Official August 7 Toronto, ON, Molson Canadian Amphitheatre Meetup/Review Thread

[Von Halen]

Agreed, although I do like what he is doing now with the harmonica....

Love the harmonica. I'd like to see Dave do a true solo tour. Him, a harmonica and an accoustic guitar.

[Nigel]

Love the harmonica. I'd like to see Dave do a true solo tour. Him, a harmonica and an accoustic guitar.

Be careful what you wish for. It may be great in small doses. . . .

[Von Halen]

Be careful what you wish for. It may be great in small doses. . . .

I disagree. I'm talking a small club gig. Just jamming and doing tunes. I think it would be great.

[twonabomber]

I am glad to read real reviews instead of shit from people in third world cuntries who won't have a chance to see this tour anyways, and shit from people who should be catching up on their back child support instead of begging for money to buy a ticket to a show.

[Full Bug]

I disagree. I'm talking a small club gig. Just jamming and doing tunes. I think it would be great.

Yeah, that would great, picture a dark smoky club seating no more then 100, how cool would that be?

[twonabomber]

1500 seater, max.

Good to see you made it to the show, Bug.

[Full Bug]

1500 seater, max.

Good to see you made it to the show, Bug.

Ok, 1500 would be good, as long as it had that dark atmosphere....
Thanx Twona, glad I made it too, what a great night....Although I didn't get to meet Ed and Wolf like you lucky bastards....

[Von Halen]

Thanx Twona, glad I made it too, what a great night....Although I didn't get to meet Ed and Wolf like you lucky bastards....

You should have found the gaywapo_rocker!

[Full Bug]

You should have found the gaywapo_rocker!

Considering I was all by my lonesome, I would have, but never heard from him before I left....
I actually was beside a young guy who couldn't have been more then 22, and this dude knew every lyric, just the way Dave sang it on the albums, was impressed to see that, I am guessing his parents raised him on VH, we had a blast rockin to the tunes.....

[FORD]

Yeah, that would great, picture a dark smoky club seating no more then 100, how cool would that be?

How big is that club in Toronto where the Stones usually start their tours?

[Full Bug]

The Phoenix Concert Theatre or the El Mocambo would be the ones.....

[Full Bug]

Finally, a review from someone who gets it.....

http://www.vhnd.com/2015/08/07/van-halen-toronto-2015/

http://design39media. com / van-halen-live-at-molson-amphitheatre-toronto/

August 7, 2015 – Toronto Ontario

Making stop two of two on the Canadian leg of their 2015 Tour, Van Halen delivered in fine fashion at the Live Nation – Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto.

Weather was perfect, not as cold as their first Canadian stop two nights prior in London Ontario. Those in shorts and t-shirts were perfectly comfortable throughout the evening, despite being right on the waterfront.

Upon arriving at the venue just prior to 6:00pm, Van Halen was taking the stage for soundcheck, running through fan favourites like “Light Up The Sky”, “Drop Dead Legs”, “Running With The Devil” and more.

The first noticeable improvement over the London show, was production quality. While opening act Kenny Wayne Shepherd ripped through his short soulful, yet virtuoso blues set, you knew right there and then that sound quality was in the favour of all audience members. Loud, yet pristine and defined. I cannot say the same for the London production, however we are not fairly comparing apples to apples here, as London was the first concert of sorts for the Western Fair District.

8:15 was check in time with Live Nation media, which ran a bit closer to 8:30. We were amongst others including CityTV, and one of legendary rock photographer Neil Zlozower’s best friends and professional photographer as well, and escorted to the barrier at the front of the stage. Luckily I was able to firmly plant myself and make a new 15 minute home on Eddie’s side of the stage.

Being the gear hound and lifetime fan of mentor Eddie Van Halen, I snapped a few pix of his amps (both on stage, and side stage) solely for my own selfishness, but knew the die hard EVH fans would appreciate as well.

At 8:45pm, Alex hopped up to his kit, followed by dramatic side stage entrances from father and son Van Halen members Eddie & Wolfgang, and completing the dynamic foursome was Diamond David Lee Roth himself.

Electricity in the air was everywhere instantly, and the crowd simply lost their minds. Alex’s intro of thundering drum fills provided the concrete pillar foundation for Eddie’s scorching and screaming dive bombed, tapping frenzied opening statement. That very 30 seconds let Toronto Ontario know, that “Pssst, Van Halen is here!”

It was hard to truly appreciate the first three songs of Van Halen’s set, as I was snapping photos and truly caught up in the moment. It was tough as here I am lifelong fan of Eddie Van Halen, and instead of watching him from front of stage, I was there on a task, to capture him with the camera.

After the first three songs concluded, (which felt like a mere 60 seconds, while actually being closer to 15 minutes) all of us in the media group, were ushered back to security posts and most vanished into the surroundings.

I checked my gear, then re-entered the venue to watch the concert with my friend who came with me, along with my 9 year old son (his first Van Halen concert mind you).

The concert was brilliant start to finish. I’ve already spoken on the production value of this venue, but performance wise, it was top notch. Sure Dave’s vocals have some issues here and there, but he is a human being, still doing what he loves, still doing what the die hard Van Halen fans love, and most importantly, rounding out the rock and roll quartet that we’ve all loved for decade after decade. He never was the world’s greatest singer, we know and he knows it. He doesn’t try to be. What he does however, is his job, leading & conducting the band from gut wrenching classic after classic, in true ringmaster style. The other members of Van Halen hang on every cue Dave throws their way.

I applaud Dave for doing what he does, despite the never ending criticism he endures, and will always endure. He didn’t earn the title of Diamond David Lee Roth with being truly a “diamond in the rough”. He’s the lead vocalist, (arguably not the world’s best) in, arguably, the world’s greatest rock band today. Pressure most of us would simply fold and cave from. Dave eats this for breakfast.. and smiles!

Eddie pulled out another memorable guitar solo during his spotlight, treating Toronto to what they’ve come to expect, with snippets from Eruption, Cathedral, Spanish Fly and more, along with some sub sonic, dropped to hell Octave pedal riffage that entered through your ears, shot down to your stomach and then blasted out your back with ballistic force.

I’m safely going to say that this was the best Van Halen concert I seen since the late 80’s. I’m also ecstatic to have shot this show.

A huge kudos to Live Nation staff and my other colleagues that were shooting with me. You were all a class act.

Thank you Toronto, and thank you Alex, Wolfgang, Dave & Eddie, the Mighty Van Halen, for a night I and my 9 year old son will never forget.

[twonabomber]

I wasn't cold Wednesday night. You Canadians should be used to the cold!

[CdnDlrfan]

Great review - that person "did get it". Dave was right on last night - awesome, awesome show. Best Van Halen concert I have ever been to. Finally got to live the dream of being close to the stage :-) Can't wait to do it again :-)

[Droomer5150]

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/08/08...ibe-in-toronto

David Lee Roth ruins Van Halen's vibe in Toronto

BY JOHN WILLIAMS, POSTMEDIA NETWORK
FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, AUGUST 08, 2015 09:06 AM EDT | UPDATED: SATURDAY, AUGUST 08, 2015 09:16 AM EDT

Artist: Van Halen
Location: Molson Amphitheatre


TORONTO - "Hey Eddie, can you see if Sammy Hagar is still available?"

After Friday night's two-hour performance by the David Lee Roth-led Van Halen at the sold-out Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto, some may be asking that very question that I just posed.

And, really, it's damn shame. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen has clearly got his mojo back - he's playing, sounding and looking better than he ever has - it's really a testament to a man who is focused on keeping the demons of his past in the past, and he’s clearly fallen in love with music again - you can see it on the glowing smile on his face.

No, we're definitely not referring to him. Nor his son/bassist Wolfgang (even though yours truly has a soft spot for former bassist Michael Anthony), or to trustworthy backstopper Alex Van Halen.

We're looking straight at you, Diamond Dave.

Singer Roth seems to be eyeing a career in old Las Vegas, what with all his wardrobe changes right in the middle of the show (which included a body shirt with tattoos adorned on it - so badass!), the way he struts around in a slow-paced fashion, or how he expects a response from the crowd every time he smiles at them.

And let's be realistic. We weren't expecting the same leg kicks from yesteryear (and he thankfully left the spandex pants at home), nor were we waiting for the high-pitched "Wooooos!" and "Ohhhs!" We were, however, hoping for more than a half-assed lounge singer. And an excruciatingly bad one at that. This cannot be the same guy who made caterwauling and being a rock frontman an art form.

Roth spent a good chunk of the time talking – or sometimes mumbling -through a lot of Van Halen staples on this night, including Runnin' With the Devil, Everybody Wants Some!!, Hot For Teacher, Panama and their 1981 classic, Unchained – which was barely recognizable.

I mean, even Eddie Van Halen has admitted that Roth is the guy that fans want to see, but at least on this night, those in attendance may be rethinking that standard party line.

And any notion that Eddie Van Halen and Roth don't get along (as mentioned in the revealing EVH/Billboard interview from a few months back), was dispelled early on, with the two interacting frequently, whether it was smiling at each other while sharing the same microphone or gleefully admiring one another from the either end of the stage. Or perhaps they are both just supreme professionals, and it's no different than you and I being mildly affable with an extremely annoying co-worker.

The group is smack dab in the middle of an ambitious 40-date tour which runs into October. Given the band's tumultuous history, one wouldn't be too far off in thinking that it may not have gotten to this point. But it has.

Roth’s night wasn’t a complete disaster. He showed shades of his old voice on tracks like Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love, Hot For Teacher and a stellar version of Little Guitars, with EVH lighting up the crowd with some sizzling guitar work and backing vocals.

Opening for VH was axeman Kenny Wayne Shepherd, whose backing band seemed bored of the proceedings, and who could blame them. Most of the tunes were just one giant set-up for his long, meandering guitar solos that left the smattering of people in attendance heading for the concession stands.

Twitter: @johnwillms

Email: john.williams@sunmedia.ca

"I don't where that critic is right now but...I'm right here babeh!" - Ice Cream Man Largo 1982 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO1_e5GxNUM