The Official Greensboro 9/29 Meetup/Review Thread

[Pacfanweb]

Here's my review I posted elsewhere, too.

Just got back. This show, like the one two nights ago in Charlotte, was awesome.

If it wasn't an official sellout, it might as well have been. I checked today and there were only single tickets available behind the stage...and they looked full, too...those people were as pumped as us folks down low!!

Same setlist.

Wolfgang looked much more comfortable. We sat on his side, so we were pretty close to him. He made eye contact and smiled at us a lot more, pumped his fists several times, and was generally more animated than in Charlotte.
I watched his fingers a lot...that kid can PLAY. Then remember he's 16 and will only get better.

Eddie came over to Wolf's side a few more times than in Charlotte....a really touching moment during "I'll Wait", when we say Eddie say to Wolf "I love you", with a huge grin on his face.

I do miss Mikey, but I really am starting to think that Eddie wanting to play with his son was almost as big a factor as whatever beef he had with Mikey was.

Not as much feedback tonight. Several technical snafus, but no big deal. It'll happen from time to time.

During the break in "I'm The One", where they let the crowd just roar with adulation, Dave and Eddie both were either wiping tears away, or pretending to.
I think they might really have been emotional...they held that pause in the music a lot longer than in Charlotte, and the crowd got louder and louder...Dave mouthed that he couldn't sing...he and Eddie looked at each other and both pointed to their faces and wiped tears. Then after the music started back, Dave was still shaking his head and occasionally wiping his eyes.

Anyone who's on the fence still, get off it, and get your ass to a show.

[light 'em up!]

Here is my review of the Greensboro show.

The Van Halen concert in Greensboro last night was one of the best I have ever seen.

I am not exaggerating. I am shocked by it, but it's aboslutely true. The Mighty Van Halen is back!

I was extremely skeptical going in. I went to judge Van Halen harshly, but they won me over. In fact, I was blown away in Greensboro last night. I was simply not expecting to see these guys play and perform so well.

Dave and Al are in top form, physically and musically. Ed is thin, but he doesn't look as healthy as Dave and Al. His guitar playing is a lot better than it has been in recent years, and he’s got the old stage persona back. He’s doing the air splits again and he looks happy and balanced. He seems to be very comfortable with Dave on stage. You would never know these two have been at odds for over 20 years.

Dave leaves zero doubt who is the true voice of Van Halen.

I was worried that Dave was going to overdo his shtick. Instead he unveiled the classiest version of Dave I have ever seen live. He was sober, razor sharp, nailing the vocals and taking care o’ biz song after song, all night long! The crowd was eating out of his hand. Dave was impeccable.

The stage, sound, and lights were ALL amazing. The background vocals and harmonies were astonishingly good. The camaraderie between Dave and Eddie was magical. Eddie was all smiles all night, very happy.

Alex was air-tight on the drums. Wolfie was surprisingly good on bass. He’s not as chubby in person. He's just a kid, but he's the real deal on the bass!

IMO, Mike Anthony was not missed… not like Dave was missed during the Hagar and Cherone eras. Not like Ed and Al were missed on the Sam & Dave tour.

Singers they come and go… legends, they’re forever!

[chi-town324]

thanks guys...WOW great to hear.... 16 days until Chicago!!!!

[Vinnie Velvet]

Awesome reviews guys!

THE MIGHTY VAN HALEN IS BACK!!!!

[Ellyllions]

Good Morning!
First off, let me just say that meeting some of you guys was awesome. When we walked up I was a little nervous to just jump right in, but Hyman (being the absolute baby doll that he is) came and introduced himself, and then Plexi came in as well. Thank you to both of you for making us feel welcome.

I promised that I would give an unbiased opinion of the show so that's what I'm going to do.

Unfortunately, I can't give you much because our seats were horrible.
-Our view of the screen? Obstructed.
-Our view of the stage? Obstructed. There was a huge monitor right at Eddie's mic stand so the best we could even see of him was when he moved away from the mic.
-The sound? Muddled. If you didn't know the words to the songs, you couldn't hear what Dave was saying. We were actually above the speakers that were hanging from the ceiling.

I can tell you this. This show is a relentless assault of music. Barely any lulls in action on stage. It's like one punch after another in rapid succession. Full on assult of Van Halen rock-n-roll.

Yes, it was emotional for Dave and Eddie. It was incredible to just be there but hubby and I both feel like we missed a great show last night. Probably one of the best shows we've ever been to...and yet, we have vague coherence of what actually happened on stage or what it even sounded like.

Maybe there will be a second leg that we'll get to go to. Because the best advice I can give to anyone who's got this show coming up....if you have seats on the second tier that are above the 4th row, sell-em and hit ebay or a broker for seats that you want. You won't be sorry. Find the cash and make sure that you get seats that are worth it.

Today hubby and I are both sad that we feel like we missed something truly great. We both feel like if we'd had better seats, that show would've been one for the journal.

[Hyman Roth]

The pleasure was all mine, Ellylions! I enjoyed your company and am still sorry I spilled that beer on "hubby". I will PM you the next time I am in your town and I would love to get to know y'all further.

Sorry you didn't have good seats - that's a bummer.

[POJO_Risin]

To all the Roth Army members in attendance last night...

Awesome...

Incredible Army turnout...

This is going to be brief (I'll mention who was all there in a much...much bigger review later today)...

Let's bottom line it...good show or not (you'll find out the definitive in a few)....

Just meeting you all made the trip worth it...

the Roll Call?

Ellylions, Hyman, PlexiBrown, Biteyoass, Damngoodtimes, Vain, Vince, Fairwrning, Va Beach and myself (if I forgot anyone...sorry...don't have my notes in front of me)...

and a whole host of others...and significant others...

It was an incredible pregame for sure...

[moose]

I am glad that you all had a great time at the show.
I can't fuckin wait........7 dayz......

[Fairwrning]

Pre-show was a great time..Everybody at Fat Dog's was as great a group of people as you could wanna meet...enjoyed meeting all you guys.
The show itself...honestly..AMAZING...just the pure sonic blast coming from that stage was incredible..a few sound glitches but otherwise a fury of great songs comin at ya one right after the other..they put some great twists on a few songs..and I honestly couldn't tell who was having a better time..Dave or Eddie..these guys truly seem to have buried the hatchet.If the tears during the break in "Im the one" were fake...then these guys deserve Emmy awards.
I had a great fuckin seat..floor..10-15 feet from the ramp...I was to damn awestruck to get any good pics..and anybody that did try to was greeted by security within 30 seconds..no shit..these guys were on it last night...nobody got tossed but several were warned.
Anybody that gets a chance to see this show..DO IT!! I promise you will not be disappointed.
Again..great meeting all you peeps yesterday..hope we can do it again on the next go around.

[POJO_Risin]

Wait a second...wrning...you were there?

[Fairwrning]

You don't remember? I was the dude that called the rescue squad to pry you out of the back seat of that car..

[POJO_Risin]

[Fairwrning]

Hyman..did you hear anything out of Nancy and Charlene?
I am tellin ya folks...the dude is smooth.

[BaronPIC]

WOW- IT WAS GREAT!!!! Dave, Eddie, Alex, and Wolf- thank you so much for the best concert of my life! Folks, this was rock show if there ever was one. From Dave waving the big red flag at the beginning of YRGM, to the confetti coming down during JUMP, it was, as someone early said, a 2:15 assault of the best Dave-era VH! They were absolutely spot-on.

We got tickets the monring of, in Sect. 105, kinda in the back corner of Wolf's side of the stage. We moved over 2 sections cuz no one else was sitting there right before the lights went down. 30 feet from stage, directly across from Wolf, and he looked over at us a few times, as did Dave and Eddie when they came over to that side.

I could not have dreamed for a better setlist! For me, highlights were I'm the one, Unchained, ATCWR, I'll Wait, Full Bug, Romeo Delight. Everything else was awesome as well, but it was special seeing these songs played.

Dave was stellar, and REALLY tried his hardest to hit notes, while keeping us laughing with his mimics and stage persona. He's THE MAN. Eddie played LIGHTYEARS better than the last tour, and his tone was great- more old school and had a great crunch to it. Much more spot-on than last tour, and you could tell he was having a blast playing with Dave and Wolf. Smiles all show long. Alex was extremely tight and occasionally added a new fill, etc., and was still top of his game.

I must say, that being 40 feet from Wolf last night, that he provided a new energy for his dad and bandmates. The kid is the real deal, and can flat-out play! His vocals more than hold up- he fit-in perfectly.

FOLKS, IF YOU HAVEN'T PURCHASED TICKETS, GET 'EM. VAN HALEN WAS OUT-F-ING-STANDING! Thank you so much, Dave, Eddie, Alex, and Wolf for a truly special evening. We have missed you!! See you in D.C.

[Fairwrning]

I dont recall hearing "Full Bug"..but Wolf did show he could handle the roll..looked very relaxed and enjoying the moment..I like the kid..and the perfect replacement quite honestly..