02-February-2018
The Colosseum Caesars Palace
Las Vegas, USA

Brendan was there for 2nd gig
Having opened the show once more with Wait A Minute Baby and Moondance Van Morrison delved into the Versatile album for a competent version of I Get A Kick Out of You before delivering a stirring How Far From God from the preceding Roll With The Punches album. Sometimes We Cry was particularly strong tonight and Van was particularly amused when the audience erupted before he and Dana had delivered the final line asking "do you want to do it?" before adding"how does it go?". Got My Mojo working was once more the highlight of the Baby Please blues medley and was rapturously applauded. Ride On Josephine got the "one more time" treatment from Van while Magic Time which followed was indeed quite magical tonight. When Van announced his daughter Shana I knew That Old Black Magic would be performed once more and it does fill me with a sense of wonder that Van doesn't give her some latitude to duet on some of his own songs rather than to continually trot out that old chestnut.Whenever God was particularly notable for the ovation given to percussionist Teena Lyle who appears to have achieved some kind of cult status in the States judging by the reaction to all of her solos during the show. Days like This and Precious Time which followed were really for the 'hits brigade' in the audience but a really nice Enlightenment raised the quality level again. Wild Night was pretty powerful and well received before Van took us on a mystical journey down the ancient highway In The Afternoon. As Van brought the sound right down the stage was shrouded in darkness save for a single beam of light shining down on him while Dana Masters soothingly repeated the phrase"its my life baby its your life baby" over and over in the background. It was quite wonderful. Jackie Wilson Said and the Las Vegas style version of Have I Told You Lately followed in quick succession before the opening strains of Celtic Excavation brought us Into The Mystic to a tumultuous roar of approval from the appreciative audience. Van departed still singing in the wings as the song concluded before returning for Help Me which ended with an extended band workout once Van had finally left the stage.

The sound quality was excellent again tonight and showcased Van's vocals which are sounding as good as at any time over the past few years. While the set list overall was somewhat sparce in terms of classic Van material his performance was a fully committed one throughout.
-Brendan Hynes

Set List
Wait A Minute Baby
Moon dance
I Get A Kick Out Of You
How Far From God
Sometimes We Cry
Baby Please Don't Go/Parchman Farm/Don't Start Crying Now/Got My Mojo Working
Ride On Josephine
Magic Time
That Old Black Magic w/Shana Morrison
Whenever God Shines His Light
Broken Record
Days Like This
Precious Time
Enlightenment
Wild Night
In The Afternoon/Ancient Highway/Raincheck/Stretching Out/Sitting Pretty
Jackie Wilson Said
Have I Told You Lately
Celtic Excavation/Into The Mystic
Help Me

Set Time 1h 43m

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