He's playing locally to me next month, I'm a huge fan of his music but I've never bothered going to see him because of this reputation at live shows isn't great.
Is it worth going to?
Thanks
Seen him in the pint about 5 years ago. He sounded great but he put very little into the gig.
He doesn't interact with the audience, he doesn't do an encore, he doesnt wave good bye.
It's a concert that in one way I'll never forget, but not for the right reasons.
He also barely did an hour, and the tickets weren't cheap.
I'd honestly avoid it, unless you're a massive fan.
Are you looking for cabaret and a musical, or a living legend? Kidding obviously...
But on a serious note, his shows are 100% honest. No moving truss, autotune, smoke OR mirrors. Just a selection of music played and sung by a monster of music, living amongst us. The band are expected to play any number at the drop of his proverbial hat, from an agreed list of over 400 songs. They're every bit as good as he is, which is why he's got the same band (give or take 1 or 2 members only) for years now. He's loving life and loving performing.
I hope you go, and I hope you enjoy it.
g
Just wondering how you deduced that he was loving life, Godfrey?
I wouldn't go into the back garden to watch him if he was playing.
That's ok too, suit yourself.
Attendance at Van's gigs is not compulsory🙂
Saw him live in the Point a few years back and loved it. Brilliant show
Go.
He's a legend, depends on which Van turns up, could be an amazing, could be good. He's contrary, but if anything, you'll see some of the best hand chosen musicians play.
Saw him a few times over the years, once in Madison Square Garden, seats right up close. He and his band were absolutely brilliant, not matter what any one says about the man or his views he is a serious talent and know's how to put on a show.
You won't be seeing the likes of this, but it's worth a watch.
Check the mic drop and exit stage.
Absolute class on a night of class.
History was made.
He's an obnoxious shíte of a man. He doesn't deserve your hard earned money.
Again, you are entitled to your opinion.
But it's none of your beeswax how we spend our hard earned money.
Regarded by many as the best performance in a show full of music royalty, the face on Robbie and there's at the end says it all. What talent.
That maybe so, but putting opinions on his character aside and concentrating on the music, the talent and the performance I'd encourage anyone to go and see Van Morrison do what he does good.
Absolutely go.
Seen him only once, around ten years ago and it was a superb gig with a really tight band.
Saw him in Marlay Park around then, fortunately on a freebie ticket. A great musical performance, but zero charisma. The camera ops make sure he basically never appears on the big screen himself.
The band wasn't so much tight as terrified, watching him constantly in fear of getting the wave to indicate they had to jump in.
I think the mixed responses here sum up his live performances.
I saw him in the 3atena a few years back and thought it was pretty terrible. I don't deny the musicianship but I find the lack of everything else a massive disappointment. He wasn't engaged at all and didn't seem to be enjoying it himself, I can't enjoy watching that.
If you catch him on a good day, I'm sure it's amazing. But on a bad day you know what you're getting based on the replies above. You know yourself whether you'd enjoy that.
Yeah, we're all looking for something different. That's the beauty of gigs. I need some sort of connection to really enjoy a gig and that's not really Van's bag. We don't get too many bona fide musical geniuses in Ireland, I guess we all just wish he wasn't such a bollix.
Yup I've ticked him off the bucket list as I got to see him at Fleadh Mor in Waterford in 1993, I think he actually played both days, I thought his performance was OK but definitely not mind blowing. There's another artist who played two days in the back of my mind, yes, it was the Beastie Boys who played Saturday and Sunday at Electric Picnic 2007.
Saw him in Derry a few years ago in the Jazz Festival. I thought he was excellent.
OK he doesn't worry about idle chit chat with the audience, and I get the feeling the band are on tenterhooks with him, but didn't spoil the show for me at all.
Band are fantastic too. I would go to see him again, whether hes a grumpy bugger or not.
A mate was trying to get tickets for the Cork Opera House gig on line this am but none to be had at 9am!!! more cronyism I suspect?
tickets still available for limerick
COH website is notoriously flawed for any high demand events. Crashes/errors are a regular thing. No cronyism, just a crap booking system at COH.
There are plenty of tickets still available for the two COH gigs, June 27th & 28th :
https://www.corkoperahouse.ie/en-GB/shows/van%20morrison/events
yeah he got tickets later on the day no problem - dunno what was going on in the am
Saw him once and it remains one of the two worst gigs I've been to. Ive no issue with him not chatting, but his songs didn't sound like his songs - he completely changed them for the show. It was about 2 minutes into 'into the mystic' before I realised he was playing it.
Edit: Can't decide whether Van or Bob Dylan was worse
I had the same thing when i saw Dylan in Nowlan Park, 3rd verse, before i realised he was doing ballad of a thin man, but i was at the gig for Neil Young, who was superb as usual. But i was suprised at how much I liked what Dylan was doing, if i am honest.
They say Van never does a track the same way twice, he’s great, have seen him a few times over the years, so i’d expect him to change things around a lot, he’s been doing some of these tracks for 50 years.
If youre after the studio versions, you won’t find it at a live gig
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