06-September-2023
Bakkt Theatre
 Las Vegas, USA

Dan Murray on Night 1 in Vegas 

Last night's first-of-three Las Vegas shows was very well done. Van flew in Dave Keary from Ireland to take over lead guitar duties because John Platania is not that familiar with the material. He was relegated to rhythm guitar. Keary has been playing the skiffle stuff all year. Which raises the question of why Van put together a new band to do primarily skiffle when he had a band in place that has been playing it all year? Apparently, the delayed blues album was to be the foundation for the current tour, but Van had to fall back on his most recent release. It was 65 minutes from the new skiffle album. Van is singing hard, but some of these songs seem insubstantial to me. The final 25 minutes are 5 of his own tunes. I am starting to hear some of the skiffle material as if it was written by Van. It has Van's improvisatory vocal stamp all over most of the tunes. Keary played a very dominant role in last night's gig and Van seemed quite pleased with it. The multi-instrumentalist Jeff Taylor is also playing a key role. The rhythm section of Hayes, Ruggiero and WIcket is rock solid. The Rocky Road was gorgeous as always, with Taylor playing a wonderful flute than rode atop the song. Van pulled out for the first time Symphony SId and a full-throttle In the Afternoon that went everywhere it was supposed to, on a golden autumn day along the coastline. The workshop we need. And really should get every gig evening. Van has been unstoppable on this tour. 

-Dan Murray

Big Hand for The Band!

John Platania (Guitar)

Dave Keary (Guitar)
David Hayes (Bass)
John Allair (Keyboards)
Alan 'Sticky' Wicket (Percussion)
Robert Ruggeiro (Drums)

Jeff Taylor (Sax, Guitar, Vocals, Clarinet)
Omega Rae Brooks (Vocals)
Lucia Evans (Vocals)