Official July 28 Pittsburgh, PA, First Niagara Pavilion Meetup/Review Thread

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Welcome to the Official July 28 Pittsburgh, PA, First Niagara Pavilion Meetup/Review Thread. This thread is to discuss anything leading up to the show, as well as all reviews.

Let's hear it !!

[Va Beach VH Fan]

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2015/07/28/Preview-Van-Halen-tour-still-Runnin/stories/201507280010

[Va Beach VH Fan]

You're up, Pittsburgh. A photo posted by Wolf Van Halen (@wolfvanhalen) on Jul 28, 2015 at 12:40pm PDT

[Va Beach VH Fan]

I had to post this one.... Love me some Primanti's !!!

@primantibros @IronCityBeer pre Van Halen fun pic.twitter.com/FZyKmIUeeC— nick (@NickNlalli) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

van halen tonight!— Ryan (@airrrhead_13) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Beer, warm weather, friends, and Van Halen at First Niagara definitely make for a better Tuesday than normal! #RocknRoll— Iamcilli (@Theericcilli) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Fuck I'm going to a van halen concert 😩🙌— oliviaa (@Moschettiolivia) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

When your dad starts thinkin bout buying tickets to see Van Halen😱�😃— Jonah (@JonahM_321) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Hihi, I'm Camila and I'm a Van Halen enthusiast. I'm new/not new. I know these are annoying but mind rting? ✨ pic.twitter.com/le6m0fuXkB— Camila. (@hcppytrails) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

So pumped for Van Halen! 🙌��— marissasmiley (@marissasmiley15) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Who's goin to Van Halen tonight?— Benstonium (@Benstonium) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

THE MIGHTY VAN HALEN BABY!!!! http://t.co/ICvfPkLcko— David Milliern (@dfunk70) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

I wanna go to the Van Halen concert �— Samm (@Sammhertzog) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Van Halen tonight and Big Dub this weekend!— The Brennan Show (@brennanewing) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

van halen concert :)— breadley (@thathothead) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

I am the youngest person at this Van Halen concert by atleast 20 years.— Garrett Jageman (@Jags742) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Van halen concert bound!— JT Miniagio (@GIJOE2112) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Headin out to Van Halen show!— Colin Knox (@jrknox44) July 28, 2015

[Jetstream]

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2015/07/28/Preview-Van-Halen-tour-still-Runnin/stories/201507280010

Wonder if it would be possible for me to call the guy who wrote this article and tell him that Van Halen is self sufficient now and does not need any more Hagar references rejoining a band he was never really part of and that he make FUCK OFF!

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Oh shiiiiiit the secret wolf compartment is even fancier now... **airhorns** 🎉🎉🎉 A video posted by Wolf Van Halen (@wolfvanhalen) on Jul 28, 2015 at 2:41pm PDT

[Va Beach VH Fan]

toooo hype for Van Halen tn😩ðŸ˜�ðŸ˜*— k (@kara_ross11) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

& as bad as she is, she can't be basic.. or at least i can't imagine she is. || Van Halen Concert in Burgettestown, PA || A photo posted by sophie (@thesophiesofar) on Jul 28, 2015 at 3:49pm PDT

[78/84 guy]

Wonder if it would be possible for me to call the guy who wrote this article and tell him that Van Halen is self sufficient now and does not need any more Hagar references rejoining a band he was never really part of and that he make FUCK OFF!

I wish he would quit posting the reviews because who gives a fuck and the page takes forever to load !!!

[Va Beach VH Fan]

VAN HALEN— Matt Welch (@MWelch89) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Seeing Van Halen tonight. #longliverocknroll— Dan Swank (@swankmuz) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Omw to a van halen concert but have I ever listened to van halen?? nope😛😛 pic.twitter.com/62VqZTuZye— Carley Smith (@carkar519) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Watching Van Halen, not Van Hagar, with my pops. Should be a great night!— Cory Clark (@uL_Ctwo) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Time to rock to Van Halen pic.twitter.com/iruckquNcN— Krista Bullard (@kristabullard) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Saw a guy on the train with the Van Halen logo shaved into his head and now I'm rethinking my life choices...— stephani (@saeduncil) July 28, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Looks like I'm going to Van Halen tonight— Mitchell Porter (@PORTER_HOUSE15) July 28, 2015

[PETE'S BROTHER]

I wish he would quit posting the reviews because who gives a fuck and the page takes forever to load !!!

and the pop up every time, stupid

[Va Beach VH Fan]

and the pop up every time, stupid


I removed the iFrames....

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Nothing makes you feel more free then rockin out to Van Halen! Haha— MattK609 (@matthewkent78) July 28, 2015

[DLR Bridge]

Wonder if it would be possible for me to call the guy who wrote this article and tell him that Van Halen is self sufficient now and does not need any more Hagar references rejoining a band he was never really part of and that he make FUCK OFF!

But this part...

We learned from the last tour in 2012 that Mr. Roth, now 60, is not at the height of his powers as a frontman. Making your fingers work at that age is a lot easier than your vocal cords, which he obviously ravaged over the years...

Say no more mother fucker!! (not you, Jetstream) Say no more!!

Every one of these pointless reviews by talentless fuckwits needs to start of with this qualifier. Cut a 60 year old full throttle entertainer some damn slack!

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Van Halen countdown 30 minutes!!!!!— Fisher (@fisherbagiatis) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Van Halen!— Mike Minda (@mikeminda23) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

At Van halen tonight can't wait— Brian Buzzelli (@BrianBuzzelli) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Van Halen concert with my baby @Manna_TooCold 😎💕— Haley Nickole✞ (@HurricanexHay) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

For some reason, I get the feeling there are people in the lawn seats at this Van Halen concert smoking marijuana...— Crash Maverick, PhD (@CrashMaverick) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

BRING OUT VAN HALEN GOD DAMNIT— Big Fudge (@dustinjamesc) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Lotsa extra room on the grass at Star Lake for Van Halen tonite...we have lawn seats... pic.twitter.com/ZyCVk3TLYh— Sean Mcdowell (@dvesean) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

I'm gonna show Eddie van halen my tits tonight— J.T. Nicholson (@JTN_77) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Van halen bout to be too hype ����🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥— Anthony Prestopine (@Man7Ant) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

#wolfgangvanhalen #tagforlikes #tagstagram #instalike #vanhalen #davidleeroth #guitar #eddievanhalen #drums #diamonddave #legend #concert #evh #picoftheday #tour #alexvanhalen #edwardvanhalen #dlr #bass #instagood #music #rockandroll #ludwig #followme #photooftheday #dri #summer #boombox #mountaindew A photo posted by Malcolm Van Halen (@van_halen2015) on Jul 28, 2015 at 5:52pm PDT

[Va Beach VH Fan]

And here we go Pittsburghs!!!!!! #wolfgangvanhalen #tagforlikes #tagstagram #instalike #vanhalen #davidleeroth #guitar #eddievanhalen #drums #diamonddave #legend #concert #evh #picoftheday #tour #alexvanhalen #edwardvanhalen #dlr #bass #instagood #music #rockandroll #ludwig #followme #photooftheday #dri #summer #boombox #mountaindew A video posted by Malcolm Van Halen (@van_halen2015) on Jul 28, 2015 at 5:52pm PDT

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Periscope feed...

https://www.periscope.tv/w/aIgbzzcwMzM0NDl8NDkxMTE3MjKBDkL6qsKd8XUw7uVnlEUFnj X2SSX8xzzbmyD_KaZCXQ==

[Va Beach VH Fan]

I nominate this one for Hilarious Tweet of the Tour, so far....


Ok, so after Van Halen does this tour maybe they can talk to Hagar to tour w/ his music. Guaranteed sold out show once known. $$$$�🎤🎸🎤🎸🎵— Sharon strom (@StromSharon) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

New Periscope feed...

https://www.periscope.tv/w/aIgd5jIzMjAxMTJ8NDkxMTY1OTHNER-UVb3vt6V-D6jsSRKrVP9EqJo5jgEWyUHDrauY3w==

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Eddie Van Halen is the GOD of guitar. Still. That’s all.— Jill Filben (@wvufanz) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

New feed...

https://www.periscope.tv/w/aIgm7Dg2NzIzODF8NDkxMzcxNzeDXqIT-rFXkcldT4jjEmvT1_-qcOP5GsRmeK8eCADgdw==

[DLR Bridge]

Gotta ask. What thd heck is periscope?

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Eddie van halen best to ever do it..... Or you don't know shit— bg (@theefresh1) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Gotta ask. What thd heck is periscope?


App that basically allows you to broadcast whatever you want out to the Internet, live....

The first big thing that it was used for was the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight, with people just pointing their phones at their TV's....

Now various people during the show are using it for a song or two before most of them stop for a while....

Not great quality, but whatever....

[perrin29]

I nominate this one for Hilarious Tweet of the Tour, so far....


Ok, so after Van Halen does this tour maybe they can talk to Hagar to tour w/ his music. Guaranteed sold out show once known. $$$$�— Sharon strom (@StromSharon) July 29, 2015


Ugh...there's one (or several) in every crowd. Why are these Hagar fans so fuckin dense? It ain't happening....go see the circle or enjoy OU812 in the comforts of your minivan.

[katina]

They're sharing https://www.periscope.tv/w/aIgvXDExOTQxMTJ8NDkxNTUxNTl9EtgHqshu2q0J6NzmN68_PY kmdW9yjN4aqOR1ocWFAA=

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Have to say, Dave is getting blasted online tonight....

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Just met Eddie Van Halen backstage at First Niagara Pavilion. It's good to know the Granati Bros! pic.twitter.com/fMmZAXw0ef— Scott Tady (@scotttady) July 29, 2015

[Va Beach VH Fan]

What an awesome concert. My face hurts from smiling so much. DLR and Eddie Van Halen still got it!— Shannon Hunter (@shanananaheyhey) July 29, 2015

[binnie]

Setlist?

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Pittsburgh review....

http://triblive.com/aande/music/8820947-74/halen-niagara-van#axzz3hHG8CKnY

[DLR Bridge]

Setlist?

Hasn't budged yet, I believe.

[Jetstream]

Pittsburgh review....

http://triblive.com/aande/music/8820947-74/halen-niagara-van#axzz3hHG8CKnY

Dude should be fired from his job for writing this because he just basically copied and past what the other hack said about 'two different' shows and no one can tell me he did not read that articles and wrote his review in probably 15 minutes lol

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Review from the other 'Burgh paper....

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music-reviews/2015/07/29/Concert-review-Van-Halen-pounds-out-hits-for-Niagara-Pavilion-crowd-pittsburgh/stories/201507290152

[chuckjitsu]

Pittsburgh review....

http://triblive.com/aande/music/8820947-74/halen-niagara-van#axzz3hHG8CKnY

One of the first things I saw in the review:

"The set list also omitted some band favorites from the mid-'80s, like “Why Can't This Be Love.”

Really? Pretty strong indicator that the reviewer is either an idiot, clueless, or both. But what do I know- I'm just a sucker in a three piece with dreams of going to cabo wabo.

[DLR Bridge]

Review from the other 'Burgh paper....

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music-reviews/2015/07/29/Concert-review-Van-Halen-pounds-out-hits-for-Niagara-Pavilion-crowd-pittsburgh/stories/201507290152

"But it wasn’t David Roth and the Van Halens. It was Van Halen, one big happy family that – although dysfunctional at times – is better off together."

No. Truer. Words.

[DLR Bridge]

One of the first things I saw in the review:

"The set list also omitted some band favorites from the mid-'80s, like “Why Can't This Be Love.”

Really? Pretty strong indicator that the reviewer is either an idiot, clueless, or both. But what do I know- I'm just a sucker in a three piece with dreams of going to cabo wabo.

The reason they don't play that song was simply put by Dave long ago. He would never have to ask "why can't this be love?"

Oh, and it's a turd nugget.

[vandeleur]

People can't be that stupid , they add the ridiculous van heffer shit to get more cover for the article surely something controversial gets more cover than yeah they were good.

[Jetstream]

Review from the other 'Burgh paper....

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music-reviews/2015/07/29/Concert-review-Van-Halen-pounds-out-hits-for-Niagara-Pavilion-crowd-pittsburgh/stories/201507290152

Which is also the paper with the biggest circulation in Pittsburgh :)

[negative]

Shitty video quality, but you can hear Dave pretty good. And man, does this guy know how to tell a story!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOMcPLEaHMI

[DLR Bridge]

Has every ICM intro story been different so far?

[Va Beach VH Fan]

http://www.timesonline.com/entertainment/local_entertainment/great-guitar-strained-vocals-small-ish-van-halen-crowd-enjoyed/article_49ae4fd2-35f6-11e5-b999-f7c267357e2e.html

Great guitar, strained vocals; small-ish Van Halen crowd enjoyed it

Van Halen brought its 2015 North American tour to First Niagara Pavilion on Tuesday night in Burgettstown.
Posted: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 9:32 am | Updated: 1:23 pm, Wed Jul 29, 2015.
By Scott Tady stady@timesonline.com | 0 comments

BURGETTSTOWN – Watching Eddie Van Halen shred and squeeze screams from his guitar never, ever gets old.

Listening to David Lee Roth's threadbare voice does.

That's the rub to witnessing a Van Halen show in 2015.

So if you were OK with Roth shouting lines as much as singing them Tuesday, and changing the vocal tempo of songs as if winded, then you probably would have enjoyed Van Halen's energetic, guitar-driven concert at a less than half-full First Niagara Pavilion (one of the main vendor booths was given a pre-show report predicting less than 6,000 people.)

But those fans looked like they were having fun, judging by the cheers and arms uplifted with elation at the conclusion of Van Halen classics like “Runnin' With the Devil,” Ain't Talkin' Bout Love” and “Panama.”

A largely 40s-ish crowd lit up when hearing Eddie's epic and warmly familiar opening riffs on “Dance the Night Away” and “Beautiful Girls,” songs that whisked them back to bygone days of first dates, skipping study halls and partying in wood-paneled basements when parents weren't home.

“Beautiful Girls” got a dash of south-of-the border seasoning from drummer Alex Van Halen, who kept pace with his younger brother's speed-of-sound six-string runs through “Hot For Teacher.”

It feels normal now seeing Eddie's and Valerie Bertinelli's son, Wolfgang, capably manning the bass, and even showing off some spread fingered, fleet overhand tapping of his fretboard, just like dad.

Eddie looked good and age appropriate in a tight, white beard, smiling a lot at the showmanship shtick of Roth, who sported a black vest and vivid yellow shirt he'd switch out for a first responder paramedic's coat on “Somebody Give Me a Doctor,” which he sang fairly faithful to the original. It was one of the night's best performances.

Roth tinkered a lot with his vocals, beyond just making it “a little bit to the left” (not right) on “Everybody Wants Some.”

Due to whatever combo of vocal limitations and oddball quirkiness, the 60-year-old Roth lagged behind on some lines, then delivered them real fast to catch up; or proactively sang them fast first and then collected his breath.

Roth started “Ice Cream Man” seated alone with a simple guitar he joked won't sound good until it ends up in a few pawn shops. An unplugged segment like this is where singers usually reflect on the past, Roth said somewhat derisively, skipping out on a golden opportunity to reminisce about touring the country in '78 and '81 with Beaver County rockers the Granati Brothers, who were in attendance and delivered a VIP patio warmup set that was absolutely smoking, drawing a crowd who listened outside. (Eddie later shared hugs and hellos with the Granatis and their mom, Norma, backstage.)

Roth instead shared with the crowd some fond memories of another long-ago tourmate, Eddie and Alex's father.

Changing the topic back to himself, Roth said singing was his first love and lifelong passion. “Somehow I ended up singing in one of the best bands in the history of rock and roll,” he said.
His lively stage antics have helped keep him in that job, with Tuesday's show featuring a couple of his patented high kicks. Roth twirled his mic stand like a baton, and glided around the stage on his wingtips, cracking periodic jokes. The best was his professed envy for singers with one-word “verb names” – like Sting, Usher and Cher.

“Dave sounds like the guy who built the stage,” Roth said.

Van Halen stayed on that Burgettstown stage for 25 songs, not leaving until an encore of “Jump” after Eddie played a sensational solo, with prog- and classical overtones. Just about everyone with a Y chromosome stood and faced one of the two giant video screens for a closeup look at Eddie's fingers waltzing all over the neck of his guitar. That solo naturally included “Eruption,” still the measuring stick for any hotshot hard-rock guitarist.

Another mighty measuring stick, more of the blues-rock variety, is Jimi Hendrix' “Voodoo Chile,” performed masterfully Tuesday by Kenny Wayne Shepherd who delivered a rousing opening act set with his top-flight band that includes Willie Nelson's keyboard player and drummer Chris Layton from Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble.

[PETE'S BROTHER]

has every icm intro story been different so far?

we had the ruined stadium floor story, but he kinda fucked it up ;)

[TwoFoolsAMinute]

Has every ICM intro story been different so far?
KC was about taking the road crew out to dinner and playing a prank.

[rwc]

At Red Rocks, he told the Ozzie hotel room story.

[twonabomber]

Again with these fucking Granati Brothers. Are they Pittsburgh's version of Michael Stanley?

Granati Brothers played on a side stage before Dave's set on the 2002 "Dave and the fat drunk guy" tour. Maybe between sets, too. I don't remember, I left after Dave opened...guy at the gate says "you're going to miss the rest of the show!" and I replied "show's already over" and kept walking.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Again with these fucking Granati Brothers. Are they Pittsburgh's version of Michael Stanley?


No, that would be Donnie Iris....

[DLR Bridge]

Well that's pretty cool if Dave has made the conscious effort to never repeat an ICM story on this tour. God knows he's got stories up and out the wazoo. I could listen to about a cd's worth of his gibber jabber with his acoustic tinkering and harmonica playing interspersed.