BJR those are 3 of my favorite Van songs and very appropriate after the season's ending. There is another song on the same album as Precious Time "The Philosopher's Stone" that is one of my Van favorites where he sings "it's a hard road daddy-o when your job is turning lead into gold". Our job right now and Pitino's job as well.
Music And All Things BrookJersey (Moran)
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BJR those are 3 of my favorite Van songs and very appropriate after the season's ending. There is another song on the same album as Precious Time "The Philosopher's Stone" that is one of my Van favorites where he sings "it's a hard road daddy-o when your job is turning lead into gold". Our job right now and Pitino's job as well.
Only saw Morrison once, in the 70’s in Jersey and he sucked, started off very late and very ragged, got booed a bit, told the crowd to F’ off and it went downhill from there.
But….sometimes, he has Pee Wee Ellis solo…..
Funny you mention that. I saw him at the Bowl about 6 years ago and he had rearranged all the songs as quasi jazz numbers. I went to the mens room and guy after guy came in complaining about the show saying things like "I didn't come here to hear some Jazz shite". I thought it was OK not great. Another weird van moment. I was at the robbie robertson tribute last fall here in LA (great show by the way) and every artist did band, robertson or roberson adjacent songs except Van. He did Tupelo Honey, Days Like This and Wonderful Remark. It was pretty confusing. I figured maybe it was his set list from the Last Waltz so I went and checked. It wasn't. He's an odd duck. Even Clapton did a five song band set. LOL
Great song from a terrific songwriter, have lots of RT's music. Son Teddy Thompson very good too. I was never a big fan of Linda.
Indulge me on Van.
Since the mid 1960's my wife and I have been huge Van the Man fans. All the way back to Them and Gloria. Over the years we have seen him live 25-30 times, mostly NYC venues, some a concert hall somewhere else. His concert re-creation of seminal album Astral Weeks (half the concert--other half greatest hits) was the best concert we've ever seen.
Out of 30 shows, maybe 5 clunkers, 20 good to great and 5 outstanding performances, buy Concert of Astral Weeks live at Hollywood Bowl. We can appreciate some of these comments, we have heard them before and experienced a few ourselves.
On the other hand, 25 times, he 1. goes from song to song to song, packs them in 2. does not spend time with song intros and small talk 3. he always introduces the band members 4. always gives at least one sometimes two decent length encores 5. makes sure the musicianship is perfectionist for himself and his players 6. leaves you wanting more.
There was a time mid career when he drank (and probably more) where he gave a few shitty shows, we were lucky to only see one or two like that. But if that was your only exposure to his music, it would suck.
He just about always had an opening act that paid homage to his musical influencers, we got to see John Lee Hooker (more than once), Solomon Burke, Mose Alison, Bobby Womack, Taj Mahal, Lighting Hopkins, et al. Blues, jazz, country, soul, everything that he grew up listening to.
His post 1990's music isn't as good as his earlier stuff except for some gems here and there, his experimentation and changing songs around can be distracting. He was and still is prolific with an immense catalog. Don't get me started on his (and EC's) stance during the early stages of thePandemic, nor his crankiness over how many younger musicians "ripped him off", or his distain for record companies and record executives, that gets very old.
He has written the soundtrack of my life and my wife's too. Like Rick Pitino you pick the parts you like and appreciate and put aside forget the things that don't suit you.
Other musicians speak of Van (and his voice being a musical instrument) from the likes of Ray Charles, Mavis Staples, Mark Knopfler, Micahel Buble to Tom Jones and Stevie Winwood with reverence. Let's just say, giving up the drink so many years ago helped save his vocal chords and today his voice is still excellent unlike so many performers around his age, e.g., Paul McCartney, Paul Simon.
If you go to his concerts expecting a Bruce Springsteen 3-4 hour affair he is not for you. But 100 +/- minutes and 25 or more songs of superb music is what you will get 80% of the time. For those not wanting proselytizing or speeches, he's your man, because he hardly says thank you after applause for a song, he drives instead right into the next song.
Anyone can be unlucky with a bad gig, we saw Gordon Lightfoot at Lincoln Center years ago, and he wasn't happy to be there. Gave a 65 minute concert and walked off the stage. He rambled between songs and left in a huff. Jesse Winchester once at Folk City came on stage, sang his first number, took a swig of whiskey, then proceeded to sing the same song he had just finished, while messing up the lyrics. Quickly to be escorted offstage by management.
Since the mid 1960's my wife and I have been huge Van the Man fans. All the way back to Them and Gloria. Over the years we have seen him live 25-30 times, mostly NYC venues, some a concert hall somewhere else. His concert re-creation of seminal album Astral Weeks (half the concert--other half greatest hits) was the best concert we've ever seen.
Out of 30 shows, maybe 5 clunkers, 20 good to great and 5 outstanding performances, buy Concert of Astral Weeks live at Hollywood Bowl. We can appreciate some of these comments, we have heard them before and experienced a few ourselves.
On the other hand, 25 times, he 1. goes from song to song to song, packs them in 2. does not spend time with song intros and small talk 3. he always introduces the band members 4. always gives at least one sometimes two decent length encores 5. makes sure the musicianship is perfectionist for himself and his players 6. leaves you wanting more.
There was a time mid career when he drank (and probably more) where he gave a few shitty shows, we were lucky to only see one or two like that. But if that was your only exposure to his music, it would suck.
He just about always had an opening act that paid homage to his musical influencers, we got to see John Lee Hooker (more than once), Solomon Burke, Mose Alison, Bobby Womack, Taj Mahal, Lighting Hopkins, et al. Blues, jazz, country, soul, everything that he grew up listening to.
His post 1990's music isn't as good as his earlier stuff except for some gems here and there, his experimentation and changing songs around can be distracting. He was and still is prolific with an immense catalog. Don't get me started on his (and EC's) stance during the early stages of thePandemic, nor his crankiness over how many younger musicians "ripped him off", or his distain for record companies and record executives, that gets very old.
He has written the soundtrack of my life and my wife's too. Like Rick Pitino you pick the parts you like and appreciate and put aside forget the things that don't suit you.
Other musicians speak of Van (and his voice being a musical instrument) from the likes of Ray Charles, Mavis Staples, Mark Knopfler, Micahel Buble to Tom Jones and Stevie Winwood with reverence. Let's just say, giving up the drink so many years ago helped save his vocal chords and today his voice is still excellent unlike so many performers around his age, e.g., Paul McCartney, Paul Simon.
If you go to his concerts expecting a Bruce Springsteen 3-4 hour affair he is not for you. But 100 +/- minutes and 25 or more songs of superb music is what you will get 80% of the time. For those not wanting proselytizing or speeches, he's your man, because he hardly says thank you after applause for a song, he drives instead right into the next song.
Anyone can be unlucky with a bad gig, we saw Gordon Lightfoot at Lincoln Center years ago, and he wasn't happy to be there. Gave a 65 minute concert and walked off the stage. He rambled between songs and left in a huff. Jesse Winchester once at Folk City came on stage, sang his first number, took a swig of whiskey, then proceeded to sing the same song he had just finished, while messing up the lyrics. Quickly to be escorted offstage by management.