The Mirror and the Scene

Alongside Dylan there are not many contemporaries who still stand up even now as a live performer or songwriter. I know some might dispute that, but I can tell you now, Dylan is still a formidable force when you see him perform. Leonard Cohen's initial 2008 concerts were a revelation for those who saw them, but again every night is a reproduction of the same stage patter and the endless band introductions and same arrangements without any real variation. As everyone probably knows Paul Mccarteney delivers a slick set with his rather bland yet sophisticated session players, but it's all essentially tribute.

Then there is Van Morrison, who manages to deliver astoundingly passionate invigorating performances of his material.There is ample evidence of this on youtube, even if Van's management love to remove these videos frequently and even though on the later performances Van is prone to slip into what less obsessive fans might see as a scat-sing-mumbling.

A testament to his brilliance as a live performer can be witnessed in the emotional rendition of Celtic New Year as performed on Later with Jools Holland in 2005. The performance complete with string section is deeply moving and is a performance I return to. See below for the video.

As a tribute to Van, who the press have been hounding a lot recently, I figured I should put up some of his best performances on youtube, starting first with a very rare video of him performing - during his Veedon Fleece period - Dylan's Just Like A Woman, at the Winterland, San Francisco, February 2nd 1974, which is sublime aside from the homophobic utterence of "this queer in here" during the bridge..



Van's performance in Montreux 1980 contains some of his best captured performances. Unfortunately not all of it is online anymore. But here is an absolutely superb rendition of Wavelength:


 Here is a t.t.t.t.tongue-tied stutteringly grand version of Cypress Avenue from the Filmore, 1970:


My person favourite however, for whatever inexplicable reason is later-period Van performing Celtic New Year in 2005. Something about the build up in the performance, when he gets to the last 'come back home my dear' to his hum and riff guitar parts at the close of the song make it special and raises a shy tear.


And obviously, we can't leave it without Van's 'electric light' moment during the Last Waltz:


Here's to Van Morrison! Can't wait to see you play live this year you old grumpus.

My favourite album of Van Morrison's without a doubt is Veedon Fleece: