22/03/2004

Van Morrison in Milan - confounding the critics

My discussion of the recent performance art of Van Morrison coincided with one of the best Morrison gigs of recent years, in Milan. Morrison's power as a musician is still intact. The magnificent voice is still there in all its glory: it only needs a well-chosen set list to make any Morrison gig a memorable experience, of a quality largely unequalled in the poprock idiom.

Here's what our man in Milan told Music for Grown-Ups about last week's show.

"The Rome show had been another very average gig. They rushed through the first 6 songs - I've never heard them played so fast. This wasn't looking good at all. The clock was on the side, but didn't work. OK, we got a couple of surprises.....Bring it on Home To Me was very welcome, but much too short - it could have been worked out more. Same for Game - good but too short, the best bits were missing.

"As it was St Pat's Day, they did a Celtic medley - Star of the County Down, followed by Solid Ground/Auld Lang Syne. Again, nice to hear again, but not fantastic. Morrison mumbled something like "are there any bootleggers out there - that would make a good one - St. Patrick's day in Rome". Good to see his sharp humour's intact.

"In Milan, I was in for another average gig - but boy, how wrong can you be? The set list was chock full of surprises, and Van was in a great mood - laughing, chatting to the band. It's a long time since I heard so many top songs in one gig - Healing Ground, Hoochie Coochie Man, Caravan, Kiss, Into the Mystic, the monumental Summertime In England, Wonderful Remark, Little Village, See Me Through, Burning Ground, It's All In The Game….

"Milan was the best Van gig I've seen since Johnny Scott left. Caravan sounded like the old days - it must be '98 or '99 since I last saw that one live. Summertime was super. It's my favourite song, so when I say it was good, it really was good - not the 20 minute version with Pee Wee Ellis, but if they work a bit more on it, it will be fantastic - 'bring it up...funky...down...can you...the brass band...'

"I was stunned. And compelled to stand to applaud as it finished - it was an involuntary movement. I stood twice that night - another record for me. Mystic and Game could have been longer, but were very good. Little Village was magical. At one point, Martin (on flute) and Matt and Van (on sax) came together in the middle of the stage, blowing their horns - wow, what a fantastic version. Richard was good as well. They all got solos during Moondance. And then See Me Through/Ground - shivers down the spine - 'throw the motherf**ker down'.

"Then it was time for the workshop - 'game - jack in the box - vampire - make it real'. A splendid version. I even enjoyed Precious Time - towards the end, it had an extended 'lalala' coda: it sounded like a different song.

"It's a long time since I felt this satisfied after a Morrison gig - Van Heaven. The auguries for the US tour could not be better."

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