I was a Limo guy in Austin in 2006 when Van headlined ACL and I drove some in the crew and my friend then drove Van and his young gf in his Limo and just said what was said about him that you highlighted in your fine article that he was clearly difficult and felt to some that he was above it all but with all that talent maybe he was/is
I was at the first show at the Austin Music Hall. I took my 18 yr old son, Cody. Paid a then-and-still-ridiculous amount of $250/ticket. The show lasted 55 minutes. It was horrible. (He did, however, play one old chestnut -- "Moondance") I remember commiserating with Chip Taylor about this show later on. He said he figured Van had dinner reservations somewhere and didn't want to be late. I just figured it was a typical shitty show from Van. Hey, with Van, they're either shitty or they're great. This one was probably the worst I've ever seen from a "major" performer unless you count that one night with a drunken Kris Kristofferson at the Corpus Christi Memorial Coliseum. But who's counting?
This is where you tell the agent exactly what to expect and even send photos. No surprises and no money wasted on props. Its hindsight of course and knowing Tim, he wanted everything perfect for Van but in the end it didn't matter. I'm perplexed that the 2nd night didn't sell out far in advance. I mean its Van Morrison.
I saw Van and Little Feat at the old Municipal Coliseum in the late mid 70s. That quonset type building was kind of a dump, but the music was fabulous. Lowell George and the Feat were great and rocking, but Van and his four accompanying musicians were flawless. A magical night in Austin.
I was a Limo guy in Austin in 2006 when Van headlined ACL and I drove some in the crew and my friend then drove Van and his young gf in his Limo and just said what was said about him that you highlighted in your fine article that he was clearly difficult and felt to some that he was above it all but with all that talent maybe he was/is
Hahaha! Great story. Classic Van story.
I was at the first show at the Austin Music Hall. I took my 18 yr old son, Cody. Paid a then-and-still-ridiculous amount of $250/ticket. The show lasted 55 minutes. It was horrible. (He did, however, play one old chestnut -- "Moondance") I remember commiserating with Chip Taylor about this show later on. He said he figured Van had dinner reservations somewhere and didn't want to be late. I just figured it was a typical shitty show from Van. Hey, with Van, they're either shitty or they're great. This one was probably the worst I've ever seen from a "major" performer unless you count that one night with a drunken Kris Kristofferson at the Corpus Christi Memorial Coliseum. But who's counting?
This is where you tell the agent exactly what to expect and even send photos. No surprises and no money wasted on props. Its hindsight of course and knowing Tim, he wanted everything perfect for Van but in the end it didn't matter. I'm perplexed that the 2nd night didn't sell out far in advance. I mean its Van Morrison.
I saw Van and Little Feat at the old Municipal Coliseum in the late mid 70s. That quonset type building was kind of a dump, but the music was fabulous. Lowell George and the Feat were great and rocking, but Van and his four accompanying musicians were flawless. A magical night in Austin.
I love Van Morrison to the moon, but I get the impression that he has been a grouchy old man (from time to time) all his life.
Wonderful stories! Thank you for sharing the Glen Hansard piece.