desandsevo100

sorry the thread has gotten off the review topic but I agree with the above. I think most of his hearing is gone which may be yet another reason his solo's aren't as clean.

Mambo Slammer Casalad

Everything's been covered thoroughly, but here are some pics I took from 2nd row in front of Eddie. In spite of everything, I give this show a 7 out of 10; Philly on 10/1 was a 10+!

Enjoy!
http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee80/Casalad/

VoltaicSell

I was at the soundcheck and Eddie and I spoke while Alex was playing two feet away. He could hear me better than I could hear him. His hearing is not gone by any means, but I'm sure that after many years of high volume exposure he must be suffering some hearing loss.

During the soundcheck Eddie complained about the monitors. Honestly, I was there for other reasons and was not paying attention to what the specific problems were, but he was clearly dissatisfied. The crew seemed only somewhat responsive to his questions and requests. That's how it seemed to me.

I thought the onstage sound was horrible. I couldn't figure out how they could even work under those (audio) conditions. The bass guitar amps sounded all distorted and muddy with no real bottom end. Eddie's guitar level was too low.

The concert sound was pretty bad anywhere other than on the floor. I walked around the place. It's a big old cement bunker.

Performance-wise, I was very entertained. Dave was lots of fun and had me laughing out loud at his goofy enthusiasm. Eddie, when I could hear him, was doing some incredible stuff that I felt was wasted on a bad sound system. I thought his performance was great overall until the monitor issues during Jamie's Crying. After that thing went downhill quite a bit. Alex was amazing—a powerhouse. Wolfgang was... adequate and obviously a little awkward and new to the game. It was nice to have him there with his dad & uncle... more of a novelty really. He didn't really add much to the proceedings. As I said, the bass sound was so muddy that I couldn't discern what he was playing much of the time.

Hey! Maybe it's MY hearing that's going! Uh-oh!

I'd recommend to tour to longtime fans. It was a lot of fun and ultimately incredible to see Eddie and Dave together again.

Onirb

Nice pictures! Did you post them in the pictures thread?

Mambo Slammer Casalad

Oooops...didn't see that thread. Thanks, I'll get 'er in there.

jcm5150

I am new to the fourm so first I would like to say HI.

I went to the show at the IZOD center the other night and after reading through these forums for a few days decided it was time to add my 2 cents.

I have been a huge VH fan for over 25 years and have seen over 30 of their live performances going back that far. As much as I respect how hard these guys worked to make this tour come together I have to be honest. For the most part this show was really bad. There were a few shining moments where they almost captured the energy and feel of what a live VH show used to be but most of it was just not very good by any measurement. It was an improvement over the 2004 show where Ed was simply not healthy enough to be working. He has come along way from where he was back then. He seemed much more together but still played very poorly most of the night. The entire show was plagued by technical issues form start to finish. There really is no good excuse to have those kind of problems at this point in the tour. Ed was struggling all night with his equipment and the sound was horrible. I have read on these fourms people saying that the place has really bad sound. I have seen over a hundred rock shows in all the venues near me including Nassau and the Garden. The IZOD center is no better or worse than any other arena for sound and every one else in the world can get good sound there. I've heard it. It is not the room. It was the guys running the sound. Ed's throwing the monitor off the stage in utter frustration was just the capper to their gross incompetence. I don't understand why a band that has attained their level of success can't higher the best sound guys in the business. It was not all their fault either though. As much as I admire Ed for all he has accomplished and the effort he must have put in to get back to where he is, he played very poorly. To be fair I am sure the technical problems affected his playing. I have no idea what his problem was with that stage monitor but he was obviously furious with it. Still his playing is not near what it was. This guy was arguably the greatest rock guitar player in the world. At this show he was not even a good one. I know that I am probably going to get flamed for that statement but it's true anyway. The thing that makes it so hard for me to say is that I remember so clearly when he was the greatest. I can remember like it was yesterday during the 5150 tour I was standing in the front row at the same place. Ed was 5 feet from me playing with fire and passion and technical expertise that was simply unequaled. Everything he did was perfect. He was amazing. It kills me to say it but he is no longer that guy. I new after going to the 2004 show that most likely I had already seen my last Edward Van Halen performance. He simply does not have it anymore. Whatever the cause, be it alcohol abuse, age, lack of commitment, whatever, his talent has left him. His solo during this show was the absolute rock bottom of it all. To hear and see him standing on stage not really playing anything coherent buy mostly just making noise was heartbreaking. I know some others have written here that it was not that bad or that it was even good. I can only imagine that being wishful thinking. It was not good by any standard. It was embarrassing. I also respect Dave tremendously for the effort put forth and the professionalism he demonstrated. He really tried to do the best job he could but his voice is not up to it anymore. You could see him struggling to hit as many of the notes as he could but it is simply beyond him at this point. He always had a pretty limited vocal range and it has only gotten more limited with time. Still I think if the sound and guitar playing were better his performance would have been good enough to get by. I must say on a positive note that Wolfgang did an admirable job for his part. I can't even imagine what it is like to be 16 years old and have to perform under that kind of pressure. He stood up there and played his bass and sang his vocal parts and performed at a level beyond his years and experience. I believe that he has the potential to be a great musician if he keeps working at it and is able to avoid some of the demons that have haunted not only his father but so many talented artists. I wish these guys the best. I hope that they keep working and go into the studio and record a new album. I hope that Edward keeps sober and continues practicing guitar and continues his dramatic recovery. I would love to see Van Halen once again become the greatest rock band with the greatest guitarist in the world. These guys simply are not them right now.

VoltaicSell

I think I have to agree with you on a lot of points, jcm5150.

I'd hardly say that Ed's talent has LEFT HIM. That's a bit extreme. He's certainly not the player this tour that he was years ago. Having played on large stages with crap sound I can tell you that it can be like whistling in a hurricane. I have to cut him that much slack. Yeah, his guitar solo was too painful to watch. I started to leave at that point, but I have to stand by the guy.

He has been a huge innovator in the history of the guitar and I know that talent like that doesn't just dissappear. Perhaps he has let it atrophy a bit. Substance abuse takes it's toll. If he really wants to get it back he can. The band is talking about a studio recording. I'm waiting to see what they come up with.

Don't write the guy off. All artists—all people—go through ups and downs. He's had some bad times. I think his commitment to getting it perfect will have him push through to something new and surprising. Watch.

As for Wolfgang: for a 16 year old to do what he's doing is incredible. I have to tip my hat to him. It's tough to not compare him unfavorably to older, more accomplished players considering we're talking about a major band here. I can cut him some slack too.

JazzyJoeyD

Ha ha ha. . . JCM, good post. I am an "old school" VH fan and hated the guys for kicking Dave out and bringing in Sammy (I still cannot bring myself to even listen to, let alone purchase, any of the Van Hagar CD's), and looked forward to seeing them last Saturday at Izod Center. I disagree with you in your commentary about the band with Dave - they WERE better in 1984 than with Sammy. They were a party band, a band with attitude, a loose band with swagger and a pyrotechnicist on guitar. Maybe they were more professional and polished with Sammy, but that wasn't an improvement, IMHO. Sure, they were drunk and sloppy (particularly DLR) at the US Festival show in '82, but I watched it again last night and Eddie played his ass off. He was freaking great with DLR.

Saturday night's solo by Eddie was, indeed, an abortion. In the middle of Eddie's solo, my friend, who is a guitar player and a HUGE Eddie fan got up, said that Eddie was playing like Ace Freaking Frehley, and walked out. I haven't seen another show on the tour, so I am strictly guessing here, but I believe he was that bad because he was soooo pissed-off about the sound. Honestly, when he stormed off after Jamie's Crying, I didn't think he would return to the stage - that's how mad he was. Funny thing is, I've seen DLR solo and I have a friend who knows him and I've met him so my main interest was Eddie and I kept my eyes almost exclusively on Eddie during the show. While Eddie was melting down, there were people around me playing air guitar and air drums that had no clue what was going on. Somehow, there were people who didn't even see him dump his monitor and minutes later drag it away.

And I am astounded that there are people who would say that his solo was great. They have no freaking clue. It really was awful. Embarassingly awful. I hear that they may be back in the Spring, and I hope that if they come back, they've straightened-out their sound problems (honestly, how can a band THAT big have recurring problems this late into a tour?) I will definitely go see them again.

AJW

Great post JJ. I agree 100%. I was in section 7 row T and I do agree. I'll be at The Garden Tuesday and hope the sound is fixed by then. The past two shows (MA and LI) have been better than Jersey so that is a good sign.

simplerhym

great pix man

jcm5150

I am sorry if I made it sound like I thought the band was better with Sammy than Dave. That was not my intention. I used the 5150 tour as an example of Edwards past great performances because I had front rows seats and it stands out in my mind so clearly. I was really just trying to comment on Ed at that point and not the entire band. As far as the Dave vs Sam thing goes I have to say I really loved both. The band was very different with each of them but I enjoyed all the records and live shows I saw of both.

jcm5150

Whistling in a hurricane is such a great analogy! As negative as most of my review was I stand by the guy as well and will always give him another chance. If they tour again I will be first in line to buy tickets.

jammaster

to all the so-called "experts" out there ripping on eddie got news for ya....all those garage or bar bands you all are in....they SUCK!...can't stand local bands all their crap sounds the same (hence they are playing bars)....other than nj eddie has been fine...so have fun playing your stupid bars

Otis5150

Psssst....Hey, Newbie -

Some of us in cover bands, that all suck - according to you, have successful careers and do it simply because we enjoy playing live. If we're so horrible, why don't you start a band and show us all how it's done?

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vanzefflin

Damn! You need to get out more. There are bars other than "The Blue Oyster".

Sorry mods.

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EDDIE IS THE ULTIMATE ROCK DOG!