26-October-2014
Europa Hotel
 Belfast, Northern Ireland

via Pablo G.

Setlist
Celtic Swing
New Symphony Sid
Baby Please Don't Go
Rough God Goes Riding
Queen of the Slipstream
Sometimes We Cry
Think Twice Before You Go
Days Like This
Whenever God Shines His Light
I Can Tell (You Don't Love Me)
If You Only Knew
That's Life
Philosopher's Stone
It's All In The Game
Glad Tidings
Boogie Chillun
In the Garden
On Hyndford Street

Big Hand for The Band!
Chris White (Saxophone)
Alistair White (Trombone)
Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Paul Moran (Keyboards)
Bobby Ruggiero (Drums)
Dana Masters (Vocals)

25-October-2014
Europa Hotel
 Belfast, Northern Ireland

MLK in IRE Blog

There is something innately special about the thought of seeing a favorite artist or band play their hometown. Dylan in Minnesota. Bruce in Jersey. Wilco in Chicago. To see these guys perform where it all began, before all the hype and celebrity nearly guarantees a unique and powerful performance unlike any other.

Van Morrison, having long been revered amongst the extended Kane and Fitzpatrick family, would easily fit in this camp. I have fond memories of listening to “Wild Night” on repeat while drinking Tahitian Treat by the case load and battling my brothers in NHL ’95 over and over again at my dad’s house nearly 20 years ago. He has since stayed on my short list of favorites through the years; with a more recent highlight being able to witness, along with 100,000+ of our closest friends, Morrison deliver a blistering set to close out the 2010 New Orleans Jazz Fest.

So last week when I discovered Van was playing an intimate show in his hometown of Belfast, it was a no brainer: I was hopping a bus and heading north. What made this gig even more compelling was the venue of choice, the historic Europa Hotel. Known as the most bombed hotel in the world after suffering nearly 30 attacks during The Troubles, it has persevered through the years and is now a main tourist destination and top hotel for Belfast City. President and First Lady Clinton stayed here in 1995 and 1998 while working on the peace process in Northern Ireland. NOTE: I unsuccessfully tried to book into the Clinton Suite for my stay on Saturday night, although the fine folks at the front desk did put me just down the hall on the 10th floor.

After a five-hour journey with connecting busses from Galway to Dublin and Dublin to Belfast, I arrived at the Europa Hotel Saturday evening just in time for the pre show ballroom dinner. Yes, when you book a ticket to see Van Morrison in a 300-person room in the most famous hotel in his hometown, you get a full course meal and all you can drink wine before the show. Who says Van is a total curmudgeon?

At my table were a great group from Belfast who had all seen similar shows from Van at least four or five times previously. They were pleasantly surprised to hear my story of why an American living in the West of Ireland decided to travel north for the night to see the show (when it was established that no one at the table was familiar with Pearl Jam or Wilco I decided to hold off on describing any of my other previous rock n roll pilgrimages) and remarked how they were fascinated by the amount of people they have met who travel from all over the world for a chance to see the legend play his hometown.

Moments after the final plate was cleared the band took the stage, launching into the instrumental “Celtic Swing,” with Van leading the way with his signature sax.

What struck me most about Morrison last night was his effortless skill as a bandleader. Directing his seven-piece group with both a casual persona as well as a striking professionalism of someone who has been at the top of his game for over five decades. He truly appeared to be enjoying himself on stage too, remarking halfway through his set, “Hey I’ve finally got a pulse tonight!”

Whether it was because it was a hometown show or just a lucky Saturday night, the crowd was treated to two hours of amazing music from one of the greatest musicians the world has ever known. With a songbook as rich as his to pull from, there was no sign of the massive chart topping hits that are played at karaoke bars every night the world over, and I don’t think the crowd would’ve had it any other way. If you told me some 20 years ago that one day I’d witness Van The Man perform in such an intimate and historic venue right in his own backyard, the word “surreal” would immediately come to mind. Last night confirmed it, a night I will not soon forget.

Until next time.

-MLK

Setlist
Celtic Swing
You Make Me Feel So Free
Lost John
Someone Like You
Magic Time
Talk is Cheap
Think Twice Before You Gp
Blues Medley
Baby Please Don't Go
Enlightenment
I Cant Stop Loving You
Whenever God Shines His Light
Back on Top
Days Like This
Rough God Goes Riding
Georgia
Glad Tidings
Boogie Chillun
In the Garden
Help me

Big Hand for The Band!
Chris White (Saxophone)
Alistair White (Trombone)
Dave Keary (Guitar)
Paul Moore (Bass)
Paul Moran (Keyboards)
Bobby Ruggiero (Drums)
Dana Masters (Vocals)

22-October-2013
& 23-October-2013
 Europa Hotel  
Belfast, Northern Ireland

Photo via Pablo G.

Our man in Ireland sent in this review of the gigs
Van returned to the Europa for two more dinner concerts this week. The first night was very disappointing with Van coasting through a festival type set with few highlights. Consider that the set included Brown Eyed Girl, Moondance, Days Like This, Choppin Wood Jackie Wilson Said and Gloria and you will get the picture. The highlight for me was a fine rendition of the rarely played I Forgot That Love Existed which was a new arrangement of the song. Van told us he nearly didn’t make it to the concert but didn’t expand other than to say it was one of those days (not to be confused with Days Like This).

The second night by contrast was much more uplifting. Starting with Celtic Swing Van then moved into a rarely played Come Running To Me from the Moondance album. When Van then produced a terrific version of You Gotta Make It Through The World If You Can from A Period of Transition it was obvious this was going to be much more like it. And it was! In the Midnight was well received with percussionist Bobby Ruggiero getting to do his high pitched vocal contribution twice at the end because Van reckoned he did it so well the first time. Other highlights included Celtic Excavation which merged into a beautiful version of Into the Mystic, thunderous versions of Baby Please Don’t Go and Early in the Morning/Rock me Baby and a very impressive re-worked version of Fire in the Belly. The concert finished with the usual high tempo Help Me and Gloria.

The concert was not without it’s disappointing moments however as a 100 mile per hour rhythm and blues version of Philosopher’s Stone(also played the same way the previous night) did a huge disservice to such a wonderful song. The general consensus among fans afterwards was that it would have been much better not to play the song at all than to play it like that.Sacrilege! A further low point was the abandonment(for the second time in recent shows) by Van of the magnificent In the Garden after a few seconds resulting in the audience’s shouts of exultation being quickly replaced by groans of disappointment. It was quite ridiculous really and very annoying for those of us who paid such premium. prices to attend.

Overall though it was a very enjoyable show and the couple of rarities included in the set certainly added to the occasion.
-Brendan Hynes

Setlist: 22-Oct-2013
Celtic Swing
Only a Dream
Days Like This
New Kind of Man
The Mystery
Stranded
Magic Time
Chopin' Wood
I Forgot That Love Existed
In The Midnight
Philosopher's Stone
Early in The Morning
Baby Please Don't Go
Brown Eyed Girl
Moondance
Jackie Wilson Said
Gloria

Setlist: 23-Oct-2013
Celtic Swing
Come Running To Me
You Got To Make It Through The World
In The Nidnight
A New Kind Of Man
Days Like This
Philosopher's Stone
Celtic Excavation/Into The Mystic
Got To Go Back
Fire In The Belly
Baby Please Don't Go
Early In The Morning
Whenever God shines His Light
Bobby Bland Tribute Song
Help Me
Gloria