George Harrison live: Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver – 2 November 1974

Saturday 2 November 1974 | Live performance | Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada | By Beatles Fabdom

George Harrison and Ravi Shankar opened their 1974 North American tour at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver on 2 November 1974. The concert began a journey through Canada and the United States that ended at Madison Square Garden in New York on 20 December.

The programme combined Harrison’s Beatles and solo songs with performances by Shankar’s ensemble, Billy Preston and Tom Scott. It was not designed as a Beatles greatest-hits show: Indian music and Harrison’s current musical interests occupied a substantial part of the evening.

The first North American tour by a former Beatle

This was the first North American concert tour undertaken by a former Beatle after the group’s break-up. For Harrison, it was also a return to major live performance following the Concert for Bangladesh in August 1971.

The tour promoted Harrison’s Dark Horse project and his newly established Dark Horse Records label. Shankar’s Shankar Family & Friends was part of that label’s early catalogue.

The timing is worth noting: Harrison’s Dark Horse album was released in December 1974, after the tour had already begun. Vancouver audiences therefore heard the title song and other new material before the LP’s release.

George Harrison’s Vancouver band

Harrison assembled a band combining rock, soul, jazz and percussion players. Billy Preston contributed his own songs as well as keyboards and vocals within the ensemble.

Jim Keltner joined the tour on 27 November, so his later presence should not be carried back into the Vancouver opening-night line-up.

Setlist

1. Hari’s On Tour (Express)
2. The Lord Loves The One (That Loves The Lord)
3. Who Can See It
4. Something
5. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
6. Will It Go Round In Circles — Billy Preston
7. Sue Me, Sue You Blues
8. Zoom Zoom Zoom — Ravi Shankar
9. Na Na Dahni — Ravi Shankar
10. Cheparte — Ravi Shankar
11. For You Blue
12. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
13. Sound Stage Of Mind
14. In My Life
15. Tom Cat — Tom Scott and LA Express
16. Māya Love
17. Outa-Space — Billy Preston
18. Dark Horse
19. Nothing From Nothing — Billy Preston
20. What Is Life
21. Anurag — Ravi Shankar
22. I Am Missing You — Ravi Shankar
23. Dispute And Violence — Ravi Shankar
24. My Sweet Lord

Beatles songs, solo material and guest performances

The Beatles selections included “Something”, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, “For You Blue” and “In My Life”. Harrison’s solo repertoire included “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)”, “What Is Life”, “Sue Me, Sue You Blues” and “My Sweet Lord”.

The opening instrumental, “Hari’s On Tour (Express)”, introduced material associated with Dark Horse. “Māya Love” and “Dark Horse” also connected the concert with the forthcoming album.

Preston performed “Will It Go Round In Circles”, “Outa-Space” and “Nothing From Nothing”. Tom Scott’s contribution included “Tom Cat”, while Shankar’s music appeared in two sections of the programme.

Dark Horse merchandise: blue pullover hoodie

The George Harrison Dark Horse blue hoodie carries the horse emblem associated with Harrison’s record label.

The opening-night reception

Harrison’s voice was already hoarse at the start of the tour. In his report published in Rolling Stone on 19 December 1974, Ben Fong-Torres described him straining through the Vancouver songs.

Fong-Torres also criticised the sound balance and the structure of the show. His account describes audience members calling for rock music during Shankar’s performances and an uneven response to the programme’s changes of style.

The report was not wholly dismissive of the musicians. It singled out the contributions of Andy Newmark, Emil Richards, Willie Weeks, Billy Preston, Robben Ford and Tom Scott, while describing the problems surrounding them.

These were the observations of a contemporary reviewer, not a measure of every listener’s reaction. The account also records the anticipation surrounding Harrison’s arrival and the continuing emotional response of fans seeing a former Beatle onstage.

Changes after Vancouver

The opening night included “The Lord Loves The One (That Loves The Lord)” and “Who Can See It”. Both were removed from the set after Vancouver.

Fong-Torres reported discussions after the concert involving Harrison, Shankar, Scott and Preston about restructuring the programme. The placement of Shankar’s ensemble was one of the issues under consideration.

The Vancouver setlist therefore documents the tour at its starting point, before the adjustments made as it travelled across North America.

Complete 1974 North American tour itinerary

The tour visited 26 cities across 30 concert dates. Several dates had two performances. The itinerary below lists the tour’s dates and venues, rather than only the concerts already covered in our archive.

Dark Horse logo T-shirt

The George Harrison Dark Horse Logo black T-shirt features the horse motif on the front and an Om symbol on the back.

Pacific Coliseum location map

Pacific Coliseum is at 100 North Renfrew Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V5K 4W3, Canada, within the Hastings Park/PNE complex.

This is the arena’s specific address. The PNE administration office uses a separate East Hastings Street address; the map below targets the Coliseum itself.

Open Pacific Coliseum in Google Maps.

Frequently asked questions

When did George Harrison’s 1974 North American tour begin?

It began on 2 November 1974 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada.

Who toured with George Harrison?

Ravi Shankar and his ensemble shared the programme. Harrison’s band included Billy Preston, Robben Ford, Tom Scott, Jim Horn, Chuck Findley, Willie Weeks, Andy Newmark, Emil Richards and Kumar Shankar.

Did Jim Keltner play at the Vancouver opening concert?

He joined the tour later, on 27 November. Andy Newmark was Harrison’s drummer at the start of the tour.

Which Beatles songs were in the Vancouver set?

The set included Something, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, For You Blue and In My Life.

Was Dark Horse already released when the tour opened?

No. The album was released in December 1974, after the tour began in Vancouver.

Where did the tour finish?

It finished at Madison Square Garden in New York City on 20 December 1974.

Official context: George Harrison’s Dark Horse album. Contemporary review: Ben Fong-Torres, “George Harrison: Lumbering in the Material World”, Rolling Stone, 19 December 1974.