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