Van Morrison
Friday 29 September 2000
Van Morrison and Linda Gail
Lewis: Glasgow Barrowland
Despite being the sister of Jerry Lee Lewis - The Killer - Linda Gail Lewis’s
appearance was far from dangerous, resembling more that of a well-dressed tour
guide, and the sound of shuffling feet and murmered conversation were audible
throughout her three solo numbers. Friday night’s crowd had gone along for one
reason only - Van Morrison. And the moment Van the Man hit the stage, there was
a roar to rival anything heard at Hampden. Everything shifted up a gear or two
and the Red Hot Pokers, a sensational backing band from Wales, really began to
impress.
Fast tempo crowd-pleasers including the Hank Williams number Jambalaya and
Smiley Lewis’s Old Black Joe were greeted with glee, and these were followed
with a spirited rendition of Wild Night which lived up to its standing as a high
point of the great man’s career. Lewis is a dynamic pianist and the audience
responded well to her playing while the Pokers’ lead sax man was greeted with
delirious applause every time he burst into a solo. This show was good,
old-fashioned dynamite and it is the first time for years Morrison has put
together a gig which is best enjoyed standing up - hitherto audiences have been
more likely to be sitting contemplatively in their seats. Medleys that included
everything from Roll Over Beethoven to songs by Bob Dylan and the Clash were
indicative of the very good time being had by all. And the star performer was
grinning from ear to ear in a way that he has not been seen since the mid-1970s.
A Wild Night indeed.
Simon McKenzie
Monday, 2nd October 2000
The Scotsman
This
review by Simon McKenzie
was originally featured on
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