01-February-2019
The Colosseum Caesars Palace
Las Vegas, USA

Brendan's take on gig:
As Van and the band took to the stage I had a sinking feeling when I noticed that guitarist extraordinaire Jay Berliner was absent from the lineup. This left me with a feeling of foreboding that his absence would impact adversely on the song selection and sadly this proved to be the case as Van delivered a set consisting largely of jazz numbers and 'hits'.
The show commenced with three songs from the new album namely Gonna Send You Back To Where I Got You From, Got To Go Where The Love Is and Ain't Gonna Moan No More, the last of which featured a really good organ solo by Paul Moran.Rather predictably Days Like This and Have I Told You Lately followed in quick succession before the Baby Please Don't Go medley which tonight also included Playhouse and which featured Dave Keary to great effect on electric guitar. Wild Night proved a real crowd pleaser while the version of Sometimes We Cry was quite exceptional with Van bringing proceedings down to a near whisper at one stage aided in no small measure by Dana Masters on backing vocals. Talk Is Cheap and Symphony Sid followed before Van delivered a rare nugget on the night in Little Village which was quite superb and saw Van emphasising over and over that he comes from the island of the saints.Several enthusiastic audience members gave the song a standing ovation at its conclusion and their enthusiasm was rewarded(?) by Van and the band immediately launching headlong into Precious Time. The term 'from the sublime to the ridiculous' crossed by mind. That's Life featured Paul Moran on organ and trumpet but not simultaneously. Unsurprisingly the seemingly ever present Broken Record made yet another appearance followed by a somewhat subdued rendition of St.James Infirmary. Did Ye Get Healed was a most welcome inclusion and was great with Dave Keary delivering some great guitar sounds reminiscent of George Benson. Moondance (featuring David Hayes prominently on bass) launched us firmly into 'hits' territory with Whenever God Shines His Light, I Can't Stop Loving You, Jackie Wilson Said and Brown Eyed Girl bringing the main set to it's conclusion. Van did return for Gloria which as usual saw the band deliver a 10 minute jam session after Van had departed.
While Van was in fine voice and the band performed well throughout, the set was unfortunately largely devoid of Van's real classic material. There were no real meditative moments and no workshop to immerse oneself in which for me was disappointing.
-Brendan Hynes

Set List
Gonna Send You Back To Where I Got You From
Got To Go Where The Love Is
Ain't Gonna Moan No More
Days Like This
Have I Told You Lately (fast version)
Baby Please Don't Go/Don't Start Crying Now/Got My Mojo Working/Playhouse
Wild Night
Sometimes We Cry
Talk Is Cheap
Symphony Sid
Little Village
Precious Time
That's Life
Broken Record
St.James Infirmary
Did Ye Get Healed
Moondance
Whenever God Shines His Light
I Can't Stop Loving You
Jackie Wilson Said
Brown Eyed Girl
Gloria

Set Time 1h 45m ( Van on stage 1h 35m)