03-May-2022
Ryman auditorium
Nashville, USA

Sean sends in his thoughts on Ryman gig night 1 

A rapturous standing ovation from a keyed up Ryman audience greeted Van before he blew or sang a note. Up County Down was a syncopated wonder. Van sprang an early surprise by bringing on Joss Stone for a popping, jumping Someone Like You. Her voice soaring over Van's vocal created a beautiful fusion. The big surprise of the night came next with Van and Joss reprising their version of Wild Honey from the underrated Duets album. This version surpassed the studio version. Van took the song down into a low moan that he held and then went into a repetition of the word "the light" that was endlessly glowing. A fist pump and a loud "yeah" from Van showed how much he enjoyed the interaction with Joss as she exited to great applause. 

Up next was a slow, sultry funkified Satisfied. The band and Van laying down a righteous groove that was powerfully on point. John Allair got to shine as Van said "Shall we do, shall we do, organ grinder jam? The Moondance nuggets And it Stoned Me and These Dreams of You featured classic John Platania solos. Raincheck continues to be delivered with a heartfelt power. The band exuded a big enveloping sound all night with Chris White providing numerous dynamic horn solos. The audience, Van and the band then rocked through the Baby Please medley and Think Twice Before You Go which got the full John Lee Hooker treatment. 

Van then mentioned that he'd done a country album but couldn't recall when it came out. He did a song he wrote for the project called This Has Got To Stop that featured a great pedal steel solo from Dave Keary. A sweet Enlightenment slowed things down a bit along with a beautifully delivered Carrying a Torch that let everyone catch their collective breath. A crowd pleasing Cleaning Windows with followed. 

Van has turned Down to Joy into an epic emotional life affirming statement. Van closed the show out with the usual Help Me, BEG and a joyous Gloria in which the band shines with a new arrangement to the extended instrumental coda. Another powerhouse performance from an artist and his band that continues to evolve and gel with stunning energy. 

Setlist 

Caledonia Swing 

Latest Record Project 

Thank God for the Blues 

Up County Down 

Days Like This 

Someone Like You (w/Joss Stone) 

Wild Honey (w/Joss Stone) 

Satisfied 

And it Stoned Me 

These Dreams of You 

Raincheck 

Baby Please/Parchman Farm/Mojo Working 

Think Twice Before You Go 

This Has Got To Stop 

Enlightenment 

Carrying A Torch 

Laughin' and Clownin' 

Cleaning Windows 

Down to Joy 

Help Me 

Brown Eyed Girl 

Gloria

Big Hand for The Band!

Chris White (Saxophone)
Dave Keary (Guitar)

John Platania (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
Teena Lyle (Keyboards)

John Allair (Organ)
Colin Griffin (Drums)
Elle Cato (Vocals) 

Bobby Ruggiero (Percussion)