Van Morrison,Colston Hall Bristol June 20th 2009 Review.

 

We got on the train at 2.48 and arrived down by the fine seafaring port of Bristol about 40 minutes later.Quick taxi to the hotel,throw bags in the room and set off to cover the waterfront.I was wearing my Hollywood Bowl T shirt that Colleen sent me last November and an American who recognised the T shirt asked if we were going to see Van.This turned out to be Mike from Detroit and i had a chat with him and said i hoped this concert wouldn't turn out to be the 'contractual obligation' gig which i feared.Then Cuttsy and Maginnity strolled along and after i had prised Kim away from a hat stall we followed them to Jimmy Wetherspoons pub.One by one the Vanatics started turning up.There was Alan Lloyd from London.Then it was also great to finally meet Big Bern.John C was there in a THEM T shirt and Nosey who was even skinnier than ever but looking really well.Poet Alan Douglas was there and fellow Posh fan Dail and Nell who had come all the way from Australia.There was another Australian there but i can't remember his name,sorry mate.Sue Osben was there with her other half and Phil Britman and his wife who it is always nice to see.The only Bristolian was Gordon.Then our best friends Stuart and Michelle from San Diego arrived and Stuart had brought me a Peterborough United shirt which was brilliant and they gave us a present from Colleen which was really thoughtful of her.Thank you Colleen.It is always great to see Simon who is responsible for bringing all the Van fans together in the first place.What a jolly gang it was,i wonder if Van is aware of all the friendships that his music has created.It is 30 years since i first saw Van in Bristol,right back when Wavelength came out and i can remember Van gigs here when there was only us and Simon at the pre-show gathering so this was easily the best get together i can re-call in
Bristol. The time wizzed by and it was time to set off for the show at the recently refurbished Colston Hall.We walked up there with Gordon.We were in the cheap seats but they turned out to be brilliant with a great view of the stage.This band is a much smaller ensemble than Van has used recently.I think there were eight on stage counting Van.When we sat down Jay Berliner and David Hayes were already on the stage tuning up and then they were joined by Sarah Jory,Bobby Ruggerio,Richie Buckley,Paul Moran and Tony Fitzgibbon.Then it was announced "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr Van Morrison".Van sat at the piano and sang NORTHERN MUSE which was quite a supurb opening number although Van did get a bit grumpy during it,i think he was complaining that he couldn't hear the guitar of Jay Berliner.MOONDANCE was next but i thought it was a bit early in the show because i usually like to go toilet during Moondance because of all the pints.Paul Moran played some great trumpet during this number.Then we were in for the first stunningly brilliant highlight of the evening,FAIR PLAY from the Veedon Fleece album.I think it was Big Bern who told me later that Van has never played this in concert before.It was sublime and went on and on,the instrumental ending was genius with David Hayes and Jay Berliner and Van improvising like some gypsy jazz combo or something.The band was in the zone and it was quite amazing.When it ended quite a few of the knowledgeable Bristol crowd leapt to their feet and gave the band a well deserved standing ovation.It was quite magical.

All my fears about this concert were long forgotten by now and i had an inkling there might be songs from the No Guru album and this was proved by FOREIGN WINDOW which was excellent."I think he will do In The Garden",i whispered to Kim.Then there was another surprise when Van followed this with THE MYSTERY from the Poetic Champions Compose album.Tony Fitzgibbon excelled himself on this one,i didn't used to care much for Tony's playing but now i think he is great. HELP ME followed which has been a staple of Vans reportoire throughout his career and i always think it's great and so does Van.Paul Moran on keyboards deserves a special mention on this number.HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY? was the best version of this song i have heard for ages because Van sang it as the beautiful ballad that it originally was.Mr Moran provided some fabulous piano playing on this one as well.By now i knew i was witnessing something truly special as Van went into his master class with ALL IN THE GAME/YOU KNOW WHAT THEY'RE WRITING ABOUT/RAINBOW IN MY SOUL.tony's violin playing was sublime and easily as good as Toni Marcus's playing all those years ago when i saw Van at this very same venue.

Then my prediction of a few minutes earlier came true when the familiar piano intro to IN THE GARDEN began.The last time i heard Van sing this was at Exeter University in 1994 and i was beginning to realise that tonight was the best show i had seen since then.The song was amazing with Van just whispering the words at the end.You could have heard a pin drop in the hall,quite incredible.Another song from Poetic Champions was next,QUEEN OF THE SLIPSTREAM which Michelle told me was her favouite so i'm pleased he did that one.INTO THE MYSTIC followed which to me is one of the greatest songs ever written.MAGIC TIME was the only song from Vans modern era and although it was fine it suffers by comparison with the greatness of many of the other songs of this magic night.

I didn't think Van could produce another great song but he did with AND THE HEALING HAS BEGUN.I haven't mentioned Richie Buckley but he was great all night and especially with his flute playing on this song.The lyrics reminded me that i'm going to Glastonbury this week and i'm going to roam across the fields and stay out all night long and listen to the rock and roll,dig a dig a dig a !.That's where i come from man!.
The show was coming to an end and Van left the stage to return with a blistering MYSTIC EYES and GLORIA .Some people were dancing in the aisles so we took advantage and walked right up to the front and got a really good look at the band.
Afterwards outside,all of the band apart from Van were quite happy to chat with everyone and i got my photo taken with Sarah Jory,what a nice lady she is and Jay Berliner and David Hayes.They are all nice people.Most of the Vanatics went off for an Indian meal but like Cliff Richard we slipped quietly into the shadows and went for a drink with Stu and Michelle.Tonight Van and his band and his street choir of Vanatic followers are all in Cardiff and doing it all over again.Wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time!