Classic Morrison changes little, and that's good

Seattle Times music critic

There's a timeless quality to Van Morrison that was reflected in his masterly performance Saturday night at the new WaMu Theater in Qwest Field Event Center.

Of all the great, still-active rock stars from the '60s, Morrison is the most unchanged. He doesn't look old, like the Stones, he doesn't sound different, like Dylan, and he hasn't gone slick and showy, like McCartney.

He's still got that monochromatic but somehow richly expressive singing voice, in the understated style of the Southern bluesmen he's always admired. He maintains a fascination with blues, folk and jazz idioms, just like he did growing up in Ireland. He still exudes the same quiet passion and dignity that have always been his trademarks.

The most dramatic proof of his timelessness, however, is the fact that almost all the songs from his long career — starting with the Irish group Them more than 40 years ago — are of a piece. The newer ones fit perfectly with the classics. Even the covers he does mesh naturally with his originals.

Backed by a talented 10-piece band that featured violin, pedal steel and organ, and three background singers, Morrison, wearing a black suit and matching fedora, performed a no-frills, no-nonsense kind of show that is all too rare these days.

The brisk, 90-minute set left some of the capacity crowd of 7,000 — many of whom paid the top ticket price of $225 (the cheapest were $95) — disappointed. But that was one more thing that hasn't changed, because Morrison never performs for very long and seldom does encores.

Not surprisingly, the crowd reacted most enthusiastically to the hits, including a jazzy, folky "Moondance," a smooth, cool "Crazy Love" and energetic recreations of "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Wild Night," which had fans up and dancing.

A funky "Real Real Gone" was a highlight, as were covers of the blues classic "St. James Infirmary," with Morrison on sax; Ray Charles' "I Can't Stop Loving You"; and Paul Young's bluesy "Tear Your Playhouse Down." The closer was Them's "Gloria," with Morrison on harmonica.

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312 or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com