Official Video For Title Track From Van Morrison's New Album & Preview Of 
Born To Sing: No Plan B

BORN TO SING: NO PLAN B Album Preview

Available for pre-order at Amazon.com

Source: Van Morrison's Official Youtube Channel

21-September-2012
Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Scotland

Stephen sent in this review
A remarkable concert for a number of reasons. Performances of Going Down To Monte Carlo, "25k from Nice", and "At The End Of The Rainbow". Van doing "I Get A Kick Out Of You" was new to me at least. Not the least remarkable aspect was Van frequently coughing off-mike and it having no effect on his singing whatsoever. As remarked on last week he seems newly energised by his hometown performances a fortnight ago and his right hand was punching the air all set. He seemed especially appreciative of solos with frequent "yeahs" shouted towards the musicians. One especially tortuous trombone solo saw him venture into the realm of text speak, stepping up to the mike and stating "OMG!" to the great amusement of the audience. Before "Game" he said: "We'd like to continue with the workshop. With over seventy songs in the set it's hard to decide what to play." In the event the workshop never really went anywhere but the constant intoning of "time stood still/time is running out/it's a long way from May to September" was simply mesmeric. As the band settled into a groove he said at one point "1950's - my favourite" in a clearly appreciative manner. Other highlights; a roared "Here come the fuzz!" during Ballerina - a superlative version - and the introduction to Help Me; "we want to finish with a blues because ...we like it." He added during the song "the guy who wrote this was into the basics". Another was "When The Leaves Come Falling Down", most likely inspired by being "in Paris in September" only last week. It was interesting to compare the show with the one I saw on Holywood Road two weeks ago. Jackie Wilson wasn't the raucous singalong it was then and nothing really sent "shivers down the spine" like On Hyndford St just before the end that night. To balance matters there was no late arriving VIP area in front of me holding aloft their mobile phones to capture their Van experience. I'm sure that is what led to the dire threats from security tonight about mobile phones and cameras, after four songs from the new album made it on to you tube soon after Aircraft Park. Reflecting on these two quite different shows I'm now eagerly anticipating my pre-order copy of Born To Sing dropping through the letterbox in the next couple of weeks.
-Stephen McGinn

STV.com
With a reported meteor shower as his grand finale, a few hours after the Glasgow date of his tour for his 34th studio album, it'll never be know if 'Van the Man' even knew he was even in the UK last night, but he certainly timed it right.

Throwing Brown Eyed Girl straight into the Royal Concert Hall, and getting the expectation of that ghastly wedding wedding standard out of the way, his performance was immaculately backed by a seven-piece jazz band. His delivery so laid back, it took four songs to work out that he could indeed still be bothered, the practitioner of jazz improvisation kept it cool for cats in his delivery, hidden somewhere beneath the wide brim of his hat and dark glasses. Slurring his smooth, syncopated vocal as he pleased, and with jazz solos batted around the band from double bass to trombone and back again, the delivery of his biggest hit was far from the garish wedding anthem.

Barely allowing time for the largely Oil of Olay crowd to diffuse their cheers, Van Morrison rushed the set straight into the relaxed waltz of Only A Dream, his vocal showing no signs of wear, and tear and providing steep competition for his alto sax playing. The instrument, known for its smooth charms, initially seemed more jagged when laid next to the vocal of the renowned singer-songwriter.

Throwing what seemed to be more vitality into the set, but what actually turned out to be a hand gesture for water, the first release from his new album, Open the Door (To Your Heart), steered the set into new terrain, with the multi-instrumentalist taking to the piano for this number. With photography and mobile phones banned in the audience, the crowd, aside from the odd toilet break, were entirely wrapped up in the set, a hush in the auditorium, with barely a need to applaud given the rapid transition from track to track.

Selecting the set as they went, even leaving the bass player in the lurch on a rapid spring into Close Enough For Jazz, with barely any audience interaction, in one rare moment, the 67-year-old told fans, "There's so many songs in the repertoire, it's hard to know what's in the set." Although this regimented approach between songs could have appeared clinical, it was accepted that Van the Man wasn't there for good humour, his performance solely focussing on his musical talents, and enough charisma packed into his vocal delivery to make up for any shortfalls in personality.

Gearing the crowd into a zealous stomp (confirmed from the quaking ceiling of the toilets which lie beneath the stage), and quickly after, reclining into Who Can I Turn To, where a hushed end made you suddenly very aware of your own breath, the one and a half hour show certainly delivered. His impressive band were one that would have been a marvel to watch, whether they were backing Van the Man, or a tv talent show disaster.

Covering the Cole Porter classic, I Get A Kick Out Of You, it was hard to tell if an emotionless Van Morrison still got the same kick out of the industry that made him, but Glasgow certainly seemed to get a kick out of him last night.
-Kirstin Lynn

Seltlist
Brown Eyed Girl
Only A Dream
Open The Door To Your Heart
Going Down To Monte Carlo
Close Enough For Jazz
End Of The Rainbow
Baby Please Don't Go
Here Comes The Night
Early In The Morning
Don't Start Cryin' Now/Custard Pie
Who Can I Turn To?
It's All In The Game (World Stood Still/Long Way From May to September)
Jackie Wilson Said
I Get A Kick Out Of You
Precious Time
When The Leaves Come Falling Down
Ballerina
Help Me
Gloria

14-September-2012
The Olympia, Paris, France

Here's Mike's review
Well Van must like Paris because he stormed into this gig with a fervor. After a light set with Shana and his band Van took the stage at around 8:30. 

Getting the usual Brown Eyed Girl out of the way early to an appreciative full house he began weaving in the recognized favorites with a couple off the new release which he referenced before lighting at the piano. Both Open the Door and Mystic of the East are becoming crowd pleasers judging by audiences reaction and this was their third outing this past week so 3 for 3. I'm waiting to hear Going Down to Monte Carlo live as its my prediction that this could stretch out beautifully in live performance... Before that Only a Dream and Here Comes the Night and Please Don't Go were nicely delivered.

Fever was jazzy then Enlightenment something a bit different. He then announced Game, told a story about its origin then said if it went well there'd be You Know What Their Writing About and if that went we'll they'd begin the workshop and No Plan B and if that went well we'd go off to the Burnin Ground. Well it all went well indeed and for over 15 minutes we explored all those musical territories together.

Then Sir Cliff came back in Whenever Sir Cliff Shines His Light...and after Moondance Van returns to the piano for a lovely Haunts of Ancient Peace that didn't end... Just stunning.

In the Garden was up next and he said it was recorded here in Paris? Ballerina up next followed by Help Me which he tore into then brought down to a hush and finally Gloria which has now turned into a long band jam giving Van a chance to return to Belfast whilst they each take a solo and have the crowd rocking for a finale that leaves us all in awe of this exceptional group of musicians.

And by the way the band thought this gig tonight in Paris was one of the best three they'd ever performed together.

I'd have to say that this week we heard two of the finest in East Belfast-- very nicely honed for the hometown and here in Paris--- where the leaves come falling down and Angelou still may reside.
-Michael S.

Setlist
Brown Eyed Girl
Only a Dream
Baby Please Don't Go
Here Comes the Night
Early in the Morning/Going Down Geneva
Open the Door (To Your Heart)
Mystic of the East
Fever
Enlightenment
All In Th Game/No Plan B/Burning Ground
Whenever God Shines His light
Moondance
Haunts of Ancient Peace
In the Garden
Ballerina
Help Me
Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!
Chris White (Saxophone)
Alistair White (Trombone)
Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Paul Moran (Keyboards)
Jeff Lardner (Drums)
Rod Quinn (Percussion)
Special Guest - Shana Morrison (Backing Vocals)

13-September-2012
Mitsubishi Electric Halle Dusseldorf, Germany

Petra sent in this review
Van’s first Germany concert in 4 years, since Berlin in May 2008 …

At that time his setlists were dominated by the – then – new album ‘Keep It Simple’... Later that year and throughout 2009, we Europeans witnessed his triumph on the ‘Astral Weeks’ tour in the USA and Canada, but from a distance only and with some sadness and jealousy, for not being there ... During the first half of 2011 we were worried about the total lack of gigs before Van finally showed up at the London Feis in June. In 2012 we are relieved to see Van back to the stage for good, although by far most of the many gigs take place in the UK and Ireland. By now, the Vanatics in America and continental Europe are shuffling their feet with impatience, eager to see him back in their countries. But tonight Van The Man is finally back to Germany – the only gig in our country – what a great day !

Before and after the show we are meeting up with a bunch of German and Dutch “Vanatics” in a pub near the venue. It’s good to see some old friends again after years and to make new ones – to name only a few: Günter, Joost, Brenda, Bert, Rainer, Harm, Ben … And we are missing Nosey who had to cancel his little continental tour.

The Mitsubishi Electric Halle in Düsseldorf with some 5000 seats is not a new venue – people used to know it as Philipshalle before it was renamed. And long-standing Van fans may be aware that Van performed here many times over the years.

Anticipation is in the air tonight. Most of the shows Van did lately sparkled with rare and early self-penned songs seldom heard live - surprises are the rule these days. And we know we will hear some songs of the new album Van is going to release in a couple of weeks. So what will be the mix this evening ? And what will be Shana Morrison’s role on stage ? Can we hope for some duets with her dad ?

First, lovely Shana is on stage as a support act, together with Van’s band. And nobody will deny she is a visual asset to Van’s gentlemen club, beautiful dress and all ... And she’s got a voice to sing … She does 5 solo songs, sometimes with the drummer acting as a background singer – and she will stay on stage for the rest of the evening, doing background singing for Van.

At 8:20 Van is on stage – in pinstripe suit and matching dark shirt. He starts with his all-time crowd pleaser ‘Brown Eyed Girl’ - together with the Big Joe Williams hit ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ and ‘Here Comes The Night’ by Bert Berns this is Van’s tribute to his early career with the band ‘Them’ – to much acclaim by the audience.

‘Early In The Morning’ is surprisingly followed by the BB King standard ‘Rock Me Baby’ – not sure if I ever heard this one from Van.

Then we get one song from the new album: ‘Open The Door To Your Heart’, with Van playing keyboards.

‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’ is sung and played with much feeling – maybe a bit too much of that - it inspires Van to the muttered comment “Sounds like Bert Kaempfert maybe” – funny self-criticism …

‘Close Enough For Jazz’ is an instrumental which some of you may know from the 1993 album ‘Too Long In Exile’ – only that Van has added lyrics for the new album following a brilliant jazzy sax intro.

And then ‘Born To Sing’ – another one of the new album. This song has a driving rhythm and rich sound, lots of horn play including a clarinet part and Van on sax – might become one of my favorite tunes of the new CD if it sounds like this as a studio version.

‘All In The Game’ is merging again into ‘You Know What They Are Writing About’, ‘Make It Real One More Time’, ‘No Plan B’ and finally ‘Burning Ground’. Van lingering on the ‘Burning Ground’ part is a stunner – again and again he repeats the words ‘…I make you watch me pick up the sack’. A tour de force for Van, band and listeners.

Time to relax – what would be suited better than the meditative ‘In The Garden’. It wouldn’t be Van if there was no change in the lyrics again. This time it is the words “I treasured and I dug you”. He repeats it several times, and sings then “… and we prayed in the midnight hour to the holy guardian angel”.

‘Old Black Magic’ is a new song which Van does in duet with Shana – interesting rhythm – almost with an old fashioned Bossa Nova feeling …

A bit too predictive for my taste is the end of the show – once again the Sonny Boy Williamson hit ‘Help Me’ with Van leaving the stage blowing his harp, only to return with ‘Gloria’ one last time – everybody knows this is the end of the concert …
To be honest – I hate this part of the evening – so much feverish anticipation, preparation and emotion come to a sudden end – 90 minutes bliss we were given are gone in a moment … How I wish for encores - which never come. Or for surprising songs to end the show, for anything which might delay the inevitable end of the evening with Van. But this is unavoidable after exactly 90 minutes – merciless and always too early, leaving me wanting for more …

At least, his ‘Gloria’ tonight is pepped with some bars of Bo Diddley’s ‘Who Do You Love’. But he quits the stage still during ‘Gloria’ - leaving us alone with his band moving into a heavy-metal like cacophony in sound and volume. Then it’s all over …

All in all it was a good and solid concert, the band and Shana were great, Van in fine voice. Maybe it was only me – but I was missing one of those very special magic moments we long to experience and share with Van ... Maybe my expectations were a bit too high …
-Petra S.

Setlist (Thanks To Ben)
Brown Eyed Girl
Only a Dream
Baby Please Don't Go
Here Comes The Night
Early In The Morning/Rock Me Baby
Open The Door (To Your Heart)
I Can't Stop Loving You
Close Enough For Jazz
Born To Sing
Enlightenment
All In The Game/Burning Ground
In The Garden
Ballerina
Old Black Magic
Help me
Gloria/Who Do You Love

Big Hand for The Band!
Chris White (Saxophone)
Alistair White (Trombone)
Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Paul Moran (Keyboards)
Jeff Lardner (Drums)
Rod Quinn (Percussion)
Special Guest - Shana Morrison (Backing Vocals)

08-September-2012
Aircraft Park
East Belfast Arts Festival
Belfast, Northern Ireland

BBC: Radio Ulster
When I was a little boy, the air over Belfast Lough was busy with Short Skyvans, Blackburn Buccaneers and the Avro Vulcans with their bold, delta wings. They were being tested, fixed and finessed. My dad worked at Sydenham Air Yard and I felt that he was personally responsible for their worthiness in those skies.

Many of the adults I knew were working on planes, hired by the shipyard or in one of the engineering works nearby. A lucky few were in the drawing offices or some other tidy location but mostly it was about the dirt and the din and the dynamic of the east. I still remember my grandfather's shins, mottled with bruises, and the metal shreds in my dad's hands.

The noise and the scale of that era has largely gone. But on this September occasion, you trust that Van Morrison has not forgotten. It's imprinted in his music. You hear it in the lyric of 'Into The Mystic' when he sings about the foghorn wailing him home as the saxophone starts to swell. And therefore we've all come to Aircraft Park, part of the inaugural East Belfast Arts Festival, blessed by sunshine and hoping that Van Morrison might also feel a sense of occasion and place.

We'll not assume too much from Van, but indeed, the artist seems to be sharing some of that sentiment with us this evening. He opens with 'Brown Eyed Girl' and soon there's the autumnal vista of 'Orangefield'. The band is throbbing skillfully, the singer's daughter Shana is steering the harmonies and there's a very delighted audience beneath the canvas. We hear the shimmering invitation of 'Moondance' and a version of 'Jackie Wilson Said' that officially perks the night.

He sings the old blues stomper 'Help Me' with apparent delight and during 'Star Of The County Down', his arms are pointing out the map references like a giddy traffic cop. All of this is pure value but the transcendence happens during 'On Hyndford Street', a homage to the backstreets off the Beersbridge Road. On the recorded version it's all about the reverie and the powerful Sunday silence. But tonight he's riffing and reminiscing like Jack Kerouac or Allen Ginsberg. Those beat guys were writing poetry with a jazz attitude, loving the sax of Charlie Parker as much as they admired a word-slinger like Walt Whitman. And so Van channels his memory out of those same viaducts, taking us way, way back and simultaneously so high. Moment of the year, I'd say.

'Gloria' is lashed out with such authority and emphasis that you know an encore won't be optional. A major musical figure, back in his own parish, singing it home and exciting your soul. That's where it comes from, man.
-Stuart Bailie

Photo via Christine

Van added four new songs from his forthcoming album Born To Sing: No Plan B to the setlist.

Setlist
Brown Eyed Girl
That's Entrainment
Orangefield
Days Like This
Baby Please Don't Go
Here Comes the Night
How Can APoor Boy
Keep Mediocrity at Bay
Open the Door (To Your Heart)
Mystic of the East
Enlightenment
Close Enough For Jazz
Born to Sing
Whenever God Shines His Light
Old Black Magic (w/Shana Morrison)
Sometimes We Cry (w/Shana Morrison)
Jackie Wilson Said
Moondance/My Funny Valentine
Star of the County Down
Help Me
Hyndford Street
Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!
Chris White (Saxophone)
Alistair White (Trombone)
Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Paul Moran (Keyboards)
Jeff Lardner (Drums)
Rod Quinn (Percussion)
Special Guest - Shana Morrison (Backing Vocals)

A rare opportunity to see the legend, Van Morrison, in this very intimate black tie dinner performance on Sunday 14th and Monday 15th October 2012. For more information and tickets please visit: www.sacramentoevents.co.uk or call: 01371 876509 or email: contact@sacramentoevents.co.uk