Van Morrison serenades San Diego

It was a marvelous night for a moondance when Van Morrison fans lined the seating of the North Island Credit Union Amphitheater in Chula Vista, CA on October 8th. Motown queen Mavis Staples opened the night, with her soulful voice blending well with her jiving backing band. Everyone was clapping along as they were finding their seats, libations in hand.

I was literally moondancing “‘neath the cover of October skies”. Quite marvelous.

As Staples exited the stage to much applause, the stage plot for the main event begun: stage hands created an intimate ring of instruments and mic stands, almost as if Morrison was about to perform in a small jazz club of yesteryear. It was no doubt about to be a swinging night. Sir Van Morrison entered with saxophone in hand, waving to concertgoers giving the legend a much-deserved opening ovation. Morrison went through deep cut after deep cut between popular favorites, like “Wild Night” and “Brown Eyed Girl”. When the first few notes of “Moondance” began, a strapping suitor grabbed my hand, coerced me out of my seat and out to the walkway to twirl me around under the night stars. I was literally moondancing “‘neath the cover of October skies”. Quite marvelous.

An hour zipped by before we knew it, maybe 90 minutes, hard to say. Van Morrison mesmerizes with his soulful crooning, sounding exactly as he did decades ago. As he entered the stage, so he exited — saxophone in hand and waving appreciation. Although this sap wanted to hear all the major Morrison slow jams, like “Someone Like You” and “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You”, I settled for a Spotify encore as I drove home, melting to my own emotions as “Into The Mystic” reverberated around my car. Catch Van Morrison at large arenas in a town near you!

Photography by Kristy Rose

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