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markmmarkn
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Yes its true, next time, I'm buying the cd and staying home or throwing a bbq with say 10 - 20 people....now, that's LIFE!
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larry menconi
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Amen Van fan since st. Domincks, seen Van 20-25 times never a bad show till tonight. It was horrible. Van next time stay home, if you dont want to put out the effort. Also I respect your choice to stop drinking, but some of us enjoy a cocktail with entertainment. Dont be so childish. Dont ever bastarize your materpiece Astral Weeks again. Is bastarize a word?
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Linda
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As a devoted Van fan, and one who had never seen him in concert, I was predisposed to have a great time. I even dragged along my 18-year old daughter - who prefers metal. What a disappointment. After the first two familiar hits, it seemed to be one endless variation on a theme, except for Comfortably Numb which stood out only because it conjured up images of better times at Pink Floyd concerts. When Van walked off the stage after his "encore" you could hear a collective jaw drop reverberate throughout the auditorium. "Is that it? That's all we get?" I believe if he had thrown us a bone of a couple of favorite hits so we had the chance to get on our feet and join in, we would have left feeling somewhat satisfied. As it was, we left feeling ripped off, especially at those prices. After this I'm not sure my daughter will chance another "rock" concert with Mom.
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Really disappointed
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I couldn't agree with the review more. My wife is a huge VM fan and thankfully she enjoyed the show -- at least she said she did. I, on the other hand, was very disappointed. And to say the show had a few prime moments is being generous. Openers Wild Night and Tupelo Honey were terrible and I thought this has to get better. It didn't; in fact the couple seated next to us left midway through the show. They didn't miss much, especially considering the brevity of the show. For the price, I expected much, much more.
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Bob
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Was not there but I cannot believe that show was that bad, especially since he did hauntingly beatiful, "Madmame George," from Astral Weeks. Other reports I here disagree with these comments.
Also, not alcohol served, no cell phone pics? Fine with me, no drunks getting up mid song and no one holding up their phones like it's a kid's party. I wish I would have went
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kenchgo50
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I am not sure how many Morrison shows Mr Gendron has seen, but as a fan for more than 40 years and goer of many concerts, this was one of his best. Yes, he is cranky, but that's him. He has never been personable OR entertaining. For anyone expecting him to cut through his "hits" it was surely disappointing.
I did see one show in the late 70s where he did that and it was as perfunctory performance as one could expect and that WAS disappointing.
For me, Van Morrison has always been about being in the moment and "into" the music when at his best, and Tues nite was a good example. I thought the sound enabled both him and the band to display emotion and an unerring sense of dynamics.
As a hobbyist performer, these qualities, where musicians are listening and reacting to what is going on onstage as opposed to cranking thru rehearsed tunes is what separates the pros from the amatuers.
I would agree with the majority of Mr Gendron's comments, however, meeting the expectations of concertgoers with flawless renditions of songs, ala the eagles, will never happen with Morrison. If that is what your looking for, buying the CDs are indeed a lot cheaper.
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Jimbo Wisconsin
AOL
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This is the 5th VM concert I've been to. I enjoyed this one more than the one at the UC two years ago. These comments by Mr. Gendron shows that he just rather sit at home and listen to a CD or watch American Idol or Britney Spears lip sinc. The thing I like about Van Morrison is he doesn't perform the song exactly like the CD. I could care less about whether he is stoned faced. I sat in the balcony and the people there seemed to enjoy it.
I enjoy having a few drinks also, but I can sit through 2 hours of enjoyable concert with out getting stoned Mr. Betty Ford
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MJM
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We agree with Mr Gendron. We were very disappointed with the show. Van Morrison needs to acknowledge his audience in some form. It was a drag as the concert continued and you could just tell the majority of those present kept "waiting" for something to happen. We were warned that we may be disappointed but we attend many concerts and always decide from our experience. We should have taken the advice and stayed home.
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Robert McLoughlin
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My wife and I thought the show was terrific. We are life long Van Morrison fans but have never seen him in concert. I would be very disappointed if Mr. Morrison didn't give it his best effort, as many of you are suggesting. However, I was surprised he didn't perform a second encore.
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Joanne Richter
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Wow! Some of you people need some cheese with your whine. I was there, The concert was great. you are obviousely not on the wavelength. Too bad, sorry for you. I smoke and drink, had no desire for either, too wrapped up in the music and the artist. It was a pleasure of my life to be there tuesday night. Beautiful theatre,great sound, great performance I wish I had sprung for the 300.00 seat, but I had a great view,a fantastic evening with good friends and Van. It was an evening that I will never forget. Don't waste your money on concerts, buy a totally manipulated CD. may I suggest Milli Vanelli. Thank you Van Morrison you are the best.
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The day the music died
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$100 for a ticket to Van Morrison, $15 for parking, $30 for food before the show, and $50 for drinks to ease the post-show pain of feeling mugged... Worst concert I've seen since college. And the bonus: Seeing the same expression on all the disappointed attendees after the show, many noting that the only song they knew was a Pink Floyd cover.
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Bill Stickers
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I took my wife because she's the Van Morrison fan and has seen him many times. From her experience we got a typical Van Morrison performance. If you love they guy, then it is what it is. If I went to see Springsteen and he gave a Van Morrison effort, I'd be furious. Set the bar (and ticket price) where it belongs and everyone goes home satisfied.
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blue eye guy from St L
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this guy who wrote the review - how YOUNG you sound....obviously not understanding of how Van handles a live set...I, on the other hand, have been blessed to have seen Mr Morrison once before in LA in the late 90s and once in Amsterdam (Candy Dulfer on sax!)two years ago....except for the Dulfer sax solos which I missed this time out...THIS WAS A SUPERIOR CONCERT. I got my two front two balcony tix pre-sale on Van's own website and brought my binox, too. Enjoyed all the music, altho the Pink Floyd thing was SUCH a waste....I was glad to not hear Gloria one more time, or Domino, written when Van was just a boy. He has so much more to say these days. No drinking at all of Van's concerts. Good. We could pay attention to MUSIC, not the self-indulgent boys who like to show off to their girlfriends in the next seat. I am 62 and have enjoyed Van and his music AND lyrics. Maybe this reviewer should just go back to his American Idol worship and drink and smoke at home. By the way, doesn't anyone in Chicago own any dress clothing? You pay up to $300 a seat and wear old ratty pants and torn shirt? What's up with THAT, fans?
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UPNORTHDOLFAN
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You are a moron. Any real fan, as I am and many I talked to after the concert who said, he was on tonight, thought this was one of the best. If you want to hear CD like songs, turn on the radio. If you want to sit back and watch real musical genius, come to a VM concert. Like the true fans who understand, I never know what to expect, but I know it will be brilliant. All of you radio heads that wanted to hear Brown Eye Girl, stay home with Bob Gendron and listen to a CD. Where did the Trib get you. This was one of the most intriguing concerts I have ever been to. A night of exquisite B side music from the Icon who just pushed out another brilliant 35th album. Wow I was blown away, Sorry for you who were'nt, you missed a great experience right in front of you.
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Terry McKee
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I cannot describe the level of disappointment in this concert. The restrictions that he put on smoking and drinking didn't affect me but they just made me think he's an ass. It was immediately obvious that he had no intention of playing to his audience. He was playing for himself. Although he sounded good, would it have killed him to play a few of the hits that we bought and made him popular? He didn't even properly introduce his band and his treatment of them seemed condescending. Then there was not an encore. Of course by this time, we didn't care. I was in the cheap seats and felt robbed. I can't imagine how people who paid $300 for this performance must feel. And I drove four hours for this?
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Debbie
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I thought the concert was better than the one he did a couple years ago at Untied, not because Van isn't good, it's just that his music is better heard at a smaller theater. thanks Van I'll always pay to see you live!! No drinks, no smoking, no cell phones to those who it bothered should stay home and listen to a CD.Vans the Man!!
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UPNORTHDOLFAN
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Right on Debbie, Van is the Man. You don’t need to be a little pie eyed to listen to Vans music. I feel sorry for those who don’t get it.
True, Van may be a little odd but the things people are complaining about sound like children who didn’t get there way or were unable to play with their toys.
Thanks Van, from a Grateful Fan
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lin
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Terry McKee wrote: I cannot describe the level of disappointment in this concert. The restrictions that he put on smoking and drinking didn't affect me but they just made me think he's an ass. It was immediately obvious that he had no intention of playing to his audience. He was playing for himself. Although he sounded good, would it have killed him to play a few of the hits that we bought and made him popular? He didn't even properly introduce his band and his treatment of them seemed condescending. Then there was not an encore. Of course by this time, we didn't care. I was in the cheap seats and felt robbed. I can't imagine how people who paid $300 for this performance must feel. And I drove four hours for this? If you only bought his "hits" you don't know Van Morrisons Music. I have 30 Van Morrison albums and I know his performance music. I just came back from seeing him in London and there wasn't one number I didn't know, but as always with Van, they're never the same. What a musician!!!
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