27-November-2012
Philharmonic Hall
 Liverpool, England

Liverpool Echo (Source)
BY ALL accounts Van Morrison likes playing at the Philharmonic.

And while he's not someone who exactly wears his heart on his sleeve (unless he's feeling the wrong way out), you could be quietly confident he enjoyed last night's gig.

And certainly so did the full house that awaited his every note, mumble and wail. From the outset no-one was in any doubt that they were in the presence of a true master of his craft, and throughout he had the hall in the palm of his hand.

Dressed in his trademark dark suit, hat and shades (you could wear that outfit to a fancy dress party and people would guess you'd come as Van The Man), he took to the stage, saxophone in hand, to lead the seven-piece band through a musical journey through the years from present all the way back into the past.

The sound was the distinctive blend of jazz and blues, every instrument blending faultlessly while each still distinct and clear. The clarinet, trumpet and sax – blue if ever sounds and colours could be matched up – were perfect for the full-mooned winter's night.

The early numbers such as Born To Sing poured out effortlessly, in such a relaxed, laid back way you'd have thought they were playing themselves, while numbers such as If In Money We Trust had a sinister feel to them (not least because his mic kept slipping while he was sat at the piano, and despite the roadie's efforts to fix it, more than a few in the audience were fearful he would walk off the stage in a strop).

But he seemed in genuinely good mood – and even said thank you to the audience after the stomping Baby Please Don't Go.

It was in the latter part of the show that the real crowd pleaders came: the fabulous Did Ye Get Healed? with its haunting circular sax and clarinet riff, the beautifully optimistic Days Like This, and Moondance and Brown-Eyed Girl. But hits like those aside, you know you're in the presence of a master when they can write a song with lyrics so simple yet clever as 'Who can I turn to if you turn away from me?'

He is a modern classic, and a genius still at the top of his game after all these years. 10/10:
-Marc Waddington

Setlist
Celtic Swing
A Town Called Paradise
Born To Sing
If In Money We Trust
Open The Door (To Your Heart)
Enlightenment
Here Comes The Knight
These Are The Days
Did Ye Get Healed?
Stranded
Magic Time
Baby Please Don't Go
Who Can I Turn To?
Moondance/My Funny Valentine
Precious Time
Days Like This
Brown Eyed Girl
In The Garden
Help Me

Big Hand for The Band!
Chris White (Saxophone)
Alistair White (Trombone)
Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Paul Moran (Keyboards)
Jeff Lardner (Drums)