Perth Concert Review 26-May-06
mood...@myway.com
Van Morrison, Perth Concert Hall
JOHN PAUL BRESLIN
He may be well known as an eccentric and difficult character, but Van
Morrison seems to have developed the "count-to-10" method of anger
management.
Here as part of the Perth Festival, the reportedly temperamental artist
merely switched instruments when his guitar of choice proved as tuneful
as an X-Factor contestant. A vibrant artist on the R&B, jazz and blues
scene for some 40 years - even if his saxophone only left its stand
to appear during Stranded - Morrison knows exactly how to take care
of his valuable vocal chords. Before a strenuous moment in the closing
bars of I Can't Stop Lovin' You, the singer took a cold, and then a
hot, drink before allowing his seasoned voice to ring out with youthful
energy.
Van the man is the clear leader of his travelling troupe, giving short,
sharp signals to his 10-strong band informing them exactly when their
solos start and end, and even managing to let them know the required
volume. The musicians met every request with an obedience that made the
Von Trapps look like the Osbornes.
Showing no signs of being fed-up playing his best-known songs, the
Belfast-born writer performed Bright Side of the Road and Brown-Eyed
Girl as true to their original recordings as fans could have hoped. As
he walked off during the closing bars of the latter, Van Morrison
received a standing ovation, but did not return for an encore. Maybe 10
minutes wasn't long enough.
Setlist:
Back On Top
Magic Time
Days Like This
There Stands The Glass
Playhouse
Stranded
Dead Or Alive
Rough God Goes Riding
Cleaning Windows
Irish Heartbeat
I Can't Stop Loving You
Precious Time
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Help Me
It's All In The Game
Bright Side Of The Road
Celtic New Year
Jackie Wilson Said
Brown Eyed Girl