I set off on Saturday morning on yet another of the worlds great train journeys,Bradford On Avon to Nottingham changing at Bristol Temple Meads and Birmingham New Street.As the little train chugged happily along the ancient steel highway towards Bath i looked out of the window and the world looked extraordinarily beautiful.There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the Indian Summer had turned the trees to a mirage of colour,red,yellow,sienna, ochre, umber and loads of other colours that i don't know the names of.It boded well for the concert that night.I got to Nottingham and got a taxi to my friend Daves house.I hadn't seen him for quite a few years but he features in quite a few of my stories on my blog page.I reminded him of little incidents such as the time i put his shoes on the fire after he wrote all over my Them album.Dave told me that the last time he saw Van with me was
Glastonbury in 87.One of Vans finest moments.We wiled away the afternoon and set off to meet all the Vanatics at the meeting place pub.I was most disappointed to only find Dail and Simon and a nice American couple called Michelle and Stuart.It was great to see Dail and i gave her the great news that Peterborough United had beaten Stockport County 2-1 and were now 4th in the table.Then it was time for the show.Dave immediately remarked on how the audience has changed since the last time he saw Van.In those days it was all hippy types now its mainly old gits (like me!).
Van and his band were on great form though in Nottingham.I think there is 11 in the band now and it was John Platania on guitar.The first time i have seen him in Vans band.I wrote the set list down so i hope i got it right because i was drunk and might have made mistakes.This is the notes i scribbled in the dark-
Stop Drinking Wine(nice piano playing)
All Work And No Play (Crap)
Magic Time (Nice keyboards, Sara great, and Van sax)
Nothings Gonna Be alright
Bright Side Of The Road (Sara banjo)
Cleaning Windows
Vanlose Stairway (brilliant, Ned vocals one verse, why?)
Talk Is Cheap
Moondance (went for a wee)
St James Infirmary (Dave liked this one)
In The Afternoon (excellent keyboards,Ancient Highway, Raincheck, brilliant)
Playhouse, (broke spell of previous)
I Can't Stop Loving You
Precious Time
Standed (Two handed keyboards and piano playing,really good)
Have I Told You Lately (buggger off!)
Help Me (great)
Brown Eyed Girl.
All in all i thought it was wonderful,the highspot being Van whispering 'In the mystic church in Notting Hill Gate' at the end of In The Afternoon etc.Also as Dail said,Vans sax playing is really great these days.After the show we had a couple more drinks then saw Dail off home and Dave and i ended up going back to Michelle and Stuarts hotel and chatting in the bar till about 1.30.Van's road crew were all in there and the bass player.It was great and then Dave and i went back to his and sat up till about 4.00 chatting about the good old days and listening to music including Artie Shaws version of St James Infirmary.
This morning who should i meet at Nottingham railway station but Ned and i told him that i really enjoyed the concert and he said thanks but he wasn't very friendly.Anyway i got home Sunday afternoon at 5.00 tired but happy after
a great weekend and a brilliant Van concert.
THE END.
Here is me and my old buddy Dave in Nottingham at Van's gig on Saturday.
