Over the years I have seen Van Morrison perform many times. I first started seeing him in the 1980s and in this period through the 1990s and probably early 2000s he could be just amazing. He really did sail off into the mystic quite often delivering some epic shows and music. Van as a performer is not particularly dynamic, he stands mostly completely still and his biggest gestures tended to always be hand and arm signals to his band when he wanted them to do something particular. Play a solo, extend a song or riff, or end a song or segue into another one. 

On rare occasions he might get chatty with the crowd but not often. During some shows he never spoke a single word. However, his voice and his band were often mind-blowingly good. Then as we edged further into the 2000s his shows became more and more workmanlike. Meaning they kick off at the precise time it says on the ticket, he plays for exactly 80 minutes, briefly leaves the stage and returns and plays what is essentially a ten minute encore and that's it he is done. He can still have some thrilling moments in a set but mostly in the later shows I have seen it looks like he is working for his wristwatch. It must be in his contract that he performs for exactly 90 minutes. His band comes on stage first, generally starts a song, then Van strolls out and starts singing. When he hits 80 minutes, pretty much exactly, he walks off stage, the band stays on stage, usually with someone saying "Van Morrison!" to the crowd, Van takes about a minute, and strolls back on stage for the encore. Plays another two or three songs depending on what the songs he chooses and off he goes while the band continues to vamp. 

I miss the days when he seemed to really let it rip and would often practically levitate, he would become so enraptured by what he was doing. Those shows were amazing and the potential for a moment like that keeps me coming back to see him.

Now, dressed like one of the Blues Brothers in a hat and suit he generally moves his band through a set, conducting the whole time but usually standing stone still and like Jake and Elwood, wearing sunglasses. His voice can still be the stuff of legend when he finds that soulful Irish R&B growl and howl. In a lot of the shows I've seen in the last decade though, he seems to be just making his way through the set list like an old pro that hits his marks and collects his check. 

His last couple of studio albums have been, well, pretty dreadful as his topic of choice in the songs he has churned out has been the pandemic and the unfair restrictions he feels it brought on. This stuff has been pretty uninspired lyrically and sometimes musically as well but the musicians are always really good. 

The good news is he is not likely to play much from these newer records so, hopefully I won't need to endure those songs. I mean, I am sure it is difficult to keep writing inspired and amazing music when you are this deep into a career but Van does have an astounding catalogue to draw from. 

So, what will I get tonight when I see him? I'm not certain. The rumor is this is the first time he has played at Tanglewood. Knowing he resided here in Massachusetts for a while this surprised me. When playing a new venue he sometimes does get inspired and Tanglewood puts him in a setting where he may be moved to venture off into the mystic. 

I am looking forward to seeing and hearing him tonight. He is a singer and musician that has given me so much over the years that really seeing him these days is just icing.