07-November-2017
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
 Glasgow, Scotland

Brendan sent in his thoughts on Glasgow gig:
As the 8.00pm bell rang Van Morrison emerged on cue from his corner (not quite bobbing and weaving) for Round 2 of his UK tour to promote his Roll With The Punches album. The previous night's show was akin to a summer festival greatest hits show and this followed the same pattern unfortunately with Have I Told You Lately and Bright Side Of The Road also added to the mix this time. The latter saw Van do his Louis Armstrong impression and also produce a fine harmonica solo. A jazzy Too Much Trouble In My Life got an airing while Enlightenment and Carrying A Torch were welcome interventions between the 'hits' as was Warm Love which was beautifully delivered once more. In the Afternoon was again reprised brilliantly before Help Me saw Van depart the stage only to return for Brown Eyed Girl which would have been a very flat and most disappointing end to the show but Van mercifully brought the song to its conclusion and remained on stage to deliver a stunning In The Garden as he invoked the help of his Holy Guardian Angel over and over again. When Van had departed the band played on brilliantly for several minutes with Paul Moran delivering a terrific piano solo and Mez Clough on drums and Teena Lyle on bongos having a little duel between them.
-Brendan Hynes

The Scottish Sun
Irish crooner Van Morrison treats crowd to some Magic Times with Glasgow gig
The singer, 72, put in a show-stopping performance at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall last night.

VAN Morrison has still got it.

The 72-year-old singer had an amazing performance last night in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as he sang through an eclectic mix of hits from across his decades-long career.

He started off his swinging performance with Moondance – a little quiet to begin with but his stage presence as commanding as ever.

His voice took a while to get into it, but by the time he was hitting fan favourites like Look Beyond The Hill, Magic Times and Days Like This he was singing like a champion.

The crowd lapped up every ounce of energy from the singer, who was sharply dressed like an old bluesman in pinstriped suit, trilby hat and sunglasses.

Van the Man didn’t have a lot to say last night – other than to thank punters and his six-piece band for their stunning performance – his music did all his talking for him.

His band – packed onto the stage at the Royal Concert Hall – watched him intensely as he prowled around the stage, often switching up the set list when the feeling took him – I Can Tell was pre-faced with a notion from Van and a nod from a band.

Most played switched between instruments, and Van himself played multiple.

The first two, his harmonica and his sax, were played magnificently – Have I Told You Lately and Precious Time had swooping saxophone solos which punters couldn’t get enough of.

But his third instrument – his voice – was far and away the best.

Each song slid flawlessly into the next, the band and Van only pausing for short breaks before belting out his next number.

Bright Side of the Road was a highlight, fans screamed the lyrics back to the singer, grooving in their seats as Van belted out the chorus.

While the hits may not have sounded the same way as they did back in his heyday, the jazzed-up tracks with their brighter sounds and fuller instrumental did not disappoint.

The blues feel comes from his 37th album Roll With The Punches – and he has already begun planning his 38th.

Van the Man didn’t put up much of fight when it came to the encore, pausing at the side of the stage until fans called out “One more song”.

He put a swing on Brown Eyed Girl before sliding into his final song of the night In The Garden.

A glorious performance from the singer – and far and away one of the best concerts Glasgow Royal Concert has seen.

All that’s left to say is: Keep rolling with the punches Van.
-Rachel Macpherson

Setlist
Moondance/Look Beyond The Hill
Warm Love
I Can Tell
Too Much Trouble In My Life
Magic Time
Bright Side Of The Road
Baby Please Don't Go/Parchman Farm/Don't Start Crying Now/Custard Pie
Here Comes The Night
Whenever God Shines His Light
Days Like This
Precious Time
Sometimes We Cry
Have I Told You Lately (fast version)
Carrying A Torch
Enlightenment
Wild Night
In The Afternoon
Help Me
Brown Eyed Girl
In The Garden

Set Time 1h 34m

Big Hand For The Band!
Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Paul Moran (Keyboards/Trumpet)
Mez Clough (Drums)
Teena Lyle (Percussion, Vocals)
Dana Masters (Vocals)