A genius to some, an irritation to others, Van Morrison has been cruising for years on his reputation as a rock artist of genuine talent. While his albums throughout the 90s have been pale imitations of his glory years, his live shows have often proved that here is a man who can still cut the proverbial muster. In truth, Morrison has always been better on a stage than in a studio, and his weekend concerts at The Point strengthened that view even more.
He's still a most begrudging performer, however. Standing centre stage, as stoic as a stone Buddha in a Godfather's suit, and muttering barely decipherable comments between the songs, he was blessed with a superb band and a couple of guest singers. Support act Bobby Bland and shouty R&B stalwart Chris Farlowe delivered some deft if slightly craggy body blows, while the band (featuring sterling performances from sax player Richie Buckley and organist Geraint Watkins) either blew up a storm or coasted on songs cherry-picked mostly from Morrison's later material.
It was Van's gig, though. While this writer has never been particularly overawed by either his records or his status as a rock icon (as for genius, you've really got to be joking), there was no denying his command of the show. Hand gestures, guttural barks and a focused composure ensured that everyone knew their place - even the audience.
