Comments on: Van Morrison at DAR Constitution Hall ~ The Concert and the Interview

By: Alec

Alec — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:57:44 +0000

A year has passed and I'm still upset about this show. I've been listening to Van since the 60's and one of my life's ambitions was to hear him live. He mailed it in. I've seen many great performances...James Taylor at the old Cellar Door on M St, Billy Joel at a small club in Memphis. Van was in another county...or country. His insufferable lack of respect for his audience and his band was shameful.

By: Ric

Ric — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:00:10 +0000

What a rip off. Don't go. I just spent a $1,000 on four tickets for the Baltimore show (10/27) and it was terrible. At $60 each, perhaps worthwhile.
Band was not tight. Van could not play the guitar at all; it is just a prop. Very sad for him, but not fair to an audience paying a fortune to not disclose what you are really getting. Not a word to the audience, no encore despite long requests. Individually band members very talented and delightful to hear. Much needed to cover Van's many misses. Moondance, Brown Eye G, and Gloria were almost unrecognizable. Don't spend money on this, you will be disappointed. Ric

By: cheryl wenn

cheryl wenn — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 19:21:17 +0000

I'm 54 yrs. old and have been listening to Van since I was 15. I paid $750 for 2 tickets from the "Live Nation" website, arrived from Virginia Beach and met a dear friend who drove down from upstate New York to attend the concert with me. He was actually the one who turned me on to Van Morrison at such a young age. We have never paid so much for two tickets, but we thought that at this time of our lives we would be extravagant b/c there are no guarantees for tomorrow...for Van or for us! We couldn't wait! We were six rows back dead center! The show....well all I can say is that I watched an entire show where Van browbeat his bandmates and had the stage hands cowering! I can't figure out how someone who writes and performs such beautiful lyrics and then turn around to bully those around him. I know the obvious answer, but it was painful to watch! I guess there wasn't a chance in a million that I was going to hear one of my favorites, "Be Thou My Vision."

By: Sharon

Sharon — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:12:52 +0000

My exposure to Van pretty much mirrors reviewer #1. My husband and I are long-time fans but have never seen him live before the Thursday night show. However, tht was the night he did "reward" the audience with Brown Eyed Girl and Gloria. He exited the stage with the crowd singing G-L-O-R-I-A...and simply did not come back. I had read reviews of his earlier Astral Weeks shows, and knew that it would be a crap shoot as to whether or not we'd get anything other than Astral Weeks, as it was very plainly advertised as such, much like Todd Rundgren's current tour in which he plays his new album, and not his hits. I'd gamble to see Van again, as from our mid-priced seats ($150, about 9 oclock from the stage in the first level) the sound was terrific and we had a great view of Van and the band. I did not view his need to tell the drummer "sticks" as rude; rather as a simple stage direction, which may have very well been planned as an option - in advance - depending on what Van wanted to hear with the song. I did feel he may have gotten slightly off kilter wanting to move his position on the stage back two feet as it affected just about every other musician on the stage. That was a tad distracting, but from what I've read about his tempermental personality, in perhaps another time that would have put him over the edge. We bought the Astral Weeks live prior to the show but did not have time to listen to it. Now I'm thinking I would prefer to have the original issue so I have a chance of understanding the words. As with Van, many of his lyrics are breathtaking and the music is beyond compare. But perhaps all musical genuises are a bit off kilter.

By: tmginnova

tmginnova — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:13:59 +0000

All of these whiners are complaining about the money they spent, Van's surliness, the lack of a friggin' encore. Do you know anything about rock and pop music of the past 40-50 years? Astral Weeks is a treasure, and he played every bit of it. He played straight through for almost 2 hours. It was wonderful!! Save your money for Britteny or some such nonsense.

By: Lesley Hall

Lesley Hall — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:11:14 +0000

Prior to Friday's performance at D.A.R., I'd been warned with an offhand comment from my brother, who has been to dozens of Van Morrison concerts. He said, "I hope he's not in one of his funky misanthropic moods." I laughed it off, but now I see just how important Morrison's mood is to the whole experience of seeing him live. To say he is temperamental is one of the all-time great understatements. However, the Washington Post review of his Thursday concert at D.A.R. hit the nail on the head. Morrison really is an artist, not an entertainer. Like others, I was taken aback by the harsh way he treated his awesome band and how he ended the concert by cryptically walking offstage while still strumming his guitar, leaving us wondering if that was it for the night. But I must say, when he was onstage and pouring it out for us, myself and everyone around me were awestruck by his talent and soul. It was a privilege to hear him live after a lifetime of fandom through his recordings alone. Yes, I wish he'd interacted with us just a little. I wish he'd thrown us a bone by giving up at least one encore. But I would see him again in a flash, and next time would play top dollar to get a closer seat. My advice to all who purchase tickets to see Van the Man in the future, in whatever venue and with whatever theme he's working: Hope he's not in one of his funky misanthropic moods. But if he is, enjoy the music while it lasts.

By: beg

beg — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:11:08 +0000

This is my third Van Morrison concert, first in Belfast was so-so, second at Patriot Center was excellent, this one was off to a great start..2 solid hours of great, albeit lesser known songs. He had multiple standing ovations throughout and then he had a hissy fit and walked off. I actually thought he had an emergency call of nature, the departure was so unexpected and abrupt! Many of the previous posts said he failed to give an encore, but I could read the onstage playlist from my seat and he left with multiple songs remaining, including some standards. I got the clear impression that he had gotten his famously unpredictable knickers in a knot and walked off. Shame on him. He had us even if he never said hello...and then he blew it at the end. Love his music, but we deserved better treatment...and we should all get at least 25% refund for the shortened show.

I saw Paul McCartney the week before and Mr. Morrison could take a wee lesson in showmanship and audience respect from Macca!

By: MRS

MRS — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:14:26 +0000

The show ... well I'm no so sure because $250 for one box seat at Constitution Hall = five shaky chairs thrown into a space made for three, first come first serve, to twist your neck look through people's heads and possibly catch a glimpse of Van Morrision on the stage. You're kidding, right? What a waste of money. I'll never go there again.

By: cdf

cdf — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:57:04 +0000

he was rude; he is a curmudgeon. it was unforgiveable to walk off without so much as a faretheewell. If you read about his first performance of the Astral Weeks tour, with encores and intermissions and old hits, you know that what we got at DAR was a pittance.

Nonetheless, his performance of No Guru No Method No Teacher was simply astonishing. $300 worth? probably not...

but I will not quit listening to his incredible works; I'll just avoid the opportunity to see him again

By: pat

pat — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 03:00:58 +0000

i've had a record of many good shows in the past year, and this jackleg just ruined my streak.