When the Gates Swing Open: Al Green’s Live Performance at Notre Dame

It was a cold and rainy day in South Bend, Indiana when Al Green took the stage at Notre Dame University on April 17. The auditorium was filled to capacity with alumni, students, faculty, family, and friends of both the performer and school alike. It is not every day that such an iconic musician comes to town; it is even rarer for him to be performing one of his most popular albums live in its entirety.

While it is true that Green has played “I’m Still in Love with You” for decades, he never performed the album this way. In order to do so, he needed some assistance from his longtime friend and musical director Johnny Williams who helped him choose songs like “Love and Happiness,” “Take Me To The River” and “Sha-La-La (Make Me Happy).”

Green’s voice was as strong as ever at age 69; although not a spring chicken anymore. His stage presence remained resolutely charismatic as well even during tender moments in songs such as “Here I Am.” It seemed natural then when Green closed out the night by giving thanks to God: an act that celebrated both lives themselves while also acknowledging the reality that it cannot last forever.

“To all of you, I say with love in my heart: thank you for coming tonight and giving me your love,” Green says before wrapping up his show at Notre Dame on Monday night. “I will never forget this evening.”

This article is about a live performance by Al Green at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana on September 17th, 2018 during which he played bums live in its entirety. While it’s true that Green has played “I’m Still In Love With You” for decades, he never performed the album this way. To do so, he needed to go to church.

It’s been about a year since Al Green played the album in its entirety and he still had it memorized, opening with “Love and Happiness” before segueing into one of his earliest hits, “Let’s Stay Together”.

He made sure we knew how special this was by pointing at us every time we cheered him on: “Thank you!” He thanked us again when he told us that he never forgot. It would be hard not to remember giving up your voice for an entire night just so fans could hear something they wanted to hear from you — but if anyone deserved such devotion, it’s Al Green. – al green when the gates swing open information related to it.
In the first week of October, Al Green performed in front of a sold-out crowd at Notre Dame.

The show was part of his “2018 U.S. Tour” and he played songs from throughout his career, including classics like ‘Love & Happiness’, as well as some new renditions such as ‘Lay It Down’.

His performance came to an end with him singing over 20 minutes’ worth of uninterrupted acoustic guitar music for one song that I can’t seem to remember what it’s called off the top of my head but it sounded good nonetheless!

There were also a lot more people there than expected so if you’re looking for somewhere chill performing arts are happening now then Irish pub is where you need to go.

The concert was part of the music series “Evening with Al Green” and featured a performance by the choir from Saint Mary’s College.

 The show is in celebration of their upcoming 50th anniversary as well as being one of only two public performances for this year, according to Irish Independent

 They will also be celebrating the legacy left behind by Notre Dame alumnae who have gone on to become successful singers themselves like Patti LaBelle, Diana Ross, and Whitney Houston.

When it came time for his famous hit “Love & Happiness” he had everyone stand up so they could dance alongside him adding even more energy to an already electric night.

Near the end of the evening when things started to wind down, the audience was treated to a song that had never been performed live before.

 The last verse of “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” is from an Irish perspective which Al Green says shows how he has come full circle with his music and found out who he really is as an artist.

He said it’s not often you find another country in your own home town but Ireland for him has always felt like home ever since one night when he arrived here after getting lost on tour.