So it's Vegas again...

[Jérôme Frenchise]

The answer to the question isn't much but it says a lot...

4 years of down time wasn't doing Dave any damn good and he's running out of time. Dave's motivated and still feels capable to get out and perform. Good for him!!

The Van Halens don't have it in em... probably time to start drafting eulogies, tribute shows and making sure their trusts and wills are in order. May they RIP...

Always figured Dave would return to Vegas... it's one of the few places on the planet where his shit is a guaranteed sell. They'll fill the seats every night for this run as there's plenty of fans willing to drop less than $100 to see the Toastmaster General.

The performances will most likely fall somewhere near but not quite as good as the pre-reunion DLR Band gigs from a musical perspective. The cheesy showmanship will be there along with some well paid, scantily dressed eye-candy props. And...

Dave will Yelp the Night Away™...

Yeeeeelp, yeeeelp, yeeelp the night awaaaaaaay...

[Seshmeister]

Live music economics continue to puzzle me. Why is it half the price to seem him much closer up than at an arena. Ok the VIP tickets aren't that cheap but at least you are sitting at a table at the front with a bottle of anything. How much cooler is that than any seat in an arena?

[Seshmeister]

Always figured Dave would return to Vegas... it's one of the few places on the planet where his shit is a guaranteed sell. They'll fill the seats every night for this run as there's plenty of fans willing to drop less than $100 to see the Toastmaster General.

The performances will most likely fall somewhere near but not quite as good as the pre-reunion DLR Band gigs from a musical perspective. The cheesy showmanship will be there along with some well paid, scantily dressed eye-candy props. And...

$63 for a show in Vegas is not expensive - a magic show costs more.

As far as the show goes I think you will be right. It's going to be less of a band than the DLR Band and it will almost certainly suffer from no Ray Luzier plus Dave is older now. I just realized the last time I saw him solo was 15 years ago which is a weird thought...

[So this is love]

Live music economics continue to puzzle me. Why is it half the price to seem him much closer up than at an arena. Ok the VIP tickets aren't that cheap but at least you are sitting at a table at the front with a bottle of anything. How much cooler is that than any seat in an arena?

Supply and demand. For fans of DLR, it is cheap but for everyone else it is not worth it. If Eddie was there than the venue would be different no doubt the T-mobile or MGM arena.

[ZahZoo]

Live music economics continue to puzzle me. Why is it half the price to seem him much closer up than at an arena. Ok the VIP tickets aren't that cheap but at least you are sitting at a table at the front with a bottle of anything. How much cooler is that than any seat in an arena?

I saw Def Leppard at their residency at the Hard Rock Casino a few years ago... had the mid-priced seats in the balcony and it was great viewing and sound.

The venue more than makes their money and way above the ticket price. Once you get drinks and if you spend any time gambling or partying before the show you'll drop a couple hundred easy.

[Terry]

I think, like ZahZoo says, it'll be a good venue to see him in. No bad seats per se, and the sound quality will be much better than any you could find at a large basketball/hockey arena.

[Terry]

It also shouldn't be hard to find a guitarist who can replicate Eddie's licks, and a rhythm section who can replicate the 20-odd CVH tunes Roth will probably play.

[Terry]

In the end, it'll be what Roth does - or is no longer able to do - that'll make the difference at these shows in terms of it being any good or not.

As Sesh says, a $100 these days isn't unreasonable for a ticket price. For ANY band. It's just the going rate for seeing performers these days. Baseline price might be $45, but after you throw in the "ticket handling fee" or "purchasing fee" or "venue surcharge" or whatever miscellaneous extra is thrown on, it ends up being nearly $100 anyway. Even to see a band like Foreigner, even on a night Mick Jones doesn't play with them, or a Steve Perryless Journey.

[Terry]

Live music economics continue to puzzle me. Why is it half the price to seem him much closer up than at an arena. Ok the VIP tickets aren't that cheap but at least you are sitting at a table at the front with a bottle of anything. How much cooler is that than any seat in an arena?

For me, seeing an act in an arena vs. a smaller venue comes down to the live sound.

Honestly, the only 2 acts I've seen in the last decade at our local 20,000 seat basketball/hockey arena that really sounded any good - and this includes seeing Van Halen there twice in that time frame - were Neil Diamond and Billy Joel. Wasn't a surprise to find out later that both of those guys have had their own live sound engineers and own equipment that they have been using for twenty years.

I tend to doubt Van Halen circa 1999 onward have employed their own live sound engineers in terms of using the same one for every tour, or have their own top-to-bottom live sound system and aren't using the house P.A. to provide the majority of the live sound. If they have been, they should reconsider, because neither of the Tampa gigs in 2008 and 2012 sounded particularly good. Not the worst I've ever heard, but not really great, either.

[Baby's On Fire]

I'm surprised at the lack of comments about Dave's comments on the lack of Van Halen future and Eddie's health.

Dave's statements are obvious with respect to the future of VH, but not the reason.

They are retired, and done. Face it.

I hate FB, but I did see a post an hour ago about Kody Van Halen's FB page. Normally I wouldn't even look. But there is clearly medical equipment (possibly an IV) in the background, and it is EVH playing with the dog according to the post.

[Nitro Express]

The answer to the question isn't much but it says a lot...

4 years of down time wasn't doing Dave any damn good and he's running out of time. Dave's motivated and still feels capable to get out and perform. Good for him!!

The Van Halens don't have it in em... probably time to start drafting eulogies, tribute shows and making sure their trusts and wills are in order. May they RIP...

Always figured Dave would return to Vegas... it's one of the few places on the planet where his shit is a guaranteed sell. They'll fill the seats every night for this run as there's plenty of fans willing to drop less than $100 to see the Toastmaster General.

The performances will most likely fall somewhere near but not quite as good as the pre-reunion DLR Band gigs from a musical perspective. The cheesy showmanship will be there along with some well paid, scantily dressed eye-candy props. And...

Dave will Yelp the Night Away™...

After steak and martinis at Oscar’s I will head to the Hard Rock to watch Dave yelp.

[Nitro Express]

For me, seeing an act in an arena vs. a smaller venue comes down to the live sound.

Honestly, the only 2 acts I've seen in the last decade at our local 20,000 seat basketball/hockey arena that really sounded any good - and this includes seeing Van Halen there twice in that time frame - were Neil Diamond and Billy Joel. Wasn't a surprise to find out later that both of those guys have had their own live sound engineers and own equipment that they have been using for twenty years.

I tend to doubt Van Halen circa 1999 onward have employed their own live sound engineers in terms of using the same one for every tour, or have their own top-to-bottom live sound system and aren't using the house P.A. to provide the majority of the live sound. If they have been, they should reconsider, because neither of the Tampa gigs in 2008 and 2012 sounded particularly good. Not the worst I've ever heard, but not really great, either.

Ha! We saw Morris Day and The Time in a small venue and the whole place broke out into a party. People were dancing in the isles and shit. Morris was working the room. It was fun as hell.

[Nitro Express]

I saw Def Leppard at their residency at the Hard Rock Casino a few years ago... had the mid-priced seats in the balcony and it was great viewing and sound.

The venue more than makes their money and way above the ticket price. Once you get drinks and if you spend any time gambling or partying before the show you'll drop a couple hundred easy.

Saw Def Leppard at a state fair. They were good. Yup. Dave will draw in plenty of 50 and 60 somethings. They will drop plenty of dough at the bar, tables and slots. The shows are just something to get people into the casino. It’s like putting the milk at the back of the store. They know you will drop more money down if they just can get you in.

[Jérôme Frenchise]

I'm surprised at the lack of comments about Dave's comments on the lack of Van Halen future and Eddie's health.

Dave's statements are obvious with respect to the future of VH, but not the reason.

They are retired, and done. Face it.

I hate FB, but I did see a post an hour ago about Kody Van Halen's FB page. Normally I wouldn't even look. But there is clearly medical equipment (possibly an IV) in the background, and it is EVH playing with the dog according to the post.

You're right. I've just checked, looks a lot like drip equipment.

[ZahZoo]

There's speculation of rumored health issues involving Edward in the media and the few remaining fans sites... As usual, it's just speculation without any facts to support it.

Frankly, that's fine... any person's health issues are their own private business even for famous rock musicians. I respect his privacy, wish him well and hope others would do the same.