Friday November 10, 2006 SGN.org |
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Volume 34 Issue 45 |
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Thursday, Aug 28, 2008
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Short Van Morrison set satisfies Seattle fans at new venue |
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| Short Van Morrison set satisfies Seattle fans at new venue | ||
| by Lorelei Quenzer -
SGN A&E Writer Van Morrison Saturday, November 4, 7:30 pm WaMu Theater, Qwest Events Center I know it's a cliché but I can't help myself, even with all of the rain we've suffered through this week: Van Morrison's concert was a "marvelous night for a moondance!" There may not have been an actual moon to be seen, but the glow from the new WaMu Theater was still perceptible. Van "the Man" performed 18 songs - including the ubiquitous "Moondance" - to a sold-out theater, hitting all the right notes. The concert began promptly at 7:30 pm, surprising those still in line for their pricey beverages, but the band gave the crowd time to get comfortable, covering "Boogie Woogie Country Girl" without the star attraction. When Morrison, dressed in a natty charcoal-grey suit and trademark wide-brimmed hat, did take the stage for "Back On Top," the audience greeted him with raucous hoots and cheers. Morrison, who has also been called "The Belfast Cowboy," chose a noticeably eclectic repertoire of songs for Saturday's show, including the blues ballad "St. James Infirmary," the folksong-inspired "One Irish Rover," and the Ray Charles hit, "I Can't Stop Loving You." In addition to performing tunes he's best known for, like "Fame" and "Crazy Love," Morrison introduced music from his newest album, Pay the Devil: the honkytonk classic "There Stands the Glass," and an original song, "Playhouse." People really started to get wild for "Wild Nights," and the few fans who were still in their seats jumped to their feet as the familiar guitar strains of "Brown Eyed Girl" filled the ether. Morrison called for a "big hand for the band," then left the stage during the last of the song's "sha-la-las." He returned immediately for what was - barely - a curtain call, but it was a doozy: "Gloria." Morrison exited, again asking for some band recognition, while the crowd was still calling "G-L-O-R-I-A!" Despite inordinate foot stomping and catcalls, the house lights came up at 9:00 pm. The ninety minutes had passed far too quickly! While it's exciting to have a new venue in town - one with impeccable sound and an impressive roster of performers - it wins no points on atmosphere. The WaMu Theater looks just like you'd expect a portable venue to look; I can't imagine a more car show-like setting. You'll still be cheek-to-cheek with your neighbors in the folding chars (which is a little hinky with prices from $95 to $225 for Van Morrison), but what the hangar lacks in ambience it makes up for with relative comfort: extra padding on the seats, widely spaced rows and medium-height risers. No nosebleed seats or vertiginous steps here. Welcome to the neighborhood, WaMu Theater! |
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