Dublin Ireland

02/23/79 National Stadium Dublin Ireland

02/24/79 National Stadium Dublin Ireland

02/26/79 Hammersmith Odeon London England

02/27/79 Hammersmith Odeon London England

02/28/79 Hammersmith Odeon London England

03/02/79 Apollo Theatre Manchester England

03/04/79 The Guildhall Portsmouth England

03/05/79 The Dome Brighton England

03/06/79 Colston Hall Bristol England

03/07/79 New Theatre Oxford England

03/10/79 City Hall Sheffield England

03/11/79 Odeon Theatre Birmingham England

03/12/79 De Montfort Hall Leicester England

03/13/79 Assembly Hall Derby England

03/15/79 Odeon Theatre Edinburgh Scotland

03/16/79 Apollo Glasgow Scotland

03/17/79 The University Lancaster England

03/19/79 City Hall Newcastle England

Summer/79 unknown venue San Francisco CA area (David Hayes' wedding)

08/1?/79 unknown venue & location France (TV)

08/16/79 Les Arenes Frejus France

08/17/79 Theatre Mogador Paris France

08/19/79 The Grand Palace Brussels Belgium

08/23/79 Falconcenteret Copenhagen Denmark

08/26/79 Kalvoya Sandvika Norway "Isle of Calf Festival"

08/30/79 Sportpaleis Ahoy' Rotterdam The Netherlands

09/01/79 The Royal Highland Showground Ingliston, Edinburgh Scotland "Edinburgh Rock Festival"

09/18/79 Rancho Nicasio Nicasio CA (2 shows)

09/19/79 Rancho Nicasio Nicasio CA (2 shows)

09/23/79 Inn Of The Beginning Cotati CA (2 shows)

10/03/79 Curry Hicks Fieldhouse at University of MA Amherst MA

10/06/79 Capitol Theater Passaic NJ

10/07/79 Avery Fisher Hall New York NY

10/??/79 Capri Theater (or Capri Ballroom) Atlanta GA

10/11/79 Armadillo World Headquarters Austin TX

10/19/79 Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles CA

10/20/79 County Bowl Santa Barbara CA

10/21/79 Berkeley Community Theater Berkeley CA