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Thread: The Official Minneapolis 10/24 Meetup/Review Thread

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    Best show I've ever seen. It blew my mind in every way!!!

    I wonder if Jim is up yet. Poor fucker. LOL
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    Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 by Chris Riemenschneider

    “Three scoops of Van Halen, one scoop of Diamond Dave!”

    David Lee Roth let us know the recipe early in Wednesday’s Target Center concert, and he and the rest of the band seemed to have the right formula down, too. They stuck to many of their most raucous and rowdy tunes from their pre-Sammy Hagar era. It couldn’t have been any more opposite to the mushy “Dreams”/”Why Can’t This Be Love”-filled sets of the Sammy days.

    Could Wolfie really play? Yes. Dave let out a funny but apt comment, “Wow, somebody’s been practicing at home!” when Wolfie kicked off “So This Is Love.” Was Michael Anthony still missed? Yes, especially when Eddie and Wolfie tried to match his high backup vocals. But at least there wasn’t a bass solo.

    Does Dave still have it? His voice was solid enough, a bit raspy in parts but no one cared. He’s not as physical as he used to be. He played with his microphone stand more than he tried to do any kicks. But he was still animated and fun/hammy. Watching him hump a giant inflatable microphone at the very end during “Jump” was priceless.

    Here’s the set list:

    1. You Really Got Me 2. I’m the One 3. Runnin’ With the Devil 4. Romeo Delight 5. Somebody Get Me a Doctor 6. Beautiful Girls 7. Dance the Night Away 8. Atomic Punk 9. Everybody Wants Some 10. So This Is Love? 11. Mean Street 12. Pretty Woman 13. drum solo!! 14. Unchained 15. I’ll Wait 16. And the Cradle Will Rock 17. Hot for Teacher 18. Little Dreamer 19. Little Guitars 20. Jamie’s Cryin’ 21. Ice Cream Man 22. Panama 23. guitar solo!!!! (w/ Eruption) 24. Ain’t Talking About Love
    Encore: 25. 1984 26. Jump
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    Eddie was in the groove all night.

    By Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune

    Last update: October 25, 2007 – 5:18 AM

    Whether you consider it Van Halen 1.0 or Van Halen 4.0, the quartet's concert Wednesday at sold-out Target Center was the rock reunion tour that mattered most in the Twin Cities this year.

    Jon: Like all 14,328 people at the concert, I was thrilled to see David Lee Roth back in the saddle with VH for the first time in 23 years. But this wasn't the Diamond Dave I remember from the first time I saw the band in 1979 at the old St. Paul Civic Center Theatre or the best time I saw the band at the Us Festival in Southern California in 1983. Dave had the spirit and the voice -- such as his voice is -- but last night he lacked the athleticism, energy and lust of vintage Dave.

    Chris: Dave looked pretty dang great for 52, but not for his stated sexual preference. He took the stage waving a red flag to the opening riff of "You Really Got Me," and he looked like a gay matador, with a glitzy embroidered jacket, polka-dot shirt, scarf and short bleached-blond hair. Shirtless Eddie Van Halen, on the other hand, looked closer to the age of his 16-year-old son, Wolfgang, who -- to the chagrin of many fans -- stood in for original bassist Michael Anthony.

    Jon: No Michael Anthony, no mullets and no brown M&Ms. But lots and lots of Eddie the Shredder. And isn't that why we still crave VH1? Eddie was in the groove all night and he played some fierce and ferocious solos. I especially dug his improvised exchanges with Dave, who would sing a line, and then Shreddie would respond with his guitar -- like on the spontaneous "Magic Bus" and "Spoonful."

    Chris: As a band, I thought they really hit their highest points midway through the set with some of their grittier gems like "Atomic Punk" and especially "Everybody Wants Some." I never thought a group of Viagra-aged men and one teenager could match the sleazy sexual energy of a group of 20-somethings from Hollywood in the '70s, but they did in "Want Some,"Beautiful Girls" and many others. If the groupies weren't all his mom's age, I'd bet even Wolfie could have scored backstage after this show.

    Jon: They'll have to rename that hit "Hot for the Wolfman." But the bloated bassist looked more like the son of Jack Black, not Eddie Van Halen. Let's be honest, he and his Uncle Alex Van Halen didn't really drive the band on Wednesday. Wolfie's high harmonies were no match for Michael Anthony's. In fact, when Wolfie and Eddie harmonized with Dave it was a little painful, particularly on "Dance the Night Away." But as Dave so accurately put it, this fourth incarnation of VH is "three-fourths original and one-fourth inevitable."

    Chris: My paper-route money couldn't cover a Van Halen ticket in 1984, so to me this was the closest to the real thing I've seen. Unquestionably, this was far better than all of the 10 or so Sammy Hagar-era VH shows under my belt, especially the last one at Xcel Center in 2004, which felt fake. There was nothing forced about this.

    Granted, Diamond Dave can use the money, but that didn't seem to be his driving force Wednesday. He ate up the spotlight and the cheers like Wolfie eats up hot dogs. As for Alex and Eddie, they seemed to be in it for the musical kicks, enjoying the older tunes that they hadn't touched in decades ("Mean Street!"Little Guitars!!") as much as they did jamming with Dave.

    Jon: It was great to hear the pre-Van Hagar hits rendered by the voice of VH1. The only thing that made me think of Sammy was the S-shaped runway, which Dave didn't work enough. But I did appreciate how he seemed to be into the music for the entire two-hours-plus instead of merely into his own goofball antics. Dave and Eddie's joy of playing together seemed to believable through all 25 songs. I'm confident they'll make it all the way through this 29-city tour that ends in early December. What are they going to do for an encore?

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    Van Halen recaptures magic of early years

    BY ROSS RAIHALA
    Pop Music Critic

    Article Last Updated: 10/25/2007 09:20:48 AM CDT

    "I heard you missed us," David Lee Roth squealed during "Hot for Teacher," more than an hour into Van Halen's Wednesday night concert at the Target Center. "We're back!"

    Well, yeah. A sold-out crowd of 14,328 fans used their wallets to declare they sure did miss the original lineup of the veteran Los Angeles metal group who released a half-dozen mostly classic records before booting Roth at the height of their success.

    Twenty-two years on from that acrimonious split, Roth and guitarist Eddie Van Halen finally figured out a way to make it work again and dang it if this pair of 50-somethings hasn't managed to recapture a whole lot of the magic that made them so unforgettable the first time around.

    As early reports from the tour have suggested, Roth and Van Halen were both trim and grinning, with the latter spending the show sans shirt, radiating a surprisingly healthy glow given the guy's bout with cancer and recent stint in rehab. Roth, meanwhile, displayed little of the manic athleticism that made him famous. But with his series of Liberace jackets and one-liners, he proved to be an entertaining court jester, even if sometimes he came across a little too much like a grandma who just went off her meds.

    Much has been made about Eddie Van Halen's decision to replace longtime bassist Michael Anthony with his 16-year-old son Wolfgang, but in concert the younger Van Halen proved to be a highly competent, if not charismatic, performer who ably handled his four-string as well as occasional backing vocals. Anthony was definitely much more fun to watch, but apparently EVH had been trying to oust him as far back as 1998, mainly because he remained pals with Roth's permed-and-jumpsuited replacement, Sammy Hagar.

    Anthony's absence only focused more attention on Eddie Van Halen. And it was his seemingly effortless, endless flow of arena-rattling riffs that made the night. While he occasionally cut loose during the Hagar era, the material the pair wrote together never got close to replicating the hedonism of Roth numbers like "Everybody Wants Some," "Panama" and "Beautiful Girls." And it was those songs and another 20-odd other such nuggets that made up the high-energy two-hour show.

    It did sag at times, and Roth hit more than a few bum notes (his final shriek at the end of "Little Dreamer" could trigger nightmares). But given that plenty of folks figured this reunion would never even get this far - and plenty more would've been deliriously happy just to see Roth and Van Halen in the same room together, regardless of the what noise they might make together - it's tough not to consider the night, and the tour, a massive success.

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    Above articles from the Minneapolis Star Tribue and St. Paul Pioneer press respectively.

    Some comments left on the Trib's site:

    BigTimMN says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 7:47 am

    It was a fun show, a fun night, and a great concert. Of course Dave wasnt at his high kicking peak, he is in his FIFTIES, I cant do most of the athletic things I could do 20 years ago either… but he could still sing, and put on a show.

    Eddie is still the king of the guitar, the best since Hendrix, hands down.

    Wolfie was fine, he’s a kid, and he’s learning the whole concert scene in the largest setting… he didnt get to cut his teeth in the bar scene.

    I hope if they continue this reunion they can work Micheal back into the scene, and maybe Wolfie can move to rhythm guitar behind his dad, and allow the original 4 to be together again.

    Doug and Pam Z. says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 8:33 am

    VH delivered!!! Yeah, DLR wasn’t as flamboyant and athletic as he was 25 years ago, but who is? Good vocals, not as many screams as years ago, but still good. EVH kicks ass!! I was mesmerized by what he can do on guitar.He hasn’t lost it a bit. I think he’s the best guitarist hands down I’ve ever heard! And JR. did a good job, too. Not as showy as the others, but doesn’t he have the right to break himself in? Hopefully, he never falls into the pit of addiction his dad did. Stay sober, Ed! You’re still great! We thought they put on a great show and want to see them again and again. When’s the studio album coming out?

    Suzanne from the burbs says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 8:54 am

    WHAT A NIGHT! I was worried that I would be disappointed due to high expectations but I was not at all. Diamond Dave has moved up the ranks (as he should) twenty plus years later and wasn’t nearly the jumping/kicking DLR we were raised with, but at fifty-three he would have looked silly jumping around like that anyway. Eddie? WOW! What can I say? He ranks right up there with Hendrix if not side-by-side. His solo was phenominal! Alex had an awesome solo performance as well. The VH boys are still topnotch musicians and can rock your world if you let them. They all really seemed to be enjoying themselves. I’m not sure about Wolfie yet, yeah he can play bass, but I still can’t swallow the whole age factor. I kept envisioning my own adolescent son up there and it just didn’t work for me. But he filled the gap well enough I guess. My husband and I drove the entire way home with the windows wide open with VH screaming on our radio — I would go again in a heartbeat.

    Jeff says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 8:57 am

    as great as EVH is, don’t forget SRV…

    funs how, not great, but certainly better than i’d expected… 7/10

    Echozdog says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 10:14 am

    Dave has his voice. Eddie wasn’t drunk, although I thought he mailed in his solo. The set list was better than I expected. Alex looks like he did 25 years ago (he hasn’t aged). The kid played it smart and can play bass. My beef was the seats. Off to the side they had speaker columns come down and block the video screen. It made the video screen useless. Also the sound was pretty bad (at least where we were). A lot of songs it took 30 seconds or so to figure out which song it was (and trust me I know the first 6 album by note).

    Probably 7/10 in good seats
    Where we were it was 2/10. Don’t get seats on the side.

    Rocky says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 11:46 am

    I thought the back-up harmonies were suspiciously good. Any rock insiders have any idea if they were partially-canned or if there was help off stage?

    I’ll agree with everyone else that it was better than expected. Eddie and Dave both have killer abs. Dave can still sing, and Eddie can still play. Wolfie too.

    I thought there were some pacing issues, and maybe some of the lesser-known songs could’ve been cut, but maybe there are some hardcore VH-ers out there who would disagree.

    Also if they’re gonna do almost every song off the first album, how could they leave off “Feel Your Love”?

    Highlight for me: “Dance The Night Away.” Great sound, and sweet cowbell.

    Jay says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 12:09 pm

    A very fun and good show, but I wouldn’t quite say great. From where I was sitting it was often heard to hear Dave’s vocals–just overwhelmed by a wall of sound. He did give a better effort than the 1984 tour show at St. Paul Civic Center I’d have to say. Ed was outstanding, and I thought the set list was almost perfect. Hearing hidden gems like Mean Street, Everybody Wants Some, and Romeo Delight made this night for me. Not having Micheal Anthony is a major mistake. I’d be lying if I said Wolfgang didn’t seem out of place, and MA’s vocals were missed. I’ll disagree with Jon Bream; I though the exchanges between Ed and Dave seemed forced and uncomfortable. But don’t get me wrong, it’s a show worth seeing and I’m glad they buried the hatchet with DLR!

    Brady says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 12:40 pm

    I waited 23 years for this day to come and it was like being reborn!! Eddie looks like he’s reborn too. He wasn’t the grinning laid back guitarist from the Hagar days. He was in full SHRED mode. Thin ripped and shirtless he had a definite edge to him I had not seen before. Glossy with sweat he was very into the moment and having a blast and I think he’s better than ever. He even pulled out the old scissor kick jump a few times and didn’t miss a beat. As a whole i thought the band sounded cleaner than any bootleg cocert video I had ever seen. I would guess sobriety adds clarity. It was clear they had been rehearsing a lot. DLR is still his whacky self. A mix between a used car salesman and a court jester on a 5 hour energy drink. He can’t quite hit the high notes and the screams anymore but it took nothing away from the performance. Alex was solid and Wolfie filled in nicely. As far as the bass goes I couldn’t hear a difference at all. An excellent show and hopefully the birth of a new Van Halen experience with more albums to come! We’re heading to Seattle to catch them again in December!

    BigTimMN says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 2:46 pm

    The sound issues are a Target Center thing, I dont blame the band at all for that… I had the low speaker blocking a bit of my view as well, but all missed was Wolfgang mostly, but he moved around a bit, and thats what you expect with the cheap seats on the side..

    Paul says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 3:26 pm

    Tha show was amazing!!!! It doesnt matter if its diamond dave or sammy. I personally like dave. The heart and soul of this band is Eddie and Alex.

    flasky J says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 3:47 pm

    Jon/Chris, it’s 2007. Was the “gay matador” comment really necessary? Hendrix used to wear a similar jacket, and flamboyance is the grand tradition of rock - no matter what anyone’s persuasion or preferences.
    Stick to the music. Please.

    Thanks.

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    Above articles from the Minneapolis Star Tribue and St. Paul Pioneer press respectively.

    Some comments left on the Trib's site:

    BigTimMN says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 7:47 am

    It was a fun show, a fun night, and a great concert. Of course Dave wasnt at his high kicking peak, he is in his FIFTIES, I cant do most of the athletic things I could do 20 years ago either… but he could still sing, and put on a show.

    Eddie is still the king of the guitar, the best since Hendrix, hands down.

    Wolfie was fine, he’s a kid, and he’s learning the whole concert scene in the largest setting… he didnt get to cut his teeth in the bar scene.

    I hope if they continue this reunion they can work Micheal back into the scene, and maybe Wolfie can move to rhythm guitar behind his dad, and allow the original 4 to be together again.

    Doug and Pam Z. says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 8:33 am

    VH delivered!!! Yeah, DLR wasn’t as flamboyant and athletic as he was 25 years ago, but who is? Good vocals, not as many screams as years ago, but still good. EVH kicks ass!! I was mesmerized by what he can do on guitar.He hasn’t lost it a bit. I think he’s the best guitarist hands down I’ve ever heard! And JR. did a good job, too. Not as showy as the others, but doesn’t he have the right to break himself in? Hopefully, he never falls into the pit of addiction his dad did. Stay sober, Ed! You’re still great! We thought they put on a great show and want to see them again and again. When’s the studio album coming out?

    Suzanne from the burbs says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 8:54 am

    WHAT A NIGHT! I was worried that I would be disappointed due to high expectations but I was not at all. Diamond Dave has moved up the ranks (as he should) twenty plus years later and wasn’t nearly the jumping/kicking DLR we were raised with, but at fifty-three he would have looked silly jumping around like that anyway. Eddie? WOW! What can I say? He ranks right up there with Hendrix if not side-by-side. His solo was phenominal! Alex had an awesome solo performance as well. The VH boys are still topnotch musicians and can rock your world if you let them. They all really seemed to be enjoying themselves. I’m not sure about Wolfie yet, yeah he can play bass, but I still can’t swallow the whole age factor. I kept envisioning my own adolescent son up there and it just didn’t work for me. But he filled the gap well enough I guess. My husband and I drove the entire way home with the windows wide open with VH screaming on our radio — I would go again in a heartbeat.

    Jeff says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 8:57 am

    as great as EVH is, don’t forget SRV…

    funs how, not great, but certainly better than i’d expected… 7/10

    Echozdog says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 10:14 am

    Dave has his voice. Eddie wasn’t drunk, although I thought he mailed in his solo. The set list was better than I expected. Alex looks like he did 25 years ago (he hasn’t aged). The kid played it smart and can play bass. My beef was the seats. Off to the side they had speaker columns come down and block the video screen. It made the video screen useless. Also the sound was pretty bad (at least where we were). A lot of songs it took 30 seconds or so to figure out which song it was (and trust me I know the first 6 album by note).

    Probably 7/10 in good seats
    Where we were it was 2/10. Don’t get seats on the side.

    Rocky says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 11:46 am

    I thought the back-up harmonies were suspiciously good. Any rock insiders have any idea if they were partially-canned or if there was help off stage?

    I’ll agree with everyone else that it was better than expected. Eddie and Dave both have killer abs. Dave can still sing, and Eddie can still play. Wolfie too.

    I thought there were some pacing issues, and maybe some of the lesser-known songs could’ve been cut, but maybe there are some hardcore VH-ers out there who would disagree.

    Also if they’re gonna do almost every song off the first album, how could they leave off “Feel Your Love”?

    Highlight for me: “Dance The Night Away.” Great sound, and sweet cowbell.

    Jay says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 12:09 pm

    A very fun and good show, but I wouldn’t quite say great. From where I was sitting it was often heard to hear Dave’s vocals–just overwhelmed by a wall of sound. He did give a better effort than the 1984 tour show at St. Paul Civic Center I’d have to say. Ed was outstanding, and I thought the set list was almost perfect. Hearing hidden gems like Mean Street, Everybody Wants Some, and Romeo Delight made this night for me. Not having Micheal Anthony is a major mistake. I’d be lying if I said Wolfgang didn’t seem out of place, and MA’s vocals were missed. I’ll disagree with Jon Bream; I though the exchanges between Ed and Dave seemed forced and uncomfortable. But don’t get me wrong, it’s a show worth seeing and I’m glad they buried the hatchet with DLR!

    Brady says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 12:40 pm

    I waited 23 years for this day to come and it was like being reborn!! Eddie looks like he’s reborn too. He wasn’t the grinning laid back guitarist from the Hagar days. He was in full SHRED mode. Thin ripped and shirtless he had a definite edge to him I had not seen before. Glossy with sweat he was very into the moment and having a blast and I think he’s better than ever. He even pulled out the old scissor kick jump a few times and didn’t miss a beat. As a whole i thought the band sounded cleaner than any bootleg cocert video I had ever seen. I would guess sobriety adds clarity. It was clear they had been rehearsing a lot. DLR is still his whacky self. A mix between a used car salesman and a court jester on a 5 hour energy drink. He can’t quite hit the high notes and the screams anymore but it took nothing away from the performance. Alex was solid and Wolfie filled in nicely. As far as the bass goes I couldn’t hear a difference at all. An excellent show and hopefully the birth of a new Van Halen experience with more albums to come! We’re heading to Seattle to catch them again in December!

    BigTimMN says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 2:46 pm

    The sound issues are a Target Center thing, I dont blame the band at all for that… I had the low speaker blocking a bit of my view as well, but all missed was Wolfgang mostly, but he moved around a bit, and thats what you expect with the cheap seats on the side..

    Paul says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 3:26 pm

    Tha show was amazing!!!! It doesnt matter if its diamond dave or sammy. I personally like dave. The heart and soul of this band is Eddie and Alex.

    flasky J says:

    October 25th, 2007 at 3:47 pm

    Jon/Chris, it’s 2007. Was the “gay matador” comment really necessary? Hendrix used to wear a similar jacket, and flamboyance is the grand tradition of rock - no matter what anyone’s persuasion or preferences.
    Stick to the music. Please.

    Thanks.
    Oops. I wasn't paying attention. Tell me again what is going on.
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    Originally posted by CVH Rulz
    I thought there were some pacing issues, and maybe some of the lesser-known songs could’ve been cut, but maybe there are some hardcore VH-ers out there who would disagree.
    Lesser known?

    Yeah, to all those who 'jumped' on the fan bus in 1984.

    They were obvious as hell all around me. Not a clue on the old songs, then get a hard on for "I'll Wait."

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    Originally posted by CVH Rulz
    Van Halen recaptures magic of early years

    BY ROSS RAIHALA
    Pop Music Critic

    Article Last Updated: 10/25/2007 09:20:48 AM CDT

    "I heard you missed us," David Lee Roth squealed during "Hot for Teacher," more than an hour into Van Halen's Wednesday night concert at the Target Center. "We're back!"

    Well, yeah. A sold-out crowd of 14,328 fans used their wallets to declare they sure did miss the original lineup of the veteran Los Angeles metal group who released a half-dozen mostly classic records before booting Roth at the height of their success.

    Twenty-two years on from that acrimonious split, Roth and guitarist Eddie Van Halen finally figured out a way to make it work again and dang it if this pair of 50-somethings hasn't managed to recapture a whole lot of the magic that made them so unforgettable the first time around.

    As early reports from the tour have suggested, Roth and Van Halen were both trim and grinning, with the latter spending the show sans shirt, radiating a surprisingly healthy glow given the guy's bout with cancer and recent stint in rehab. Roth, meanwhile, displayed little of the manic athleticism that made him famous. But with his series of Liberace jackets and one-liners, he proved to be an entertaining court jester, even if sometimes he came across a little too much like a grandma who just went off her meds.

    Much has been made about Eddie Van Halen's decision to replace longtime bassist Michael Anthony with his 16-year-old son Wolfgang, but in concert the younger Van Halen proved to be a highly competent, if not charismatic, performer who ably handled his four-string as well as occasional backing vocals. Anthony was definitely much more fun to watch, but apparently EVH had been trying to oust him as far back as 1998, mainly because he remained pals with Roth's permed-and-jumpsuited replacement, Sammy Hagar.

    Anthony's absence only focused more attention on Eddie Van Halen. And it was his seemingly effortless, endless flow of arena-rattling riffs that made the night. While he occasionally cut loose during the Hagar era, the material the pair wrote together never got close to replicating the hedonism of Roth numbers like "Everybody Wants Some," "Panama" and "Beautiful Girls." And it was those songs and another 20-odd other such nuggets that made up the high-energy two-hour show.

    It did sag at times, and Roth hit more than a few bum notes (his final shriek at the end of "Little Dreamer" could trigger nightmares). But given that plenty of folks figured this reunion would never even get this far - and plenty more would've been deliriously happy just to see Roth and Van Halen in the same room together, regardless of the what noise they might make together - it's tough not to consider the night, and the tour, a massive success.

    Ross Raihala wrote this? I should post the interview he did with my college band back in the day. Memories...

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    Yeah,

    Thanks to all the Army vets who showed up on Wed, it was a blast.

    If you guys are still in the area, I'm having a big Halloween party at my house in Maple Grove on Sat.
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

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    That was great....

    All you fucks are good shit!!
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    kc sprint center tomorrow for me right in front of wolf!

    im a 3 time veteran of the 1978 tour, it sounds like ed-dave-al and wolf are delivering the goods,hopefully theyll bring it on in a big way,we shall see.
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    Take the top down, crack the cold one and get ready to be HAPPY
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    jharp84, i have family in waukegan, i need to contact you next time i am up there!

    i've been lurking here for years just had to finally post something!

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    Here's my late MN review, with KC tacked on as well.

    First up was Minneapolis. The first bit of fun was walking the concourse and getting a feel for the demographic. Tons of 40-50 year old men, most of them look like they never really cleaned up from their youth. Many of the women seemed to have saved an outfit from the 80's just for this occasion. Funny stuff.

    Great seats for this show, Wolfie's side, lower level, fairly low, we could've easily thrown a tomato at the kid if he deserved it. Lights go down, Eddie's silhouette appears on the far side, then soon a low E growl, and the crowd goes nuts! More noise, but who can hear over all the screaming, then drums, bass, and Dave appears over the drumkit...I expected to see him waving the giant red flag here, but I didn't see it. What I could hear over my own screams was really good, like they were actually trying to sound tight. Dave came down the big ramp all grins and smiles, Eddie was the same way, seems like Dave took special pleasure in greeting each section of the audience as he surveyed the real estate. Dave was just "on", sounding good and singing for a change, all the while playing the part of the overly enthusiastic dinner party host, making sure all his guests were having a good time.

    Part of me would only believe VH would roll again when I saw it, and here the heck it was in most of it's glory! Some of the swagger was gone, but replaced with a confident goofiness from Dave and Ed. They hammed it up a lot on this night, Ed and Wolfie were obviously enjoying themselves. Dave had a nice quote towards the start of the night, something like, "This is all about laughing last and hardest", or somesuch.

    Al was good, seemed to me quite under control...great sounding kit, the most solid time I've heard from him in person.

    Wolfie, Wolfie, Wolfie. A great job by the kid...nevermind that he's in a tough situation, he just plain did a great job. Yes, he can smile more and improve the general showmanship. Vocals were awesome, overall they are better than years past because I think Wolfie and Ed are really trying this time around. Ed really sang a lot, when in years past it seems like his participation was optional. I've read many cries via the web that the harmonies are canned, but I say no way, I heard and saw way too many subtle cues that guarantee that these vocals are the real deal.
    One spot where Wolfie loses many points in my book: His bass tone does not work. He's got some fuzz and distortion on it, and it competes with Ed. VH needs clean bass so Ed's intricate work can be heard. It all gets lost in an arena with distorted bass plus distorted guitar. I wish someone with years of arena sound experience would have stepped up and stopped that tone.

    Overall though the sound was good. It was great to hear these old songs live in a way that they didn't play them in the past. It used to be all adrenaline, with tempos skyrocketing, the band off the line at the gun, freewheeling until they more or less ended at the same time. This sound was under control, there was detail and discernible mood changes within the songs. They left me wanting more, so good thing I had tickets to follow them to Kansas City!

    The new downtown Sprint Center was the site. I tell you the same audience was there, but they gave the opener...such and such Marley a little more appreciation. I missed most of this set in both cites, but what can you do when the lines in KC are 30 minutes long just to enter the arena?

    VH opened up tight, and I thought sounding better than in Minneapolis. Tonight I was on Ed's side, out of easy tomato range. Lower level, close in to the stage, but relatively high. Dave in particular sounded on, and he tested his screams early with good results. A few tunes in, and I'm noticing the lack of Dave banter. Hmm. He's not talking to the crowd, not even "Look at all the people here tonight-ah!". Then my wife insists to me that Dave called Eddy an A-hole, she read his lips on the big video screen. Then I realize that a fun part of the show was missing...Dave and Ed did not do a harmonica-guitar duel to introduce a tune. Dave has his harmonica and bullhorn rig out, he blew it once, then announced "Somebody Get Me a Doctor!", and Ed launched into the tune, and Dave got rid of the harmonica rig. I think what happened here is that Ed called an audible, he gave Dave a "Let's not do it" cue, and Dave cursed him for leaving him hanging there.

    So now my tension-sensors are out, and it seems like Ed and Dave just aren't gelling. Nothing obvious, but it looked like Dave was being "professional" about his performance where the previous show was done with more aplomb. Aplomb, that's what Alex was lacking a bit in Minneapolis, but he seemed to turn it on in KC! He had a great solo, better attack and just more energy, a more musical result. It was all over his face that he was enjoying that one.

    I must say that "Hot for Teacher" SMOKED and they knew it!

    Meanwhile, on the front of the stage, strange things were happening.

    "Cradle Will Rock", Dave is known on this tour for a tweak of a line here. "Have you seen Wolfie's grades?". Tonight he stands center to the audience and delivers, "Have you seen juniors grades?" with no tip of the hat to little W. Seems odd. Also, Dave wasn't delivering props to the kid when he nailed his parts. Seemed to be minimal direct interaction. I started to think that Dave was mad at something, likely Ed, and now he was taking it out in passive aggressive fashion on Wolfie. Yes, I am an armchair Psychologist. Still later, during "Unchained", Dave is supposed to turn his mid tune banter towards Wolfie, "Hey Wolfie, that suit is YOU!". But here, Dave takes center stage and delivers his lines straight to the crowd! He just sort of read the lines, like an actor in a run through. "Hey man, that suit is you. You'll get some leg tonight for sure". So Wolfie tweaks his response line just a little... "Uh, Dave? Whoever you're talking to, give us a break?!".

    I need to say that this tension wasn't obvioius. It was a great show, they aimed to entertain and to give the people what they came to see. It would take a student of the band to notice anything out of the ordinary. I promise you Ed missed a few cues, he doesn't always keep good time during the instrumental explorations peppered in their tracks. Like "Everybody Wants Some", Ed came back to the chorus way early after the extended "I like it..." routine. I think an attentive sound man saved him there and killed his mic, he was singing the line but I didn't hear it. He realized he was the odd man out on that gaffe and recovered. Another time Eddie entered early and Al followed him to cover, but Dave was caught off guard, inhaling when he should have been singing. I can imagine him fuming internally, "Those brothers got me AGAIN!".

    "Ice Cream Man" was odd, in that in Minneapolis Dave treated us to a solid five minutes of banter about the old days, reminiscing on the club scene and some of the characters. He told us of an old favorite girlfriend, and I promise you he choked up when he said, "And this was her favorite song. Summertime's here babe....". KC though, he strummed sloppily a few seconds and started right in. Oh well! Something to be said for brevity.

    Guitar solo, poor Ed was crippled by a faulty volume pot. So the "Catheral" section really suffered, I'm surprised he didn't swap guitars. He limped through Cathedral, using what I imagine was the 1-4 volume range on the pot. His range was full volume, then 1-4, with chicken cackle inbetween. It really seemed to throw him, he seemed to stumble through "Eruption" proper, it just wasn't smooth though he did have some great moments. I can't pinpoint this guitar for the Edheads, but I think it's his most recent Ed model, sort of a V headstock, with the #4 rudely sprayed betwixed the pickups.

    So I told Elizabeth at some point here that I think they have a therapist backstage, because whenever there was a break in the action and more than one band member was off stage, upon reentry they were all laughs and smiles like they were seeing the stage for the first time. And late in the show, I don't recall what song, Dave threw away the vocals to an entire chorus...it was the last chorus of whatever the song was, it followed a guitar solo and you really expected vocals. But Dave bellows, "Ladies and Getlemen, on the bass guitar, WOLFGANG VAAAN HAAAYY-LAAAAAN!!!". Otherwise, that's all the props he got from Dave all night!

    They closed with "Jump", and it was all laughs and good times.

    Surely it's a different band than '81, but they are still full of greatness. It's just tweaked in a different direction, a bit more focused. I hope the kids are paying attention! That's my VH review for now!
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    Originally posted by dirty dave
    jharp84, i have family in waukegan, i need to contact you next time i am up there!

    i've been lurking here for years just had to finally post something!
    You bet your ass brother! I just saw this tonight! wE GANNA party!@ Welcome to tha Family! JUICE!!

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