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)