Van the Man

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 3:59 am

Just scored tickets to see Van Morrison in L.A. on my birthday.

Last time I saw Van the Man live was a dance concert in the old gym at Stanford in about 1971 or 1972.
Dude is old but still definitely kickin'.

RACK the OL for agreeing to spend more than anybody should for a couple of concert tickets.
Should be a fun day.

.m2 · Post by **.m2** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 4:15 am

This thread is very misleading...

Stanford recruit decommits

once again

the truth

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:32 pm

You were expecting some sort of homage to our local verbomaniac?

LTS TRN 2 · Post by **LTS TRN 2** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 8:49 pm

Sorry, Mikey, but Van the Man has long since left the building in terms of a ticket-buying fan's perspective. He's been droning and veering on stage in an old man haze now for about fifteen years. It's amazing that he's still getting booked. Oh, I like the guy and many of his very old tunes, etc. But if you're going to pony up for some shell of a has-been, why not sing along with this untamed animal...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYA061KR0Uk

("Van" on this forum? you mean the proud Zionist? Puleeeze!

)

Van · Post by **Van** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 9:09 pm

Nick, that Eric Burdon clip sorta looks like TVO trying out for American Idol.

Among guys like Van Morrison and Eric Burdon, this guy does a much better job of evoking What Once Was...

Van · Post by **Van** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 9:53 pm

Yeah, it's amazing what a guitarist with a cool sense of rhythm can do, innit...

RadioFan · Post by **RadioFan** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:17 pm

Trower is coming here June 7. I may have to take that Sunday off. :)

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:20 pm

LTS TRN 2 wrote:Sorry, Mikey, but Van the Man has long since left the building in terms of a ticket-buying fan's perspective. He's been droning and veering on stage in an old man haze now for about fifteen years. It's amazing that he's still getting booked.

Interesting observation.

I really like Eric Burdon and stuff, but the fact that Van is playing venues like the Hollywood Bowl, Royal Albert Hall (tonight and tomorrow), and multi-night engagements at the Greek Theater in Berkeley and the Orpheum in L.A., while Eric is making the rounds of second tier casinos would seem to indicate that you don't know WTF you're talking about.

Van · Post by **Van** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:25 pm

Not exactly. I sell out big places too.

-Britney

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:41 pm

Van wrote:Nick, that Eric Burdon clip sorta looks like TVO trying out for American Idol.

Among guys like Van Morrison and Eric Burdon, this guy does a much better job of evoking What Once Was...

Trower still sounds great, but this is not really an apt comparison seeing as how neither Burdon or Morrison are guitar players.

If you want to see another geezer who still gets it done with awesome style check this out:

(check out the audience shot at about 2:00)

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:41 pm

Van wrote:Not exactly. I sell out big places too.

-Britney

Who said anything about big places?

Van · Post by **Van** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:48 pm

Mikey wrote:
Van wrote:Not exactly. I sell out big places too.

-Britney
Who said anything about big places?

You did, when you mentioned the Hollywood Bowl and R.A.H., comparing them to the much smaller venues where Burdon plays.

Dude, you just posted it. that's some serious short term memory loss. Maybe you might wanna skip the doobage in the parking lot, before the Morrison show...

Van · Post by **Van** » Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:52 pm

Mikey, those were some awesome Beck clips. I haven't seen them before.

Good ole' Bob Plant, in that first clip! Bwaaa!

Tal Wilkenfeld is fucking goddess, and dammit, I need to get me another JB Strat...

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:03 am

Van wrote:
Mikey wrote:
Van wrote:Not exactly. I sell out big places too.

-Britney
Who said anything about big places?

You did, when you mentioned the Hollywood Bowl and R.A.H., comparing them to the much smaller venues where Burdon plays.

Dude, you just posted it. that's some serious short term memory loss. Maybe you might wanna skip the doobage in the parking lot, before the Morrison show...

Uh, no. "Big" places are stadiums and sports areans. RAH seats about 5000, the Orpheum about 2000.

The Hollywood Bowl is pretty large by comparison, about 17,000.

The contrast wasn't supposed to be in the size of the venue in the first place. If you don't see the difference in prestige, or whatever, between the Tropicana Express in Laughlin and Royal Albert Hall then there's no use even having this conversation.

I was responding to Frisco's comment about Van having "left the building in terms of a ticket-buying fan's perspective". The fact that he's filling those places at (admittedly) hugely inflated prices pretty much puts that statement to rest.

Van · Post by **Van** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:08 am

Mikey, c'mon, you compared a guy playing Indian casinos to a guy playing the Hollywood Bowl, and you said that the difference there shows that Nick is wrong.

You then followed it up with some killer clips of Jeff freaking Beck playing a tiny jazz club, which completely obviates your point even further. Jeff Beck is not going to sell out a 17,000 arena on his own, not anymore...but Britney will.

Point being, the size of the venue doesn't mean jack. Some of the best acts in the world play nothing but the smallest rooms.

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:10 am

Van wrote:Mikey, those were some awesome Beck clips. I haven't seen them before.

Good ole' Bob Plant, in that first clip! Bwaaa!

Tal Wilkenfeld is fucking goddess, and dammit, I need to get me another JB Strat...

There's a CD and DVD (with more songs) out from that show. Not bad for a guy who's approaching 65. I saw the same band at the Greek Theater in LA last year (maybe 2007?). Had a full string section for the second half. An awesome show. Possibly the best performance I've ever been to.

For a bit of contrast, we will be seeing the LA Opera's production of Die Valkyre at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (capacity 3200) tomorrow afternoon, with Placido Domingo playing Siegmund. Just hope I don't embarass the OL by snoring too loudly.

Van · Post by **Van** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:13 am

Mikey, you probably couldn't get me to enjoy an opera, but I'd be all over the same thing...minus the nails on a chalkboard singing. Make it simply a classical symphony orchestra and I'm there.

Even a ballet, like The Nutcracker, works for me, because of the orchestra. The ballerinas don't hurt, either.

RadioFan · Post by **RadioFan** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:17 am

Van wrote:Dude, you just posted it. that's some serious short term memory loss. Maybe you might wanna skip the doobage in the parking lot, before the Morrison show...

Van wrote:Mikey, you probably couldn't get me to enjoy an opera, but I'd be all over the same thing...minus the nails on a chalkboard singing. Make it simply a classical symphony orchestra and I'm there.

Same here.

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:21 am

Van wrote:Mikey, you probably couldn't get me to enjoy an opera, but I'd be all over the same thing...minus the nails on a chalkboard singing. Make it simply a classical symphony orchestra and I'm there.

Even a ballet, like The Nutcracker, works for me, because of the orchestra. The ballerinas don't hurt, either.

Operas have orchestras too. Sometimes very good ones.

Sin,
MA

Van · Post by **Van** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:25 am

:?

"Minus the nails on a chalkboard singing..." I said. Didn't I just say that?

Take away the singing, and I'm cool with opera...'cause then it's just a symphony orchestra.

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:36 am

Well...it's an acquired taste...which I'm admittedly still working on acquiring.

The OL is a huge opera fan, though.

Good opera is a combination of the music, the acting and the production.
The singing is not at all "nails on a chalkboard" if you are seeing a quality performance.
If you understand the libretto and are able to follow the story it's easier to handle.

That being said, Jeff Beck at Ronny Scott's is still a lot more interesting to me.

Van · Post by **Van** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:57 am

Mikey wrote:The OL is a huge opera fan

That's unfortunate for you, but the reality is most opera fans are huge.

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:05 am

Van wrote:
Mikey wrote:The OL is a huge opera fan
That's unfortunate for you, but the reality is most opera fans are huge.

Not sure where you get that idea.

These days not even are most of the singers huge.

You know Van, you really ought to quit going with outdated stereotypes and find some information on your own once in a while.

Van · Post by **Van** » Sun Apr 19, 2009 1:14 am

Jesus, Mikey...

Okay, here...

:) <------

<------

<--------

:wink: <--------

Do any of these ring a bell? Do I HAVE to include them, each and every time I make a simple, innocuous little joke to you?

GAH!! Lighten up, man! (See, I could make another fat joke there too.)

LTS TRN 2 · Post by **LTS TRN 2** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:35 pm

Aw Mikey, ya got me. Of course Eric Burdon was the most pathetic retread of that golden age I could think of or find. I am actually surprised to hear that Van is playing such large venues, as he really is long past any resemblance to his prime. And you scored a bulls eye in digging up the Best survivor of the 1960's. Unlike all of the still slogging survivors (i.e., Stones, Who, Tull, Kinks, Floyd, Yes, Fleetwood Mac, and Alvin Lee) Jeff Beck is not only still in top form, he's actually continued to grow as a guitarist and artist. The entire Ronnie Scott set can be downloaded on Bit Torrent (under BBC) and is amazing. Robin Trower is joke, just wanking a half-baked Hendrix/SRV imitation.

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:51 pm

LTS TRN 2 wrote:Aw Mikey, ya got me. Of course Eric Burdon was the most pathetic retread of that golden age I could think of or find. I am actually surprised to hear that Van is playing such large venues, as he really is long past any resemblance to his prime. And you scored a bulls eye in digging up the Best survivor of the 1960's. Unlike all of the still slogging survivors (i.e., Stones, Who, Tull, Kinks, Floyd, Yes, Fleetwood Mac, and Alvin Lee) Jeff Beck is not only still in top form, he's actually continued to grow as a guitarist and artist. The entire Ronnie Scott set can be downloaded on Bit Torrent (under BBC) and is amazing. Robin Trower is joke, just wanking a half-baked Hendrix/SRV imitation.

I guess I need to learn not to take either you or Van too seriously then. Hard to tell in Van's case thought because he tends to extend an argument just for the sake of arguing (and those venues are not large dammit).

It's true that Van the Man is pretty much recycling old stuff, but he does have a fairly new CD (released last year?). Pretty boring, though. I'm interested because he's playing a lot the Astral Weeks material, which apparently was never performed live. Yes, it's really just nostalgia, but I must have just about worn through the grooves in that album back in the dark ages.

I've got the Ronnie Scott show on Blu-Ray and the performance is pretty astounding. The extra songs where he's joined by Joss Stone, Imogen Heap (who I had never heard of before) and EC are excellent. Plus there's a rockabilly set where he plays with the Big Town Playboys.

Van · Post by **Van** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:07 pm

Mikey, the Hollywood Bowl is a large venue, by most any standards. A 17,000 capacity is a concert arena sized venue. It's as big as the old Fabulous Forum, or most any indoor arena.

Quit, already.

Nick, Robin Trower predates SRV by at least a decade, so to call him an SRV imitation is just stupid. Yeah, he has a lot to do with Hendrix, but not SRV, and depending on how one musically defines Hendrix (no easy task) he's really not all that similar to Hendrix, either.

He's similar to Band Of Gypseys Hendrix, but not The Jimi Hendrix Experience or Axis: Bold As Love Hendrix. He's not all that similar to the majority of Electric Ladyland Hendrix, either.

Then again, c'mon, anyone who plays a Strat and a wah through a cranked Marshall, using pentatonic blues scales, they're automatically compared to Hendrix.

Jeff Beck, included, rightly or wrongly.

As for Beck, agreed, of course he blows away Trower: then, and now. My point in mentioning Trower was to counter your Eric Burdon inclusion; ie, a middle of the road talent who's still at the top of his game, three decades later. I wasn't trying to say Trower is the best of the best. He's merely still Robin Trower, and that ain't bad. He's not a cartoonish parody of himself, like so many people from that era are, these days.

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:24 pm

Van wrote:Mikey, the Hollywood Bowl is a large venue, by most any standards. A 17,000 capacity is a concert arena sized venue. It's as big as the old Fabulous Forum, or most any indoor arena.

Quit, already.

Jesus, Van.

Do I HAVE to include one of these?

:wink:

Or one of these?

Lighten up doug.

BTW...There's a big difference between the HB and the FF, besides the presence of a roof. One of them was built for musical performances. One wasn't. Care to guess which?

LTS TRN 2 · Post by **LTS TRN 2** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:30 pm

Sorry, Van, but Trower during his lost decades of the 80's and 90's obviously adapted his sound to SRV, as did many others. As I assume you're aware, his early stuff was not straight blues based wanking at all. He completely sucks ass at this point in his career. Sure, props to him for rocking on and playing out to whomever will actually listen to more than a couple minutes of that tired and dead (and annoying) fake music. Beck has never had any similarity to any of Jimi's sounds or styles.

Van · Post by **Van** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:50 pm

Mikey wrote:
Van wrote:Mikey, the Hollywood Bowl is a large venue, by most any standards. A 17,000 capacity is a concert arena sized venue. It's as big as the old Fabulous Forum, or most any indoor arena.

Quit, already.

Jesus, Van.

Do I HAVE to include one of these?

:wink:

Or one of these?

Lighten up doug.

BTW...There's a big difference between the HB and the FF, besides the presence of a roof. One of them was built for musical performances. One wasn't. Care to guess which?

Fine, neither one of us seems to get it when the other is being sarcastic. We both suck.

Of course the HB and the FF were built for different purposes, but that's neither here nor there. The point was simply the size of the venue, and by any reasonable definition the HB is a large concert venue.

Eric Burdon isn't about to get booked there, not now, not on his own. For that matter, neither is Jeff Beck. Jeff Beck is a better artist than Van Morrison, by far. He's more "current," he's more musically adventurous, he's far more talented and he's had a much more varied and impactful career. VM is a major talent, a H.O.F. level act. JB is well beyond that. JB is Mt Rushmore material. So, the fact that Van Morrison can outdraw JB means drawing power has nothing to do with the quality of the act: see Britney Spears, vs Jeff Beck.

That's been the point, all along.

Van · Post by **Van** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:59 pm

Nick wrote:Beck has never had any similarity to any of Jimi's sounds or styles.

Patently absurd.

It's been a very long time since Beck played or sounded like Jimi, but when they were both starting out Beck played and sounded quite a bit like Jimi. Beck and Jimi are alternately credited with being the first to use the same basic fuzzbox tone and Beck's early days leading up to and including his stint in The Yardbirds had him playing and sounding quite a bit like Hendrix, and vice versa.

The difference was Hendrix, as a singer/songwriter. Hendrix was a self contained act, and he was all about the song. Beck was merely a gun-for-hire, but in the middle to late 60's they were very similar guitarists. Beck was a bit wilder, though, and less likely to fall back on Chittlin' Circuit R&B riffs. He was more prone towards older blues riffs, and wilder pyrotechnics.

Hendrix was also more rhythm oriented. Beck pretty much lived for soloing.

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 9:38 pm

So, JB just started putting out a blog from the road. This entry from 4/3 the day before his induction into the R&RHOF is pretty good

Welcome to my life. And you are most certainly welcome to it! Half of it has been spent avoiding poison darts from journalists, especially in the early days. Some of the articles were so bad that you'd think you were reading about a serial killer. However I drew on my one piece of wisdom which was to take no notice of anybody, and it seems to have worked. It would appear that patience is not just a virtue but a pre-requisite, otherwise it would not have taken so long to be understood. A periodical 'rant' is planned for this site, either just me or better still with Vinnie my drummer. When he starts, we're off and you'll never hear anything like it. Anyway on Saturday I will be famous so you can fuck off. J.B.

Van · Post by **Van** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:37 am

Mikey, is that real?? If so, that's fuggen beautiful.

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:26 am

Van wrote:Mikey, is that real?? If so, that's fuggen beautiful.

http://www.jeffbeck.com/blog.php

(Thanks for putting in the

. Now I'm not confused.)

socal · Post by **socal** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:02 am

Van, so, what, Mikey is totally cool with you now, despite your having killed half his crew? You guys are just going to throw down brews together, and that huge boner you each have for the other has simply turned into a warm and fuzzy cuddle?

Van · Post by **Van** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:09 am

Sounds like a plan to me. Mikey's always had a much bigger problem with me than I ever did with him. If it were up to me we'd all rub boners together, inside Ana, I suppose.

Kumbaya, asshats.

socal · Post by **socal** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:18 am

Van wrote:Sounds like a plan to me. Mikey's always had a much bigger problem with me than I ever did with him. If it were up to me we'd all rub boners together, inside Ana, I suppose.

This sickens many.

Kumbaya, asshats.

Perfect sig material.

Van · Post by **Van** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:39 am

That's going to be rather disturbing to see, every time you post.

Good thing you hardly ever post, huh?

Mikey · Post by **Mikey** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:09 pm

I think I just tasted part of my breakfast again.

:?

Van · Post by **Van** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:08 pm

Mikey wrote:I think I just tasted part of my breakfast again.

:?

Really, that raises a good point. How does trev look, with bed head? Does she serve a mean omelette?