07-Aug-10 Rogers Arena Vancouver, Canada Concert Review

Vancouver Sun
Van Morrison Belts Out the Blues for Vancouver Fans

There’s usually no shortage of Van the Man fans in Van. And the Belfast Cowboy rode into Rogers Arena Saturday night for what the assemblage hoped would be an unforgettable set.

Or at least remembered for the right reasons. Last time Van Morrison played here – in what could be fairly described as an inconsistent performance – he walked offstage at the end without a word while the band continued to play his late-60s hit, Gloria. Despite enthusiastic encouragement from the sold-out crowd, he never returned.

Maybe some fans haven't forgotten that: even with the stage pushed forward into a concert bowl setup, there were a conspicuous number of empty seats this time around.

Van Morrison's an eccentric fellow – for example, neither media nor fans are permitted to photograph his shows – but since both his aforementioned nicknames reportedly came from members of influential rock outfit, The Band, well, maybe he’s just cool enough to get a pass.

There’s also that ridiculously vast catalogue of fantastic music.

Of course, he doesn’t owe the media anything. But with tickets ranging from $50 to $150, on this night, the fans who showed surely hoped to be graced with more than just the man’s presence.

First, though, Windy City gospel legend Mavis Staples treated early birds to a powerful set of biblical blues.

Though Staples' music is much more spiritual than Van's, in a way, she's a great match for him. Both ooze talent and have been producing enviable material for decades (Staples voice has also been sampled by contemporary hip-hop acts like Ice Cube and Ludacris). That's why they've remained artistically relevant; neither can be labelled a nostalgia act.

"We"re gonna bring some joy, some happiness, some inspiration and some positive vibrations," Staples cooed at the start of her warmup set.

And along with her band, she did.

Staples' onstage demeaner - which is affable, chatty and often downright funny - differs drastically from Van the Man's serious approach.

Sauntering onstage wearing his trademark fedora, he got straight down to business, taking a seat at his piano without a word.

Backed by a solid six-piece, he knocked off a trio of songs, including his first major hit as a solo artist from 1967, Brown Eyed Girl, playing three different instruments - piano, sax and guitar - in the process.

Things got bluesier from there and, really, that's where he's at his best. A gifted storyteller (he's Irish, after all), there's no doubt Van Morrison was born to belt out the blues.

What's doubtful is that he was born to enjoy belting them from a stage. Reportedly, he once suffered from serious stage fright and one wonders if that's the root of his infamous disconnect with the audience.

Then again, the music speaks for itself. But would it kill the guy to feign a smile once in a while?

No matter. It was clear as the band deftly worked through tracks like Into the Mystic that this was strictly a clinic in musicianship. And the audience - politely reserved as it was - should be soley responsibly for any semblance of enthusiasm that might accidently seep into the atmosphere.

They didn't seem to mind though. And by the time Van the Man got to Gloria, more than a few of them got inspired to clap along with the band.

Only Mr. Van Morrison didn't seem to notice: because, like last time, he'd finished his bit, and had already turned his back and left the stage.

Which is too bad - he missed a lovely standing ovation.
-Graeme McRanor

Here's Sean's review
It was misty wet with rain all day in Vancouver after what a local cab driver told me had been 5 weeks of sunshine. We were sure to get Little Village this evening I thought as I walked through a downtown park and marvelled at the fact that the leaves did indeed appear to be magnetized. Van took to the stage at 8:10 PM following a 45 minute set from the legendary Mavis Staples. Her band struggled with sound problems and an indifferent and sparse audience but she did her best to inject some enthusiasm into the proceedings. Van immediately settled into Solid Ground and although the Rogers Centre is more suited to the sound of ricocheting hockey pucks he proceeded to deliver another stellar show. This concert didn't scale the heights of the Calgary concert but that's never been the object of the quest for Van. Rather, you might ask, how was it different than Calgary or Edmonton? The first real surprise of the evening was song 5 that began as a slow, burning blues that melodically sounded like Hoochie Coochie Man. Then Van began to sing "Had my congregation, had my flock, when I was a shepherd of men." What followed was a blistering version of an underrated song. Van went deep into himself as he told us over and over "How can a poor boy from the streets, from the streets, ever get through to you?" Stunning...and totally unexpected. Keep it Simple and Talk is Cheap followed and no matter how well performed they are, which they most certainly were, the audiences unfamiliarity with the material causes the energy level in the venue to sag. Not onstage, however, where Van was blowing his guts out on the harp. Next up was a lovely version of Little Village that featured some wonderful ensemble playing and Van on the sax duelling softly with Paul on the trumpet. Celtic Excavation just keeps getting better and better with each passing gig. Richie and Van shone together on this one as the twin saxes wound together into what became a truly heavenly sound. The version of Into the Mystic that followed featured Ralph creating the trademark foghorn sound on his fiddle and Van really letting loose on the vocals as he outlined how he longed to be "comin' home, comin' home, comin' home...Moondance came and went and we entered what was to be the heart of the show on this particular evening. Philosophers Stone again featured Jack O' Diamonds and Van, well Van rambled, he rambled all around. He rambled in and out, in and out of the town. The sound of his harp filled the arena up to the brim and his body reeled and rocked to and fro daddio, daddio, daddio...This led into another magnificent version of Game that went in a different direction than the wonderful one in Calgary. Tonight we were instructed that "If you open your heart it can fill you right up, right up..." Van ended this one with a plea to her to meet him "down by the pylon." Where could he go from here? Playhouse gave us all a chance to remember to breathe again which ushered in another spellbinding version of In The Garden. Garden didn't reach the heights scaled so wondrously in Calgary but in my mind the Calgary version is truly one for the ages. Time was winding down as Van lit into Help Me. Van truly loves to perform this song. I never tire of watching him stomp that left leg up and down as him and Bobby find that deep groove together. Gloria ended the proceedings as Van gave a very appreciative and attentive Vancouver audience 3 "Big Hand For The Band, 2 thank yous and that perfect half bow that's been missing for the past while. That's it for me for this run. 3 great shows each as different and distinct from the other as one could hope for. I know a lot of Van watchers weren't expecting much from this tour. We should never forget that this little man with a voice that can move mountains, who has brought so many of us together and enabled us to form friendships that will last a lifetime asks so little of us in return. To be able to sit in a theatre while we watch him turn himself inside out in that noble attempt to "make it real, one more time again" is such an honour. He doesn't always succeed as "lots of things get in the way." But, as someone once sang, "sometimes when the spirit moves me, I can do many wondrous things." Indeed he can. Thanks Van...

Setlist
Northern Muse (Solid Ground)
Brown Eyed Girl
The Mystery
Fair Play
How Can A Poor Boy?
Keep it Simple
Talk is Cheap
Little Village
Celtic Excavation->Into the Mystic
Moondance
Rough God Goes Riding
Philosophers Stone->Jack O" Diamonds->Didn't He Ramble?
All in the Game->You Know What They're Writing About
Playhouse
In The Garden
Help Me
Gloria

Big Hand for The Band
Jay Berliner-electric guitar
David Hayes-double bass
Bobby Ruggiero-drums
Ralph Allin-violin, viola
Richie Buckley-flute, saxophone
Paul Moran-grand piano, trumpet & organ