Van Halen Concert Review 10/1/07
Last night at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, Van Halen held a clinic. The kings of Arena Rock are officially back to show the young punks how to put on a real rock show.
Rule number one of a rock show, never let your opening act go longer than 1/4 of your planned set time. That was the case with Ky-Mani Marley who only played 25 minutes. Marley didn't have the chance to overstay his welcome because his set was quickly wrapped up. I got to the show late and only heard "No Woman No Cry" so naturally I prognosticated that Ky-Mani doesn't have any original songs.
Rule number two, give the people something to watch while you are changing the set; it makes the time go by quicker. Solution: Van Halen blimps, which scared me of course because I have an irrational fear of blimps, but it gave the drunken buffoons something to watch.
Rule number three, go balls to the wall immediately. Eddie came out and soloed his way into "You Really Got Me." The little sheet blocking Alex Van Halen's drum metropolis, was dropped to reveal Dave waving a red flag. From that moment on Van Halen never looked back and never turned it down.
Following "You Really Got Me," the band blistered through "I'm the One," "Runnin' With the Devil," and "Romeo Delight." "Romeo Delight" was the first set stealer. The song sounded great live, Eddie hit all the parts, and Dave actually sang the words.
One complaint about Dave is that he doesn't sing the lyrics, he lounge-sings. That is when he picks and chooses what words he wants to sing and then talks the ones he doesn't. Not at this show. Dave sang every word and in tune. There were times when the music was so loud that you couldn't hear Dave, most notably during the sloppiest song of the set "Hot for Teacher."
Dave has his usual campy expressions and actions, "Hey Beautiful want some water?" Then he proceeds to "orgasm" water all over the girls in the front row.
My only complaint of the show is that Eddie makes the songs look too easy. Come on Ed, at least LOOK like you are having a hard time hitting all the notes! His solo was pretty cool as he played with the mod effects on the guitar and was able to get it sounding like a "fugue" as Joe Wettner put it.
Wolfgang is 90% Bertinelli and 10% talent from Eddie. The kid has only been playing the bass for a few months and he was able to get the bass lines down. It must be tough being 16 years old and on stage with Van Halen. He handles it well. The harmonies sound great too because at 16, he still has a slightly higher voice. Michael Anthony was not missed.
Alex Van Halen has to be one of the ugliest men alive. He also has one of the biggest and largest drum kits I have ever seen, rivaled only by Megadeth. The stage actually has to be reinforced to hold Alex's kit. He meshed well with Wolfie and they provided a solid rhythm section for Dave and Eddie to solo over.
If you haven't seen Van Halen live with David Lee Roth, this tour is a MUST SEE. If you have only see Van Hagar, Wal-Mart sells guns to kill yourself. There is only ONE Van Halen and that is with Diamond David Lee Roth at the helm. Set list below:
You Really Got Me
I'm The One
Runnin' With the Devil
Romeo Delight
Somebody Get Me A Doctor
Beautiful Girls
Dance the Night Away
Atomic Punk
Everybody Wants Some
So This Is Love?
Mean Street
Pretty Woman
Drum Solo
Unchained
I'll Wait
And the Cradle Will Rock
Hot For Teacher
Little Dreamer
Little Guitars
Jamie's Cryin
Ice Cream Man
Panama
—Encore 1—
Eddie stays on stage for a solo (includes intro to "Women in Love," "Cathedral," and "Eruption")
Ain't Talkin' Bout Love
—Encore 2—
1984
Jump
Two words of advice if you are seeing them live. Wait until the very end of Jump for one of the funniest things I have ever seen. And do not anger Monkey Van Halen on the drums.
I will be heading to night two and will have pictures, if I can fit the camera up my ass.
Rule number one of a rock show, never let your opening act go longer than 1/4 of your planned set time. That was the case with Ky-Mani Marley who only played 25 minutes. Marley didn't have the chance to overstay his welcome because his set was quickly wrapped up. I got to the show late and only heard "No Woman No Cry" so naturally I prognosticated that Ky-Mani doesn't have any original songs.
Rule number two, give the people something to watch while you are changing the set; it makes the time go by quicker. Solution: Van Halen blimps, which scared me of course because I have an irrational fear of blimps, but it gave the drunken buffoons something to watch.
Rule number three, go balls to the wall immediately. Eddie came out and soloed his way into "You Really Got Me." The little sheet blocking Alex Van Halen's drum metropolis, was dropped to reveal Dave waving a red flag. From that moment on Van Halen never looked back and never turned it down.
Following "You Really Got Me," the band blistered through "I'm the One," "Runnin' With the Devil," and "Romeo Delight." "Romeo Delight" was the first set stealer. The song sounded great live, Eddie hit all the parts, and Dave actually sang the words.
One complaint about Dave is that he doesn't sing the lyrics, he lounge-sings. That is when he picks and chooses what words he wants to sing and then talks the ones he doesn't. Not at this show. Dave sang every word and in tune. There were times when the music was so loud that you couldn't hear Dave, most notably during the sloppiest song of the set "Hot for Teacher."
Dave has his usual campy expressions and actions, "Hey Beautiful want some water?" Then he proceeds to "orgasm" water all over the girls in the front row.
My only complaint of the show is that Eddie makes the songs look too easy. Come on Ed, at least LOOK like you are having a hard time hitting all the notes! His solo was pretty cool as he played with the mod effects on the guitar and was able to get it sounding like a "fugue" as Joe Wettner put it.
Wolfgang is 90% Bertinelli and 10% talent from Eddie. The kid has only been playing the bass for a few months and he was able to get the bass lines down. It must be tough being 16 years old and on stage with Van Halen. He handles it well. The harmonies sound great too because at 16, he still has a slightly higher voice. Michael Anthony was not missed.
Alex Van Halen has to be one of the ugliest men alive. He also has one of the biggest and largest drum kits I have ever seen, rivaled only by Megadeth. The stage actually has to be reinforced to hold Alex's kit. He meshed well with Wolfie and they provided a solid rhythm section for Dave and Eddie to solo over.
If you haven't seen Van Halen live with David Lee Roth, this tour is a MUST SEE. If you have only see Van Hagar, Wal-Mart sells guns to kill yourself. There is only ONE Van Halen and that is with Diamond David Lee Roth at the helm. Set list below:
You Really Got Me
I'm The One
Runnin' With the Devil
Romeo Delight
Somebody Get Me A Doctor
Beautiful Girls
Dance the Night Away
Atomic Punk
Everybody Wants Some
So This Is Love?
Mean Street
Pretty Woman
Drum Solo
Unchained
I'll Wait
And the Cradle Will Rock
Hot For Teacher
Little Dreamer
Little Guitars
Jamie's Cryin
Ice Cream Man
Panama
—Encore 1—
Eddie stays on stage for a solo (includes intro to "Women in Love," "Cathedral," and "Eruption")
Ain't Talkin' Bout Love
—Encore 2—
1984
Jump
Two words of advice if you are seeing them live. Wait until the very end of Jump for one of the funniest things I have ever seen. And do not anger Monkey Van Halen on the drums.
I will be heading to night two and will have pictures, if I can fit the camera up my ass.
C'mon, tell us what happens after Jump!!!! Pretty please?
Your wish is my command.
There are pictures of the incident after Jump located at our Van Halen Night two review.
http://blogsnroses.com/2007/10/05/van-halen-philadelphia-night-two-concert-review.aspx
Kymani Marley does have original songs. His last song was an homage to his father. You shouldn't speculate if you didn't see his set.
Just saw VH in worcester mass. last night, over all concert was good, diamond dave looked like an idiot with that stupid grin all night, he forgot the words to one song. dave didnt seem to want to do his trademark screams. although he did a few kicks, (not like back in the day) but the man is over 50 and was ripped and looked great (except that stupid grin). Wolfgang did awesome, although he needs a treadmill. alex was awesome, although thats one ugly mother fucker. and Eddie, didnt miss a beat (or string). I found dave to be a bit too confident, made him look like a fool especially after forgetting the words. It was great seeing the guys back together, a concert that should not be missed.
I find it interesting that dudes always comment on the looks of Alex Van Halen. I am a female and I really do not think that he is one of the ugliest. He is ok but there is far uglier than he.
Maybe you are blinded by his stardom to realize he's ugly.