17-February-2026
Palace Of Fine Arts
San Francisco, USA

  

Tonight's show featured 16 songs from the new album, with several that he didn't get to yesterday. Van is turning Ain't That a Shame into something very special. Tonight he took it much further than yesterday and I suspect it's going to get better as the run continues, as will most of the songs. 

 

Van was doing a lot of explicit directing and to some extent rearranging songs on the fly. Several times he sang the instrumental or backup vocal parts that he wanted to hear repeatedly until the band picked up his instruction. 

 

Elvin Bishop came out to play guitar on You're the One and stayed on stage for the rest of the show. 

 

Things started to gel with Madame Butterfly, and continued from there. Again, Van needed to use large lyric sheets for his own compositions. That struck me as a little odd, but it's been a few years since he recorded these songs and he hasn't been playing them live. 

-Art Siegel 

 

Setlist (Thanks Art) 
Kidney Stew Blues 
Snatch It Back and Hold It 
Deep Blue Sea 
(Go to the) High Place in Your Mind 
Ain't That a Shame

Social Climbing Scene

King For A Day Blues (Band Intros)

On A Monday

Monte Carlo Blues

Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge 

You're The One (w/Elvin Bishop)

Deep Blue Sea (w/Elvin Bishop)

Loving Memories (w/Elvin Bishop)

Play the Honky Tonks (w/Elvin Bishop)  

Madame Butterfly Blues (w/Elvin Bishop) 
Rock Me Baby/Hollywood Bed (w/Elvin Bishop)
Help Me (w/Elvin Bishop)
Gloria (w/Elvin Bishop)

 

Big Hand For The Band!
Anthony Paule (Guitar)
Bobby Ruggiero (Drums)
David Hayes (Bass)
John Allair (Organ)
Mitch Woods (Electric Piano)
Omega Rae (Vocals)
Larry Batiste (Vocals)