Van Halen concert reviews

[Bassplyr]

Hey Doshar, thanks for the review. Sounds like I should ahve went to that concert instead of the St. Louis one. Good luck with the hurricanes.

 

[CudBucket]

I was at VH in NJ at the Continental Arena in June(?). I was dissappointed. Sound was bad, Ed's solo was the same old same old. I was not inspired and that is sad because he's my fave.

 

[kbaim]

The 2x I saw them, the energy was really powerful.

Crowd stood the entire show. But the sound could have been better.

And lose the bass solo bangathon that sounded like crap.

Agree on michael anthony's voice.

They could carry on as a three piece, play more than 6 roth era songs, and I'd see them again. But since that won't happen, I've had my fill.

And the brand new tunes don't seem as kick ass.

KEITH

1 show in '79
2 shows in '04

 

[CudBucket]

Eddie was tanked when I saw him this year and his playing was not nearly what I expected. He would laugh to the crowd everytime he missed a pinch harmonic or a string entirely.

 

[Doshar66]

...I loved Michael Anthony's solo.......It reeked of energy and, in my opinion, was not meant to be sound worthy. It was meant to pump up the crowd which it did. I mean, when he crashed himself and his Jack Daniels bass into the huge rear amps and banged it into the mike stand...Do you think that was supposed to sound pretty and soothing. He accomplished what was meant to be accomplished....pump up the crowd while the rest of the band had a breather. If you want a nice, studio sound, sit home and listen to the CD....
Also, what about at the end of the solo? When he held up the lil baby airline bottle of Jack Daniels and looked at the crowd, shakking his head in disbelief. Suddenly, a roadie brings him a Two Liter and he takes a chug. That in itself is the value of a live show. The theatrics mixed with the music. I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't understand that.

 

[kbaim]

Doshar,

We may disagree here on the bass solo, but I'm glad you liked it.

It just wasn't very musical or entertaining for me.

Agree on the importance of giving other band members a breather as the shows I went to required huge amounts of energy from all the guys. And I imagine the florida show after hurricane you went through was something special and needed.

On the other hand, I really enjoyed Sammy's solo guitar piece (piezo) and singing, and especially loved when wolfie came out and jammed with his pops.

KEITH

And all drum solos go on too long for my taste, so go ahead and rip me on that too if you want ...though I always use 'em to take a piss nowadays anyways
KEITH

 

[jseanwomack]

VH in Dallas 9/25

Just got back home from Dallas. Saw the show last night. I am a huge fan and have been so since I was a kid. The crowd was really into it and I did have alot of fun. That being said, I am a little concered for Ed, he did not look very healthy at all. I dont think the band was as tight as I had seen them in the past. This is a great dissapointment to me, since I have always thought Eddie is the best guitarist that ever lived. He seemed a little "messed up". Also, the acoustics in the American Airlines Center are not ideal, it gets a bit too "echoy" in there sometimes. Well, I dont mean to sound all negative, but I just dont see how these guys (especially Ed) can keep going on like this.

 

[baseballman22]

I was lower level front row in Dallas. I couldn't see details on Eddie except that he was very thin, but I always thought he was thin. I'm only 28 so this was my first VH concert. I thought they sounded great! Top of the World and Right Now were by far my favorites of the night. Everyone in the crowd sang the whole night to every song. I'd say it was sold out. I was totally impressed and so was my 13 year old niece that was with me. All I could say after every song was "WOW!" I have a new found love for the Sammy Van Halen, after being brought up with DLR singing. Afterall, Van Halen is Van Halen. If they were back in Dallas for 3 more nights, I go to all 3 concerts!! It was awesome!

 

[jseanwomack]

Yeah, the crowd was definately into it. There were alot of "Van Halen Chicks" on the front row that the cameras focused in on! I thought it was cool how Sammy got down into the pit with the fans and let them sing into the mic. I loved the Hagar tunes, but also really tripped when they went into Somebody Get Me a Doctor and Unchained!

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

so basically the performances are getting better as time goes on? I hope so caus eim seeing the Edmonton show and I really hope to see Eddie at the height of his game because this is prob the first and last time i will ever see Van Halen live

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

K you guys are over reacting about nothing...in ALL tours the band has 5 or 6 really **** shows...other than the 5 or 6 shows mention repeatedly on websites the others have been top notch from what Ive heard, the band had bad days so what all the other bands do. VH is at the top of their game, i feel sorry for the people who were at the bad shows and i can only hope that the edmonton show will be good and i have no doubt that it will be. They messed up a couple nights no biggie just being there with Van Halen should be good enough. I persaonlly cant wait for the Edmonton show and i know it will be a great concert!

 

[koogie2k]

I certainly hope so. I hate being excited about a show to have the band not perform as expected. We spend our hard earned money to see a show, and for it not to be entertaining is a major let down. This happened to my wife at a show. The opening act was awesome (even she admitted that), but the main band was horrendous (This was NOT a Van Halen show we went to). Oh well, what can you do. Just try to make the best of it. I hope all goes well and everyone has a good time at these shows.

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

you guys think eddie was drunk or on drugs? dude the guys always like that if you seen him in the early early years he jumps around, makes weird faces, lays down falls over and all that ****, that who eddie is. And for him playing crappy...the bands been seperated for like 8 years and all the bad reviewed concerts were at the very beginning...coincidence? They are just getting better and better with more shows going on and mine is october 25 so im thinkin im in for an awesome show

 

[koogie2k]

I can understand your defense of EVH. I, however, think that if I were to see him and it cost me $50, dude should wait until after the show to get plowed. If I want to see a drunk dude playing crappy and making weird faces, I will go to a local club and watch a local band do it for free. I am not trying to be an a-hole about it, but, give your fans their money's worth. Not excuses. If you haven't played for 8 years.....oh well.....practice to make sure your band is tight before trying to cash in on the whole "reunion" wave.....

If there are technical probs, that is out of their control. I can see that. But, one should not come out playing after partying back stage first. Just ain't right. Like I said earlier, my wife had the let down of her concert going life when the singer of "Band X" could not even remember the words to his own songs. Then, he would slur what he thought he knew and basically performed like GARBAGE. But, he was "rock-n-roll" when he cursed all night. He certainly knew the words to that. I happen to lose all respect for them and won't buy any of their merch again. But enough on that.

I think those who went to see EVH perform, expected him to do just that....perform and he did not pan out. Now, if the shows are getting better, then you will no doubt see a great show. But to say EVH does this on a regular basis, that would cause me not to see him. I can play Van Halen songs crappy. Why pay to hear someone else do it....even the guy who wrote them?

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

there have only been 5 shows out of the prob 40 shows they have played so far that have had complaints about being bad, ive heard nothing but awesome reviews for the others, and the 5 bad shows where at the beginning of the tour so i honestly think its the fact that theyve been apart for so long

i hope im in for a great show cause i spent 130$ canadian on my ticket

 

[koogie2k]

I really hope the show is awesome for ya.....I just feel bad for the peeps that went to the early ones and had been let down......hope he kicks ass at your show!

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

I think it was morphine, and lack of practise that affected the first shows...because any concert past august have gotten rave reviews so...

 

[dwf1004]

Dude, Van Halen sucks.

Welcome to the board, EVH...saw your personal website. You're a young little dude! It's good to see that young folk like yourself have went off and got yourself into some REAL music these days.

Not tryin' to plug the site, but moreover to give you a better grasp on how things go over with the band...go break you off some vhlinks.com. Good people (as is the case on this site) on that board, and great, sometimes meticulous reviews of shows. One guy just posted one for the Vegas show on Oct 1 *sniff* that I was not at, and I think he covered all but like 2 minutes of the VH stage time!

I was at the 8/5 concert here in Phoenix, as well as the 8/6 show in Vegas, as you've probably already seen earlier in the thread. Man, they lit those places on fire! I think that the whole "bad review" thing has subsided, from what I've seen. I have not seen any major bad reviews since the first leg, once they got the kinks out (they did this by playing You Really Got Me, har har...OK, never mind...LOL!)

The St. Louis show was a technical fiasco, with EVH (the real one, not you ) having issues with the sustainer pickup in his cherryburst Wolf, and from what I heard on vhlinks, being so PO'ed that he literally took it off at the end of the show and Randy Johnson'ed it at his tech (who catches a great fast ball guitar, might I add). Still, would I be pissed? Sure I would...even though you can classify me as VH Fan #5150, after dropping as much coin as VH fans had been, you would have expected that dude would have 86'ed the ax and slung a different axe around his neck (it's not like he only travels with one guitar, unless they're doing the tour on the cheap! LOL)

Since then, every show after that has been using a tobacco burst Wolf, incl. here and Vegas. Them boys, they are improved, and their toys do just fine (yet one still pines to see EVH clutching a beautiful yellow quilt EBMM signature, but I digress...)

Whatever, my ramblings (pretty much describes it to a T) and my take on the issue. As I'm hearing from late, you have no worries, my friend.

Welcome to the boards, EVH!

 

[Eddie Van Halen]

That was the most uplifing and awe inspiring comment ive ever read but ya i like all the oldies and im not a poser like those hilary duff fangirls who walk around with AC/DC shirts on ...for shame...

But ya all the concerts past july have gotten a good review so ya I think I have nothing to worry about It going to be a kickass show and the next day i will be COVERED in Van Halen merch

But ya on me being EVH fan...once i get my axis and effects I can really start playing Eddie songs I cant wait

 

[dwf1004]

If that's the case, I want you to post up a pic of yourself drenched in VH gear, bro...have fun at the concert!