kevins_concerts (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kevins_concerts) wrote2006-04-23 07:30 pm
kevins_concerts) wrote2006-04-23 07:30 pm
Entry tags:
Van Morrison
It was a 100 minute drive to Chicago. We arrived early, so we sat in the United Center for an hour before the show. The band played for 95 minutes. Then it was a 100 minute drive back home.
Other than that, it was a good show. The band sounded good. Piano, organ, guitar, bass, violin, steel guitar and three backing singers, one who played guitar a couple of times. Van played guitar, saxophone and harmonica. They had the piano and organ set up at the front corners of the stage. Looked like they'd have blocked the view of the fans in front. We didn't have to worry about that, since we were upstairs in the back. Actually, we were in the sixth row of the upper level, but the stage was so far away, it took me a couple of minutes to pick out which people were playing which instruments. Couldn't see their faces. The band was tightly packed on the stage, and there were no video screens, so I have no idea what any of the people even looked like. I didn't realize until they were leaving the stage, that the violinist was wearing a cowboy hat. I guess that should have been obvious. I was able to determine which bandmembers were female (I think).
The band took the stage at 7:25 and did one song before Van joined them. I recognized most of the songs, even though only a couple were his classics - "Moondance" and "Brown Eyed Girl". He played two classic blues numbers (in honor of Chicago), and then closed with "Gloria". His voice sounded best on the bluesy songs. There were a couple of songs near the beginning of the show where he was a little off key.
After Gloria, they left the stage, and the audience applauded for a bit - at least half a minute - and then the lights came up. Almost immediately, the roadies came out to disassemble the stage. Cyn and I, along with a few people around us, were stunned. It was exactly 9:00. Shortest. Show. Ever. And no opening act. I've checked some recent setlists, and they're all right around 90 minutes. I guess his fans know what to expect. I can't remember when I've seen a headliner do a show that short - or at least one that seemed that short.
So we got home at 11:00. The last time we saw a show down there, it was after 1:00 that we got home. I've gotten home later from local shows. Oh well. Van's an old guy. If an early night is what it takes to keep him performing, so be it.
Other than that, it was a good show. The band sounded good. Piano, organ, guitar, bass, violin, steel guitar and three backing singers, one who played guitar a couple of times. Van played guitar, saxophone and harmonica. They had the piano and organ set up at the front corners of the stage. Looked like they'd have blocked the view of the fans in front. We didn't have to worry about that, since we were upstairs in the back. Actually, we were in the sixth row of the upper level, but the stage was so far away, it took me a couple of minutes to pick out which people were playing which instruments. Couldn't see their faces. The band was tightly packed on the stage, and there were no video screens, so I have no idea what any of the people even looked like. I didn't realize until they were leaving the stage, that the violinist was wearing a cowboy hat. I guess that should have been obvious. I was able to determine which bandmembers were female (I think).
The band took the stage at 7:25 and did one song before Van joined them. I recognized most of the songs, even though only a couple were his classics - "Moondance" and "Brown Eyed Girl". He played two classic blues numbers (in honor of Chicago), and then closed with "Gloria". His voice sounded best on the bluesy songs. There were a couple of songs near the beginning of the show where he was a little off key.
After Gloria, they left the stage, and the audience applauded for a bit - at least half a minute - and then the lights came up. Almost immediately, the roadies came out to disassemble the stage. Cyn and I, along with a few people around us, were stunned. It was exactly 9:00. Shortest. Show. Ever. And no opening act. I've checked some recent setlists, and they're all right around 90 minutes. I guess his fans know what to expect. I can't remember when I've seen a headliner do a show that short - or at least one that seemed that short.
So we got home at 11:00. The last time we saw a show down there, it was after 1:00 that we got home. I've gotten home later from local shows. Oh well. Van's an old guy. If an early night is what it takes to keep him performing, so be it.