***Las Vegas 12-30-07 Reviews *** - Page 3

throb · 01.04.08, 06:58 AM

posted by evh100 on youtube:

oh for pete's sake! he's not drunk! he's trying to improvise something different on the spot and is coming up short. it happens. no one is perfect. lots of artists get to a point in their careers where their best work is behind them. that is sadly eddie's case. he's not stumbling all over the stage drunk as a skunk. he's just pissing up a rope because he shot his load years ago.

I agree with him. ed's just pissin' up a rope. all you people calling for ed to hang it up because he's "hammered" are crybaby's.
yeah, it's not his best, that's for sure. but, it is still more rock and roll than anything most famous guitarists are doing. eddie on his worst day still blows all the competition away. 'nuff said!!!

CH HALEN · 01.04.08, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellohawk

I found this longer solo spot, this is actually right where I was sitting for the second half of the show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgwWR1TzJkE

If you had a great time, awesome. I on the other hand, was crushed.

That is absolutely horrible, what a mess, I was at the United Center show and he played well. This should be interesting to see where this goes, what an embarrassing performance, Vegas fans should be dissappointed.

chain · 01.04.08, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by throb

posted by evh100 on youtube:

oh for pete's sake! he's not drunk! he's trying to improvise something different on the spot and is coming up short. it happens. no one is perfect. lots of artists get to a point in their careers where their best work is behind them. that is sadly eddie's case. he's not stumbling all over the stage drunk as a skunk. he's just pissing up a rope because he shot his load years ago.

I agree with him. ed's just pissin' up a rope. all you people calling for ed to hang it up because he's "hammered" are crybaby's.
yeah, it's not his best, that's for sure. but, it is still more rock and roll than anything most famous guitarists are doing. eddie on his worst day still blows all the competition away. 'nuff said!!!

Precisely why he should just can the solo altogether. Just do a long jam with Wolf and Al. Perhaps a very nice extended version of "Pleasure Dome" with everyone soloing within the song. And if we must hear Eruption, play it at the opening of the show. Judging from most reviews, his solo is the low point of the show anyway.

KA$H · 01.04.08, 09:05 AM

Precisely why he should just can the solo altogether. Just do a long jam with Wolf and Al. Perhaps a very nice extended version of "Pleasure Dome" with everyone soloing within the song. And if we must hear Eruption, play it at the opening of the show. Judging from most reviews, his solo is the low point of the show anyway.

I agree. There is no need for a solo at this point. What does it prove? It appears that Ed is very bored with it and just tries to wing it to keep it different everynight. A jam with Wolfie & Al would be much better.

Ryder5150 · 01.04.08, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chain

Precisely why he should just can the solo altogether. Just do a long jam with Wolf and Al. Perhaps a very nice extended version of "Pleasure Dome" with everyone soloing within the song. And if we must hear Eruption, play it at the opening of the show. Judging from most reviews, his solo is the low point of the show anyway.

They should do that Girl Gone Bad Jam they did at the 1983 US Festival, that would be killer!

ZR1FEVR · 01.04.08, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CH HALEN

That is absolutely horrible, what a mess, I was at the United Center show and he played well. This should be interesting to see where this goes, what an embarrassing performance, Vegas fans should be dissappointed.

I sure as hell was disappointed!! Any one who watches that youtube clip of his whole solo & thinks it was "great", you must be as drunk as Ed. The guy wont use a wireless guitar set up because it sounds worse, but playing like this is OK???????? You have to be joking. Ed is a joke these days, sorry.
He almost fell over, must be arthritis, yeah right... Sad shit,

OzFatCat · 01.04.08, 06:12 PM

I travelled from Australia to see the shows in Vegas and it was worth it! All live shows can't be perfect, but this was close. Dave's vocals were superb, he has really put in the effort, and you can tell. Al was awesome, rock solid never missing a beat, Wolfie was excellent. I couldn't beleive how good he sounded, especially R.W.T.D and Romeo's delight. His vocals were great. Lastly we come to Ed. As someone who has worshipped this player for 30 years, I must say he can't do everything that he once could, the solo being a weak spot. Having said that the songs sounded fantastic and VanHalen still blows everone else away. Thanks to Forrest, MojoDojo, Jeff from VH store, for making my trip fantastic. Cheers, Paul.

edhalen · 01.04.08, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellohawk

Just got back from the Vegas trip and the 12/30 show.
I never thought I’d see a worse effort from Ed than Milwaukee in 2004, but he topped it.

Arthritis? I wish. Farside just nailed that possible excuse. Bottom line is Ed doesn’t listen to the other musicians on stage anymore. That’s what was happening. By the time he started his solo, I just sat down and covered my face with disgust, embarrassment and sadness. The first Chicago show on the tour was phenomenal, and then to see this. Ugh.

I had nosebleeds in the back for the show, the entire back of the arena was sitting. After I heard Ed butcher the start of Mean Street, I could tell we were in for a very long night. (pun intended).

So we mingled in the upper level and went in the seats on Ed’s side, right beside the stage, for the rest of the show. Al grabbed Ed before the encore behind the amps to have a talk with him, it was calm, we can only imagine what Al had to say.

Now Dave and Sam have even more in common,,, trying to pull off a 2 hour train wreck with class and showmanship. He succeeded. Wolf looked more comfortable on stage than when I saw them earlier this year. He’s really blossoming as the shows go by. Al is a rock.

My advice: If you’ve already seen VH on this tour and enjoyed it, don’t bother going to anymore shows unless money and tarnished memories mean nothing to you. I wish I would have seen this before I bought my Milwaukee tickets 2 weeks ago.

Happy New Year

I too was at the 10/16 show and Ed was spot-on. That long video solo from 12/30 is PAINFUL. He was DEFINITELY intoxicated. Terribly out of tune and played like somebody who was wasted off of their ass. Anybody that didn't notice that wasn't paying attention. He was losing his balance when he stood up and tried to walk around. That's why he sat down for so much of his solo.

All of this coming from somebody who's been a fan since 1981 and picked up the guitar because of Ed (like countless others).

God Bless you Ed and hang in there.

Sherry · 01.04.08, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellohawk

Just got back from the Vegas trip and the 12/30 show.
I never thought I’d see a worse effort from Ed than Milwaukee in 2004, but he topped it.

Arthritis? I wish. Farside just nailed that possible excuse. Bottom line is Ed doesn’t listen to the other musicians on stage anymore. That’s what was happening. By the time he started his solo, I just sat down and covered my face with disgust, embarrassment and sadness. The first Chicago show on the tour was phenomenal, and then to see this. Ugh.

I had nosebleeds in the back for the show, the entire back of the arena was sitting. After I heard Ed butcher the start of Mean Street, I could tell we were in for a very long night. (pun intended).

So we mingled in the upper level and went in the seats on Ed’s side, right beside the stage, for the rest of the show. Al grabbed Ed before the encore behind the amps to have a talk with him, it was calm, we can only imagine what Al had to say.

Now Dave and Sam have even more in common,,, trying to pull off a 2 hour train wreck with class and showmanship. He succeeded. Wolf looked more comfortable on stage than when I saw them earlier this year. He’s really blossoming as the shows go by. Al is a rock.

My advice: If you’ve already seen VH on this tour and enjoyed it, don’t bother going to anymore shows unless money and tarnished memories mean nothing to you. I wish I would have seen this before I bought my Milwaukee tickets 2 weeks ago.

Happy New Year

I disagree with one thing....the first Chicago show was pretty bad, and for a few reasons.

1. sound
2. DLR forgot lyrics to 3 songs
3. entire band was off on Hot For Teacher, Jump, and a few other songs
4. Wolfie.......yuck, and boring.....Michael Anthony is missed!!!
5. too much DLR theatrics....inflatable microphone, walking around begging for screams, etc.

The Vegas show, as a whole, was better than Chicago.....even though Eddie was bad. DLR was better, and he worked it hard!

bolivraga · 01.05.08, 01:29 AM

Don't think Ed was drunk, but his playing was pretty ordinary - still awesome to see Van Halen live with Dave - but after flying from Australia to see the show with a mate, it was kinda bad to apologise for Ed's playing. Hope he's ok anyway. Comments about him not listening to the song or the band seemed spot on. oh well....went and saw Jimmy Crespo play with Phoenix at the New York New York and he was an infinitely better guitarist...sad, but true. Stilll a good show though - thanks dave.

EBEVHMM2005 · 01.05.08, 07:40 AM

SHERRY- Were you fucking stoned out of your mind?
The Allstate Arena (1st Chicago Show) was fucking great!

DLR was the weak link that night only because he flubbed some lyrics.
Ed was ON FIRE!

So Hard Done by · 01.05.08, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CH HALEN

That is absolutely horrible, what a mess, I was at the United Center show and he played well. This should be interesting to see where this goes, what an embarrassing performance, Vegas fans should be dissappointed.

If you check the track record of my posts you will see I'm not an eddie apologist. But are we sure this youtube clip isn't a goof where the poster overdubbed in his own guitar? The guitar sounds way out in front of the ambient noise, and it just seems that unbelievably unmusical.

I love the comments of Ed being drunk whenever he seems off. Drunk definitely enters into it, but the analogy would be like how lots of rest and vitamins contributed to Barry Bond's home run records.

voivod · 01.05.08, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellohawk

I found this longer solo spot, this is actually right where I was sitting for the second half of the show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgwWR1TzJkE

If you had a great time, awesome. I on the other hand, was crushed.

wow that's BAD... almost looks like one of those JOKE videos... sadly, it's not...

21X · 01.05.08, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolivraga

Don't think Ed was drunk, but his playing was pretty ordinary - still awesome to see Van Halen live with Dave - but after flying from Australia to see the show with a mate, it was kinda bad to apologise for Ed's playing. Hope he's ok anyway. Comments about him not listening to the song or the band seemed spot on. oh well....went and saw Jimmy Crespo play with Phoenix at the New York New York and he was an infinitely better guitarist...sad, but true. Stilll a good show though - thanks dave.

Come on!... he could barely keep his balance when he picked up the drum stick. Not good. He obviously had an off night. When he chooses to be "on" and is physically capable of playing (i.e., not intoxicated with something), he's NEVER ordinary like in this video.

VH51504 · 01.05.08, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by So Hard Done by

If you check the track record of my posts you will see I'm not an eddie apologist. But are we sure this youtube clip isn't a goof where the poster overdubbed in his own guitar? The guitar sounds way out in front of the ambient noise, and it just seems that unbelievably unmusical.

I love the comments of Ed being drunk whenever he seems off. Drunk definitely enters into it, but the analogy would be like how lots of rest and vitamins contributed to Barry Bond's home run records.

christ if you can't tell he's smashed, look at him when he drops the drumstick
and tries to pick it up.Ed needs to get back into rehab for six months to a year and really get off the sauce.He said at the beginning he wanted to give us the best well he ain't even close to 25% in that vid.Stick a fork in that guy he's done folks.