Robert's Review of Van Morrison at Fleadh Festival, 06/15/97

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The New York Guinness Fleadh Festival closed its second night with Van Morrison and his band. I have been waiting a long time and traveled a long way to see the man again and I was not disappointed - The Music was great. (See Robert's Review of Fleadh for other performances.

Van - dressed in white suit, white hat, and shades - stood at center stage with little movement except to play harmonica (one song on guitar) or cheer on the horn section. The rest of the time he just sang. His voice was in fine form - clear and full of rough soul. He was a little stiff in the beginning but loosened up near the end of the set and really opened up for the encore - leading the band into a dramatic melody of his songs that let into The Burning Ground.

The band was very tight with great work by Leo Ellis on tenor and Pee Wee Ellis on soprano. Although they solo on The Healing Game album, I didn't realize how great they were until they soared in concert. And Leo was the most animated member of the band turning to play to Van and once moving up front to solo. The horn section also showed the strong arrangements that have graced Van's recent albums. The horn sections add a romantized 40/50s edge to the music although Van adds Celtic, Blues, Do Wop, Gospel, and Rock influences as well. A music of so many influences but with his vision, words, and voice it transcends them all and becomes his music only.

Surprise, no songs by Georgie Fame but it was shorten set (only 1.5 hr at most). Brian Kennedy was in fine voice singing harmony and contrary to some others I like the contrast of his voice with Van's on the echo parts. Shanna Morrison harmonized on one song but you couldn't really hear her. A strong rhytmn section completed the band.

The set drew heavily from the great Healing Game album. The band opened with "Rough God Goes Riding" and then "Domino". Other old songs included a surprisingly energetic "Moondance" (he must be tired of it but he really kicked on the last verse) and "Jackie Wilson Says." He also surprised me with "In the Afternoon" from Days like This. Among the other songs was a rendition of Ray Charles "I'm a fool for you." The set also included "Fire in the Belly", "Sometimes we cry", and closed with "The Healing Game".

The encore opened with "Have I told you Lately" and moved through a number of songs including Van singing "thank you for letting me be my self" to the heavens in a thankful prayer before ending with the "The Burning Ground."

The crowd was good from where I stood - 20 ft from the stage - but it was Sunday and it had cooled off considerably. I heard the Saturday crowd was not as pleasant. People near me where into the music - particularly those with a significant other to hold - Van's must be the most romantically real music there is. Not a big crowd (which is why I was able to get close) but again it was late on Sunday. I was exhausted on Monday.

Van was well worth the wait and the trip. He sounded great and I love the Healing Game album so the selection of songs was fine with me. ( I would have liked another set with Tupelo and some blues but I guess it does no good to be greedy) Van is still the Man even (or because) he's not trying to be anything but Van. When he sang thank you for letting me be my self - with his well-known disdain for fame and the music business - all I could think was anytime Van, anytime.

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