Van does know how to pace a show, and his crowd favorites always get a standing ovation. "Moondance" was performed, fiddle and all, with a dark, luminous backdrop invoking an evening's starry night - an incandescent mood enhancer perfectly situated halfway through the show. The Country Western appeal was revisited when Van lit into a tune made famous by Maria Muldaur in the '70's. The salacious "Don't You Make Me High" was given a boogie woogie twist by Van and it seemed to inspire not only the band behind him but the singer himself. A number of other tunes from his most recent effort Pay the Devil were spotlighted, even the Ray Charles nugget "I Can't Stop Loving You" was performed with panache and soul. The real showstopper, however, was the evening's first encore, "The Healing Has Begun" a transcendental melody, with Van on the guitar, dating back to his '79 Into the Music album. A song which has now taken on even greater significance, at least to this listener, especially in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy.
The ubiquitous "Gloria" followed by "Brown Eyed Girl" closed the show and we all felt like grabbing our partner, and sashaying out to Seventh Avenue with the rest of the Midnight Cowboys, quite content that we'd just experienced one of the great, soulful, rhythm and blues performers of Twentieth Century.
Set List
1. Sweet Little Woman
2. Talk is Cheap
3. I'm Not Feeling it Anymore
4.Stranded
5.Have I Told You Lately
6.There Stands the Glass
7.Playhouse
8.Philosopher's Stone
9.Don't You Make Me High
10. I Can't Stop Loving You
11. Moondance
12. Wild Night
13. Real Real Gone-You Send Me
14. Don't Start Crying Now-Custard Pie
15.Precious Time
16. Got to Help Me (Sonny Boy Williamson)
16a.Shake your Money Maker
Encore
17.Healing Has Begun
18. Gloria
19. Brown Eyed Girl
Article comments
1 - jeff kessler
I agree--great show. One downside I saw was the group of backup singers. Van is unique and one of the more soulful singers ever. The backup singers, while technically fine, were simply not a good accompaniment for Van. I thought I was watching "The Return of the Ray Conniff Singers"--vocalists without a hint of soul!
BTW, there were a few "cheap" seats in the back at a mere $90. Usurious!
2 - d alper
Jeff-Thanks for the comments, Van shines with his back up singers. You might recognize Katie Kissoon, she accompanies him alot (but not on this night) and gets a killer solo on Crazy Love! She also has toured and played with Pink Floyd. In a way, Van fancies himself an acolyte of Ray Charles maybe we should refer to his back ups as the 'Van Lettes'? $90 for rafter seats seems even crazier than regularly priced seats but then again, I'd rather 'Pay the Devil' than not see him at all!
3 - Double A
Van is the man
4 - mike
what song was it that had the lyrics "drinking wine in the alley" & "making time in the alley"?
5 - d alper
Is this it? Van has covered this tune?
Hank Williams Iii - Wine Spodeeodee Lyrics
Well down in New Orleans where everything's fine
All them cats is sippin' that wine
Drinkin' that mess is sure delight
Soon to be fightin' and fussin' all night
Drinkin' wine spodee-o, drinkin' wine
(drinkin' wine)
wine spodee-o, drinkin' wine
(drinkin' wine)
wine spodee-o, drinkin' wine
Pass that bottle to me
Wine, wine, wine
(Blackberry)
Wine, wine, wine
(Raspberry)
Wine, wine, wine
(Huckleberry)
Wine, wine, wine
(Wild Cherry)
Wine, wine, wine
Pass that bottle to me
Drinkin' that mess is sure delight
Soon to be fightin' and fussin' all night
Knockin' out windows, kickin' down doors
Drinkin' a half-gallon and askin' for more
Drinkin' wine spodee-o, drinkin' wine
(drinkin' wine)
wine spodee-o, drinkin' wine
(drinkin' wine)
wine spodee-o, drinkin' wine
Pass that bottle to me
Wine, wine, wine
(Blackberry)
Wine, wine, wine
(Raspberry)
Wine, wine, wine
(Huckleberry)
Wine, wine, wine
(Wild Cherry)
Wine, wine, wine
Pass that bottle to me
Well down in New Orleans where everything's fine
All them cats is sippin' that wine
Drinkin' that mess is sure delight
Soon to be fightin' and fussin' all night
Drinkin' wine spodee-o, drinkin' wine
(drinkin' wine)
wine spodee-o, drinkin' wine
(drinkin' wine)
wine spodee-o, drinkin' wine
Pass that bottle to me
Wine, wine, wine
(Blackberry)
Wine, wine, wine
(Raspberry)
Wine, wine, wine
(Huckleberry)
Wine, wine, wine
(Wild Cherry)
Wine, wine, wine
Pass that bottle to me
6 - R Wilson
The song in question would be "Behind the Ritual."