*** Reviews - 12/18 Anaheim, CA - Page 2

MOJODOJO · 12.19.07, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinceV

I forgot to add, as was posted earlier. Ed looked bad. I actually thought he was going to pass out for awhile. It looked like he was struggling before his solo, just to stay up. I'm not saying drunk, it just looked like he was out of breath and having a hard time. His hands did look like hell.

He actually was trying to tell the crowd right before his solo that he got hit in the head, again above his eye, as he pointed to his head and then he did the dizzy walking thing like to say he got dazzed from it. I would imagine this had something to do with his solo performance, which you say and I agree was not the best.

Jizzo · 12.19.07, 10:46 AM

4th show this tour for me last night.

The songs were the same, the schtick was the best ive seen and eddies solo was amazing. Every show up to this point ive seen him play the same solo, at least last night he threw in something new. The drumstick solo was amazing.

Jackedup · 12.19.07, 11:13 AM

Good show.I saw them at Staples last month and thought they sounded tighter.The show was a little sloppy at times but i still give it a 7
Lots of positive interaction between Dave and Ed,and i dont believe its fake or rehersed.There was so much hugging and kissing between them,i wouldnt be surprised if they got a room after the show.
Alex was solid as a rock all nite.I dont think he's had an off nite the whole tour.Wolfie didnt look very happy out there last nite.Not many smiles from him,he looked like somebody stole his last twinkie.He sorta loosened up towards the end,but i think he might be suffering from road burn.Ed seemed to be in a great mood and having a good time.His tone is not the same though and he just dosent have that 'brown sound' anymore.I think its an equipment issue.Those Wolfgang guitars dont impress me.I wish he would put them in the wood chipper and go back to his old Kramer.Dave was great,but a little over the top compared to Staples last month.
IMO-a good show but not a GREAT show.

mfgtr · 12.19.07, 11:14 AM

WOW
I don't know what the other guys on here are talking about regarding this show being an off night.But,I'm defending my earlier review and .....
LET THE "You Tube" CLIPS BE YOU GUIDE..........

metalfasthard · 12.19.07, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinceV

Just got back.

This is the 2nd time I have seen them this tour, the 1st being in November at the Staples center. This time I did the 5* had 5th row center. Took my wife and met a friend, who both had seen the 2004 show 5* with me.

I have to say like I posted in my last review. It was good and I had I nice time, but I wasn't blown away. I asked the my wife and friend what they thought and both said they thought the energy and show was better in 04. I really agree with them, I don't think I would see them again this tour,

Last week I saw Velvet Revolver with Alice in Chains and I was blown away, especially by AIC, they brought their A++++ game to that show. I wanted it to go on and on. Tonight I actually sat down, I haven't down that at a concert in a long long time.

My Wife told me that this show felt like a Vegas act, and I got to agree.

As for the playing everyone was good, the weak part was the guitar solo, I don't now what was going on tonight, but it blew chunks. It was worst than anything I saw in 04 live or on video. The Staples show it was good, I have no idea what he was thinking tonight. It was just clumps of random noodling. Really was bad.

The show was great---but yes, I admit the guitar solo sucked

VinceV · 12.19.07, 12:43 PM

Here are some pics I took last night with a 4 short 1 minute videos. My camera of course ran out of battery half way through the show. Security was tight last night and actually jumped on me for taking the video. They old me you can take all the pics you want but no video recording.

http://gallery.mac.com/melvinny#gallery

Carol7lynn · 12.19.07, 01:20 PM

Ditto on the guitar solo being nonsense-at best.

Ditto on Dave's smiling it got a bit irritating after awhile.

Ditto on Dave's singing and Alex's drumming.

Leave the kid alone already. Remember, it was, reportedly his idea to do this tour with David Lee. Show some gratitude. He's just a kid after all.

Not so sure Eddie is a meth freak or back on the booze but I'm no expert. There are any number of reasons why he had those cuts/blood on his hands/fingers. Accidents happen even to sober people. But, time will tell. Say it ain't so Joe!:

Let's see what happens tomorrow!

Carol-Lynn
SoCalGal

Jes Halen · 12.19.07, 04:13 PM

Went to show last night. Was impressed with the sound of Eddies guitar right off the bat. Best sound in ages. First half flowed very well, Dave was the man as he was doing kicks and screams and remembering the lyrics. Ed started of great but seemed 'different' from the second half on. His solo was as bad as his '04 solo. He kept hammering away at the Cathedral riff but wasn't quite delivering. He didn't seem to be able to do his speed picking very well unlike when he played "Im the one" which he nailed early on. I was surprised at how bad the solo was considering the amazing solos I have seen posted on Youtube.

Vocals sounded pretty good. I couldn't tell if the vocals were canned until Dance the night away which was obviously canned. Daves rap for Ice cream man was great. Really touched a nerve for the people like me who grew up in So Cal. I saw Dave in '02 and he was bad, tonight I was so amazed at how good he was and how great his voice sounded. Dave was even doing some back arches like on the cover of the first album.

Wolfie was good and you can tell he is talented but I didn't feel his personality like you do Mike when he plays.

Alex was absolutely amazing. I dont get excited by drum solos but Alex tonight was pounding the skins like a maniac.

Overall, I enjoyed the show and was happy I went if only to see Dave and Ed together again. I couldn't help feeling like the interaction between the two was overly orchestrated or campy. I also thought Eddie was drinking again by his behavior towards the end of the show but it may have been because he got hit in the head with a guitar head which I did not know until I read someones post here. Thanks VH, I enjoyed the show.

BOBW_5150 · 12.19.07, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SterileEyes

My second show. Saw them at Staples last month and had great $200 seats.

This time I was on the top tier in the center so I got the full 'arena' experience.

Great show, Eddie was a bit more on tonight - though he was fantastic last month as well - the solo was a bit more solid in my opinion and he just sounded tits all night.

I still don't understand how some of you believe those background vocals are real.

I also don't understand how it's "not a big deal" to some of the big fans on this board when one of the most if not the most talented rock band in rock n' roll today has to cheat.

I don't blame Wolf. Ed cheats too. I'm starting to wonder if they have ALWAYS cheated on the background vocals (with all due respect to MA, I'm almost positive they did in '04, I kinda feel like researching my old bootlegs one of these days).

Anyway, they're triggered backing tracks. They kick in when sound goes into the mic. Almost everyone in the biz uses them these days and I think it's sad. It's just my opinion. I'm a happy paying customer and obviously despite this I liked the show enough to see it a second time so I'm not shy about expressing that that aspect of the show really bothers me.

The taped rhythm guitar track during "Cradle" to me is especially lame.

That said, Dave sang great (and there was nothing fake or taped about it), Dave performed great, Eddie played great, Eddie performed great, Alex played and performed great, and Wolf played great and did just fine up there. The show for me gets a 90...it's be a 98 or 100 if not for the cheating.

I hope Ed continues on whatever path he's on. It'd be awesome to watch him and Wolf onstage through the next few years.

And once again, Alex was flawless. Good goddamn.

P.S. To the above poster - I was at AIC/VR last week as well. My 4th time seeing the new Alice In Chains...isn't William DuVall amazing? I saw him sing in Jerry's solo band 4 or 5 years ago and I always hoped he'd end up singing for AIC!

That's RIGHT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2zPv...eature=related

Sorry Olo

JB5150 · 12.19.07, 07:22 PM

OK, so, it's been a couple of years since i've logged on, but I wanted to give my opinion of the show last night. This was my 3rd time seeing VH. Previous two were in 04. At that time, i'd never seen VH live, so I just took it in without any critique. Except the fact that Eddie's solo was not up to my expectations. Forgive me if I go too long, but with that said....here goes...

I thought the show was great! I loved seeing Dave for the first time. I loved hearing songs I never thought i'd see performed live. Me and my wife were on the floor right by the last curve of the S ramp on Wolfie's side. So, it was LOUD. one thing, I have to say before I go on is that we all have to accept that these guys are a lot older now and aren't what they used to be, and we shouldn't expect the old VH (duh, right?)

Dave - Like, I said, it was great to see him. He looked like he was having a great time. Definately enjoying the spotlight again. i was close enough to see that he looked very touched and I might even say misty eyed during "I'll Wait" when he stood looking around the entire arena with his hand up. Greatful might be the right word. He was very intriguing, comical, and all around entertaining. More acting like he's having fun and putting on a show rather than playing rock star and trying to impress the women in the audience. But there was plenty of playing to the female crowd! I loved it. He sang great. A bit of lounge and exaggerated vibrato...but still great.

Eddie - I was most impressed by his enthusiasm. He had great energy, more so in the second half. Plenty of jumping around and bouncing around, and smiles. I have to say, it's cool to see him interact with Wolfie (but more on that later). Somewhere in about the second third of the show, he seemed to be complaining to anybody who would listen that he couldn't see from sweat in his eyes. He leaned in and said something to Dave, and Dave just smiled, shook his head and said "so what?" and went about his business (I don't say this as a hint of a rift, just more of an intended encouragement). Eddie played great, and was on for the majority of the night. but again, my only complaint was the solo. Anybody and everybody who's seen Eddie tear it up, even in the LWAN, and RHRN live videos knows that Eddie just does not tear it up like he used too. His solos are severely under par and somewhat sloppy in parts. But equally great in some parts. But I know he's played the same solo for years and is probably sick of it. Not bashing him. Love the guy. He'll always be the inspiration behind my picking up a guitar. One thing I thought was really cool, there was a guy in the front with a sign that mentioned getting a guitar pick. Eddie bent down and stepped forward onto the security barrier and personally handed him his pick. Pretty cool.

Alex - Totally on. That guy's always amazing. I thought his solo took just a minute to really get going and sound tight. But really, he just blew us away. My wife had never seen a drum solo before, so her jaw pretty much dropped. He's definately the anchor of the band. There was a couple of moments, mainly in "Hot For Teacher" when things got shaky from Ed getting just a skinch ahead. Wolfie quickly looked to Al who had his eyes locked on Wolf and they pulled it right back together just as quickly as it slipped. He's the man!

Wolfie - Well....i'm not going to totally bash him. I applauded when Dave introduced him and I think the kid is very talented. he definately played the bass very well. But personality....wow....I didn't expect him to be THAT bland. Even when Eddie would get right up to him and get into it and try to get a reaction out of him...he wouldn't even so much as show enough of a grin to show teeth! He just kind of looked around and was...just there. But hey, he's talented. It just really should be Mikey up there.

All in all, a great show. It was so loud for me that I couldn't hear clearly enough for the supposed "piped vocals" (namely from Wolfie). But I know that Eddie was really singing. The reason I say that is because during Little Dreamer, I listened for his melody during the "ooooh's" in the chorus. I have a tendency to sing it when I listen to the song. it was faint at one point as he was looking down, and he looked up into the mic and there it was. So I know, at least Eddie WAS singing. But I HAVE seen the youtube video from earlier in the tour of him looking away from the mic during that part and the vocals still being there. The songs that people most say don't fit, I thought were great. Like "I'll Wait" and "Little Dreamer". I enjoyed every song. Of course there's some songs here and there that I would have liked to hear. But oh well. No complaints. I was skeptical at first, but i'm glad I went. I highly recommend anybody with doubts to still go and have a great time.

Sorry I wrote a novel! But, like I said, it's been literally a couple of years, and I might not post again as to avoid the pointless arguments and taunts in this forum. But you all take care!

SterileEyes · 12.19.07, 09:40 PM

Regarding an earlier post, I really don't think Eddie fell off the wagon.

Alcoholics like Eddie don't just 'slip a bit'...he'd be 2004 bad overnight if he started drinking or tweaking again. I know I'm hard on the band for the canned vocals (yes, both Wolf and Ed are canned, not just Wolf, only time Ed's vocals were live was when he sang into Roth's mic) and I agree sometimes what Wolf is playing is not what is coming out the speakers...but some of you I think are WAY too hard on Ed's playing.

His "Cathedral" solo was...um...improv...and maybe one or two out of key notes in 8-10 minutes worth of improv is not bad. I have bootlegs from all eras much like most of you do I'm sure...and I thought his playing last night was the best I've heard since '98.

So long as the setlist is the exact same every night (not complaining, what else could they do?), let the man improvise a bit! For the most part he pulled it off, people up in the rafters where I was were having a blast and blown away by what he was playing, and it sounded a lot different (and better in my opinion) than the solo I heard him do last month.

And really, "Ed had trouble getting tangled up in his guitar cable" does not mean "Eddie is not sober anymore". It means "Ed got tangled up in his guitar cable". Someone said something about meth hands...I know my share of tweakers unfortunately, and Ed is missing some key characteristics, like his face isn't all picked at, he hardly missed a note for two and a half hours, and...I just don't buy it. Maybe he was in 2004, not now.

MOJODOJO · 12.20.07, 07:46 AM

From the OC Register with some great pictures...

http://www.ocregister.com/entertainm...368-eddie-band

Van Halen delivers everything fans expect in Anaheim
Band performs same songs, same order, but shows no signs of boredom.
By STEVE FRYER
The Orange County Register
Comments 11| Recommend 7

Van Halen was ripping its way through "Hot For Teacher" when the band stopped on a dime, and singer David Lee Roth addressed the crowd: "How're we doing so far?"

He could have been talking about this particular show, Tuesday at the Honda Center, or this tour, an unlikely reunion in this season of unlikely reunions.

So far, so good. What a difference three years and one singer makes. Compared to the lemon that was the previous Van Halen reunion, with Sammy Hagar at the microphone, this is a fine-tuned sports car in showroom shape.

Van Halen's second swing through Southern California on this tour, going so well that now it will stretch into 2008 (meaning drummer Alex Van Halen will have to update the "'07 Van Halen" lettering on his bass drum), has them doing the same 23 songs in the same order as they have done every night. Sure, it would be nice for them to mix in a different song here or there like some bands do, because people will go to multiple shows. And maybe Roth can dig up another "back when we were kids in Pasadena … " story to replace the "everybody has a friend like Kenny" tale he tells before "Ice Cream Man."

But what the heck. If all the shows are as fun as Tuesday's, and if the band doesn't get bored or stale playing the same set list night after night, then go for it, guys. The capacity crowd at the Honda Center dug it, singing along with Roth, helping out Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen with the backup vocals, riffing with Eddie and bobbing heads to Alex's big beats.

The credit for this better-than-'04 tour is split three ways.

It starts, as everything does in this band, with Eddie. He is healthy, a lean-and-fit 52-year-old who seemed inebriated on stage in '04 but obviously is clean on this trip. Still, the wish here is that this mouth-cancer survivor would stop smoking, although he did limit himself to two cigarettes during this show, unlike the chain-smoking event of '04.

And maybe that has a lot to do with having 16-year-old son Wolfgang in the band, on bass. Dads don't want to mess up in front of the kids. Wolfgang is a fine bassist, too, and you smile when you see this cherubic boy who still looks a little out of place in his rocker-black clothes playing with the old man and his old man's pals.

Thirdly … while Van Halen made some good music with Hagar, Roth is the square peg in the square hole. He fits.

Sure, Roth is a ham, and overacts like Jeff Goldblum. But he still has the charm, and his singing was better than expected. Early reviews indicated he was skipping the trademark yelps and shouts, but those were intact Tuesday, and his voice really came through with strength all night, especially on "I'll Wait" and "Little Guitars."

Roth still did some leg kicks – not like he did in the early '80s, but some of those kicks he did Tuesday would put other 53-year-olds in traction, and he spins the light saber as good as the Star Wars-obsessed boy who lives across the street from me.

One thing for Roth to drop, though: that rhythmic gymnastics thing with the flag. Leave that to the 4-foot tall Romanians.

As someone who never has been a fan of drum solos, the Alex Van Halen solo went too long. The band could have thrown in a good song during that space of time: "Light Up the Sky," D.O.A." or "Top Jimmy" would have been better than the drum solo.

Set-list highlights: an impossibly faster take of "Hot for Teacher" (blame/credit the 16-year-old bassist, perhaps?); "Mean Street" (with that great guitar intro by Eddie); "Panama" (with Eddie bouncing all over the stage); and the personal favorite, "Unchained" (just a fun song, and outstanding drum work by Alex).

The Honda Center itself can be hit-or-miss on sound quality. This was a "miss" night. The sound bounced all over the place, creating a muffled effect.

The opening act was Ky-Mani Marley, one of the younger of the 13 children sired by the late-great Bob Marley. Ky-Mani, 31, sounds a great deal like dad, and even did two of dad's more-famous songs, "No Woman No Cry" and "I Shot the Sheriff" during a nice set that brought some enjoyable tropical vibes to a cool, rainy evening.

VH sis · 12.20.07, 09:48 AM

I agree..the show was Incredible.. would like to add .. packed house.. waz up on their feet including myself what a blast .. I have been to a few concerts at the Honda center and as usual the place needs to kick up their a/c a bit .. other than that. i didnt notice anything

..except!! my fav for the night.. Atomic Punk.. blazn..Thanks VH for playn ..You Rock!!

Jes Halen · 12.20.07, 11:41 AM

I forgot to add in my earlier review that 'Romeo Delight' was by far the best song of the night!

jonsey36 · 12.20.07, 01:04 PM

It was great, same set, but damn I thought it was great...I still get tingles on "Im the one" and "Little Dreamer"...just chills....

on a side note, my 14 year old son and I got a lot of shit for our homemade shirts that had EVH on mine and WVH on his...some people don't understand it was my decision to do that not my son's...and just because I did it, doesn't mean I don't miss Michael Anthony..we were showing that we support the bond and the rebirth of a GREAT FUCKING BAND!!!!

See you in Vegas