{"id":259,"date":"2014-07-27T20:00:18","date_gmt":"2014-07-27T20:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/216.71.127.204\/wordpress\/?p=259"},"modified":"2015-10-05T20:17:53","modified_gmt":"2015-10-05T20:17:53","slug":"van-morrison-slieve-donard-hotel-newcastle-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/houstonmusicreview.com\/wordpress\/2014\/07\/27\/van-morrison-slieve-donard-hotel-newcastle-ireland\/","title":{"rendered":"Van Morrison – Slieve Donard Hotel – Newcastle, Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Written by Dave Clements <\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"Image\"Sometimes in life the stars line up just right and something unexpected and wonderful occurs.\u00a0 In my case, a star, one star, lined up just right with my already scheduled travel plans to Ireland.\u00a0 Van the Man, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mr. Van Morrison, gave a unique performance in a breathtakingly beautiful venue on July 27, 2014 and my wife and I had the pleasure of attending.\u00a0 We were treated to a rare display of the special kind of music that only Van Morrison can produce.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The evening started as we drove up to the amazing Slieve Donard hotel in Newcastle, Ireland (near Belfast, Van’s hometown).\u00a0 The venue was the ballroom of this hotel, with a capacity for only 350 fans.\u00a0 And the fans came to witness this rare concert event!\u00a0 Our table of 10 included a mother and son from Louisiana – the son defying the demographics, celebrating his 21st<\/span><\/sup> birthday!\u00a0 Also at our table were an enthusiastic married couple from South Carolina, and another couple from Abu Dhabi.\u00a0 The gentleman from Abu Dhabi claimed he was fulfilling an item that had been on his \u2018bucket list’ for 20 years by having the opportunity to see Van Morrison perform live.\u00a0 The ballroom was filled with similar fans with similar stories.\u00a0 And it appeared that many had scheduled their trips abroad specifically to attend this concert.<\/span><\/p>\n

Van’s daughter, Shana, opened for him on this night.\u00a0 We all know that Van Morrison needs no opening act, but she was very entertaining and had a strong, distinctive voice that reminded me a little of Jennifer Nettles at times.\u00a0 She stayed on stage throughout the night contributing some great background vocals on several of her dad’s tunes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Image\"Van took the stage playing a jazzy instrumental number on his saxophone.\u00a0 This segued into a song called \u2018Back on Top’ that had him grabbing his harmonica.\u00a0 He looked loose and comfortable, and we would soon learn that he was definitely in a good mood and feeling \u2018at home’.\u00a0\u00a0 It is well documented that Mr. Morrison is not a chatty performer.\u00a0\u00a0 During shows, he often has no discernable interaction with his audience at all.\u00a0 On this night, however, he let us in!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Continuing the parade of instruments he plays, he pulled out a ukulele, pulled up a stool, sat down and declared “It’s comedy time.\u00a0 This is \u2018sit down comedy’.”\u00a0 Then he actually smiled at his fans!\u00a0 Van Morrison, at age 68, is still full of surprises.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Morrison is known for recording some songs with a spiritual, mystic tone, and tonight was no exception.\u00a0 The audience got quiet and reverent during \u2018So Quiet in Here’ and \u2018Whenever God Shines His Light’.\u00a0 But the song that gave his fans collective goose bumps (an assumption but I’m pretty sure I’m right…) was \u2018In the Garden’.\u00a0 You could have heard and pin drop except for the \u2018oohs’ and \u2018aahs’ from his astounded fans.\u00a0 Van was \u2018on’ tonight!<\/span><\/p>\n

This was not a greatest hits set list<\/a>, but we quickly learned that it just didn’t matter.\u00a0 Van performed approximately 20 songs with his very dapper, extremely talented six piece band.\u00a0 And Van was no slouch either.\u00a0 While not officially possessing credentials for photographing this evening, the only stipulation the audience was given regarding photography was \u2018no flash’.\u00a0 So check out the gallery and see Van in his suit, fedora hat, and sunglasses.\u00a0 Van’s manager had politely tapped me on the shoulder early in the evening and asked me to stow my big lens for the remainder of the show.\u00a0 So these photos were hard earned.\u00a0 One might even say they were taken on the sly…<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Image\"As I mentioned, some of my favorites were left out of the set, but he did play one on top of the list, \u2018Into the Mystic’.\u00a0\u00a0 An appreciative audience applauded wildly when he ended the song by shouting an encouraging \u2018Just be here now!’\u00a0 No worries, Van, we were right there with you, holding on to every second.<\/span><\/p>\n

The final official song of the set was \u2018Ballerina\/Move on Up’.\u00a0 The repetitive lyrics were \u2018step right up, step right up’ and Van ended the song by asking his fans \u2018Step up and see me sometime…who said that?’\u00a0 He then paused and smiled into the microphone saying \u2018Come up and see me sometime’, and exited the stage.<\/span><\/p>\n

For his encore, Van gave a nod to two of his fans in attendance that were celebrating their 50th<\/span><\/sup> wedding anniversary.\u00a0 The woman’s name?\u00a0 G-L-O-R-I-A!\u00a0 The crowd jumped to their feet and enjoyed another surprise as he gave us a rousing rendition of this 1964 classic.<\/span><\/p>\n

To say I felt honored and excited to witness this once in a lifetime performance is, of course, an understatement.\u00a0 This was a rock and roll icon at his absolute best.\u00a0 Thank you Van the Man for an incredible night and a memory I will cherish.<\/span><\/p>\n

Until next time remember there is no time to kill,<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Written by Dave Clements Sometimes in life the stars line up just right and something unexpected and wonderful occurs.\u00a0 In my case, a star, one star, lined up just right with my already scheduled travel plans to Ireland.\u00a0 Van the Man, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mr. Van Morrison, gave a unique performance in… <\/p>\n

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