So as it turns out I'm going to see VH on the 10th, yeah!
Any comments/observations from any of you who have seen them on this tour?
Van Halen Banknorth Garden Review 10/30/07
Van Halen Banknorth Garden Review 10/30/07
Intro:
I've seen Van Halen a few times over the years (five total) with Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone at the helm. I missed the 2004 reunion tour with Sammy, so the last time I saw VH was in the summer of 1998, with Gary fronting the band. In addition, I've seen Dave solo twice, in 1999 and 2002.
I must say that of all those shows, this had to be the best. I liked Van Halen with Sammy and even with Gary, and while VH always put on a good show when I saw them, it was never the Van Halen that I truly loved...which is a Van Halen fronted by the one and only Diamond David Lee Roth.
Well, tonight, what I had wanted so desperately in my youth, came true...I saw Van Halen with Dave.
Assessments of the band members:
Eddie Van Halen-Awesome, awesome awesome. I had heard from several reports that Eddie's playing sucked on the last (2004) tour, but he was totally spot on tonight. No mistakes, as he played everything just as it sounds on the albums.
Alex-Not much to say really. One of the world's best rock n' roll drummers. Even his solo wasn't boring, which isn't something you can say for most drum solos (hello Matt Sorum!)
David Lee Roth-Dave sounded great. I have bootlegs from the 70s and 80s, and Dave sounds just as good, or even better now. He remembered all the words and sang everything on key. His antics were seriously toned down, however. While he would talk to the crowd at times, and seemed in great spirits, the bullshit wasn't there. There weren't too many long anecdotes or jokes, except for the into to "Ice Cream Man." For the most part, Dave played it straight and just sang the songs. I wouldn't be surprised if a condition of Dave's return to VH is that he tone down being "Diamond Dave." But Dave was still on fire, looking very sharp and dapper with his hair cut short, leather pants, and an open shirt. Dave's still got the moves and is still one hell of a showman.
Wolfgang-Wolfie was a bit stiff, but he played everything perfectly. I'll admit that I missed seeing Michael Anthony up there, but I think Wolfie will be fine. He's only 16 and needs time to fully find his groove. I think he'll be far more comfortable and in his element as time goes on. While some thought the band might sound flat without Anthony's background harmonies, Ed and Wolfie pulled it off pretty damn good!
Band interaction
If I didn't know better, I'd have no idea that the Van Halen brothers and David Lee Roth were at each other's throats for the last 23 years. Eddie and Dave seemed to be having a great time interacting with each other. Wolfgang also seemed to be having a lot of fun, and seemed to enjoy interacting with Dave and his dad.
As I said before, I dug Van Halen with Sammy, but there was just something magical about seeing Eddie Van Halen up there with David Lee Roth. As much as I liked Van Halen with Sammy, VH with Dave is the real deal. After tonight's show I wont take any more substitutes. If Van Halen tours with Sammy again, or with Steve Perry or Brett Michaels or whoever, I'm staying home.
The Songs
Pretty much every classic you can think of, so I wont bother to write what they were. No hits/radio staples went unheard (except maybe "dancing in the streets).
Final analysis
After years and years and years of bullshit, it looks like Van Halen finally have their act together. The chemistry is still there and all involved still "have it." Hopefully the band can ride the momentum of this successful tour and actually make a new album. If Van Halen are to continue, they need to move forward, lest they become a nostalgia act, which is something this band is too good for. Hopefully Eddie and Dave are smart enough to realize that they aren't getting any younger and they need each other if they want any chance of being relevant once more.
Regardless of what happens in the future, tonight's show was a triumph. It was great experiencing classic Van Halen with old-school fans and a generation of younger ones. But hopefully this tour isn't a fluke and Van Halen version 4.0 has some staying power. It'd be a shame if they threw it all away.
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