22-January-2014
Culloden Estate & Spa
 Belfast, Northern Ireland

Photo via Pablo

Brendan sent in this review
Over the past year or so many of Van’s concerts have involved an over emphasis on the old reliables of Brown Eyed Girl, Moondance, Days Like This, Precious Time, Gloria etc. which has left me hoping for a return to concerts of a more challenging nature involving material which more adequately reflects Van’s superb vocal ability and back catalogue. Well tonight was such a night as Van,aided by his superb band,stepped outside his comfort zone and delivered a terrific performance which was hugely appreciated by those lucky enough to be present.

After opening with Celtic Swing and Close Enough for Jazz, Van produced the first of many highlights for me in Rough God Goes Riding complete with the now mandatory Clint Eastwood impression. This was followed by a new, more jazzy arrangement of Back on Top which featured the brass section to great effect. Next up was the show stopper for me with a brilliant rendition of the rarely played Queen of the Slipstream which included a particularly brilliant organ solo from Paul Moran. Next up was a new and beautiful arrangement of So Quiet in Here. A new arrangement of Choppin Wood was followed by the seldom played Keep it Simple with Van seated and playing ukulele. As a special request Van then performed the seldom (if ever) played Green Mansions which Van told us he had written the first two lines of in the mid 1960’s before finishing it in the 1990’s. Other highlights were a brilliant Georgia(superb organ again from Paul Moran), Enlightenment,duets with Shana Morrison on Whenever God Shines His Light and Sometimes We Cry, Bulbs and finally an extended and brilliant version of All in the Game with Van in meditative mode going to the Burning Ground and confirming that he still has No Plan B and No Safety Net. After a quick acknowledgement of the band Van was gone and sadly did not return.

Van was quite chatty throughout and referenced the late Irish comedian Dave Allen while also telling us he had dinner with Billy Connolly last week. Van seemed quite pleased that Billy told him he thought he was funny. Indeed!

It is to be hoped that this show is a sign of things to come in 2014 with Van delivering more of his lesser played and classic material to give us further shows of this quality.

-Brendan Hynes

Setlist (Thanks Mike S.)
Celtic Swing
Close Enough for Jazz
Rough God Goes Riding
Back on Top
Queen of the Slipstream
So Quiet In Here
Choppin Wood
Keep It Simple
Green Mansions
I Get a Kick Outta You
Georgia
Enlightenment
Whenever God Shines His Light
Sometimes We Cry
Bulbs
All in the Game/This Is It/No Plan B- No Safety Net/Burnin Ground/When Heart is Open

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