Rolling Stone:A Mostly Reunited Van Halen Hit Madison Square Garden

[DLR'sCock]

A Mostly Reunited Van Halen Hit Madison Square Garden

11/14/07, 12:54 pm EST

There were plenty of reasons to


There were plenty of reasons to be skeptical walking into last night’s Van Halen concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden. In no particular order: founding bassist Michael Anthony has been kicked to the curb in favor of Eddie Van Halen’s sixteen-year-old son Wolfgang, David Lee Roth’s vocals have sounded more than a bit shaky in recent years and Ed has done little in these past few years except go to rehab and write scores for porn flicks. Yet when the curtain dropped and the band burst into a note-perfect “You Really Got Me” it became clear this was somehow going to work.

It was hard to know where to look first when the show began: a shockingly well-preserved Ed ripping into his guitar, Dave frantically waving a red flag and grinning like a killer clown or Wolfgang, standing confidently on the side of the stage, playing a set consisting entirely of songs written at least seven years before he was born. Ultimately Dave — who reveled in every moment onstage — won out. His voice didn’t sound like it was still 1984, but his vocals were significantly stronger than we’d expected. His signature karate kicks weren’t as high as they used to be and he flubbed his share of lyrics (you’d think he’d at least remember “Pretty Woman”), but his boundless enthusiasm made up for everything.
From 1985 until 2004 Van Halen fans had to wade through endless Sammy Hagar (or, worse, Gary Cherone) songs to get to a handful of Roth-era classics — and even when they came, some other guy was singing them. It was barely tolerable, but it was the only Van Halen we had. On this tour, the events from 1985 to the present have been erased. What remains are what Dave has called “favorites that you’ve been hearing tearing out of the back of a pick-up at the Burger King drive-thru for how many summertimes.” The only problem was that the arena sound system sounded like it was composed of 10,000 pick-up trucks taken from the Burger King drive-thru. Maybe it was just where we were sitting (directly on the side of the stage) but the sound managed to be both ludicrously loud and muffled. Roth’s vocals were often buried. Did Eddie replace the sound guy with his six-year-old nephew Timmy Van Halen?

Shitty sound aside, it’s hard to complain about a show featuring Roth and Eddie Van Halen doing two hours of “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Panama,” “Hot for Teacher” and lesser-known gems like “Atomic Punk” and “I’m the One.” Sure, firing Anthony was a shitty move that made the whole evening feel less momentous. But if putting his son onstage is the only way to get Eddie back out there playing these songs, so be it. This is the only Van Halen being offered and it’s better than anything they’ve given us since the first Reagan administration.Rolling Stone (http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/11/14/a-mostly-reunited-van-halen-hit-madison-square-garden/)

[LoungeMachine]

...yet no mention of Back Bends.....


wtf?

:gulp:

[DLR'sCock]

Billboard:


November 14, 2007,
Van Halen Triumphant In New York Return
Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
It's all so unlikely, or is it? I'm talking about the fact that David Lee Roth, at 53, has a lustrous, full head of hair, a mind-bogglingly ripped physique and enough command over his voice to lead Van Halen through a truly incredible, triumphant return to New York's sold-out Madison Square Garden in the year 2007.

This tour has been met with a healthy dose of cynicism by observers, and for obvious reasons. For one, Roth's many prior attempts to rejoin the group he quit in 1985 have met with disaster, and he was last seen singing bluegrass versions of Van Halen hits on "The Tonight Show."

For another, beloved bassist Michael Anthony was unceremoniously booted from the band and replaced by Eddie Van Halen's 16-year-old son, Wolfgang. Eddie's stint in rehab earlier this year nearly scotched the tour in the first place, but here they all are anyway, rocking out with a power rarely seen among current acts.

In New York, the show consistently teetered between ridiculous and ridiculously awesome, and was often some of each. Eddie Van Halen, bare-chested and in drawstring pants as if he was just sprung from prison, might not have been much to look at, but his playing was astounding. Any time his handiwork began to border on pure self-indulgence (the vaguely planetarium-esque noodling from "Cathedral," excerpted during his solo), he quickly shifted gears into displays of undeniable virtuosity (the fret-tapping evergreen "Eruption," cue devil horns).

Roth was the consummate rock frontman, employing a full arsenal of hats, microphones wedged into the top of his tight pants and garish top coats to accent the belting out of classics like "Beautiful Girls," "Runnin' With the Devil" and "Hot for Teacher."

Even when he "forgot the f*ckin' words" during a cover of Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" and ran around the stage waving a giant red flag during "1984," you couldn't help but smile. "Three-quarters original and one-quarter inevitable," he bellowed when introducing the band.

As for Wolfgang, well, he's a 16-year-old kid, and he looks like it. His stage presence is nearly non-existent, but he played well. It was pretty clear the backing vocals once so identifiable as Anthony's were being piped in through the PA (as were all the keyboard parts), but Wolfie was dutifully on the mic and on cue every time he needed to be.

That leaves drummer Alex Van Halen, who looks much older than his 54 years but managed to deliver all the signature fills fans were expecting, particularly on "Hot for Teacher." And hardly any fans hit the bathroom during his solo between "Pretty Woman" and "Unchained" -- take that, Neil Peart!

The set list wisely ignored the Sammy Hagar era, hitting most of the high points of Van Halen's first period ("Panama," "Jamie's Cryin'," "I'll Wait"). One of the more left-field moments came when Roth began "Ice Cream Man" solo on acoustic guitar, while telling stories from his pot-smoking, lady-chasing days in the early '70s.

The bottom line, and it ain't hyperbole: on this crisp fall night, Van Halen was, if only for two hours, once again the greatest rock band in the world. And that was the greatest surprise of all.

Here is Van Halen's set list:

"You Really Got Me"
"I'm the One"
"Runnin' With the Devil"
"Romeo Delight"
"Somebody Get Me a Doctor"
"Beautiful Girls"
"Dance the Night Away"
"Everybody Wants Some!!"
"So This Is Love?"
"Mean Street"
"Pretty Woman"
Drum solo
"Unchained"
"I'll Wait"
"And the Cradle Will Rock"
"Hot for Teacher"
"Little Dreamer"
"Little Guitars"
"Jamie's Cryin'"
"Ice Cream Man"
"Panama"
Guitar solo
"Ain't Talkin' Bout Love"
"1984" -> "Jump"
Billboard (http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews/live_review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003672423)

[Redballjets88]

wtf? Rolling Stone said something half-way decent about Van Halen. What's the temp. in hell right now?

[Hyman Roth]

What shitty writers Rolling Stone employs.

[Redballjets88]

its obvious that these writers have never heard a boot of cvh. Daves vocals are better live now considering he isn't totally trashed these days

[Shaun Ponsonby]

Originally posted by DLR'sCock
From 1985 until 2004 Van Halen fans had to wade through endless Sammy Hagar (or, worse, Gary Cherone) songs to get to a handful of Roth-era classics � and even when they came, some other guy was singing them. It was barely tolerable, but it was the only Van Halen we had. On this tour, the events from 1985 to the present have been erased. What remains are what Dave has called �favorites that you�ve been hearing tearing out of the back of a pick-up at the Burger King drive-thru for how many summertimes

HA!

[Ally_Kat]

Perhaps it was just me being really into it, but it came across to me that Dave was intentionally forgetting the lyrics to Pretty Woman...?

[Diamondjimi]

Originally posted by Redballjets88
its obvious that these writers have never heard a boot of cvh. Daves vocals are better live now considering he isn't totally trashed these days

True, Rolling Stone and it's writers are a complete fuckin joke.

Half of the useless cumfart's who write for that rag could'nt even name 5 Roth Halen tunes....:rolleyes:

Their positive revue is surprising.

[Redballjets88]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
Perhaps it was just me being really into it, but it came across to me that Dave was intentionally forgetting the lyrics to Pretty Woman...?

thats what I think too. Forgetting the words is one of the things the fans know him for, I think he did it for dramatic effect.

[Panamark]

Any positive reviews for this tour that also manage to trash
the Van Hagar/Cherone era, are ok in my books !!

[janarak]

The hacks in the industry listen to the hacks in the rolling stone and billboard et al.
Good reviews may help this keep momentum, or even gain more momentum.
No one here would snub the chances of more exposure for CVH finally nailing van hagar.
And record exec's asking for more from the band would be great.
Some low life begging for new material or a longer tour sounds good to me.
Rolling stone prob cant name a van halen album so a good review is a testament to how good this really is.

[DLRdelight!]

true that panamark

[VAiN]

GREAT FUCKING SHOW!! I was there... they killed it.

[ELVIS]

The Billboard review is cool...:cool:

[scottydabodi]

On a personal note, from ME to all the Know-it-Alls at Rolling Stone, your reviews of ANYTHING have been remarkably underwhelming for a longer period of time than we've waited for Dave and Ed to play live together again.

Earth to Rolling Stone: You have SUCKED for DECADES. Go suck a dick.

PS -Hey, do ya think ya could cram a few more ADS in your mag, cuz those are more interesting than your articles...

[samplehead]

So Billboard review says the backing vocals are being piped in...

Are they or aren't they?

[ELVIS]

Both...;)

[binnie]

The reviews are positive, that's always a plus.

On a side note, Hyman is correct to say that the standard of journalism is slipping - not much individuality in either writer's style.

[naturochem]

Originally posted by ELVIS
Both...;)
Only piped on the EASTERN half of the cuntry... ;)

[Ellyllions]

Reading all these reviews makes me wonder if the shitty sound we endured was because of our seats at all.

I'm reading the same sound complaints...too loud and muffled.

[binnie]

Originally posted by Ellyllions
too loud and muffled.

If your seats were high up then that quite often happens: the sound rolls around in the top of the arena and gets muffled. That's happened to me at a few gigs.

Ps: music CANNOT be too loud :D

[DLR'sCock]

Originally posted by Ally_Kat
Perhaps it was just me being really into it, but it came across to me that Dave was intentionally forgetting the lyrics to Pretty Woman...?


I honestly have thought that the forgetting the words bit has been schtick for a long long long time.

[DLR'sCock]

Originally posted by Ellyllions
Reading all these reviews makes me wonder if the shitty sound we endured was because of our seats at all.

I'm reading the same sound complaints...too loud and muffled.


Where one is located in an arena show or any show will indeed affect the sound that one hear's coming to their ears.

[Vinnie Velvet]

Originally posted by DLR'sCock
I honestly have thought that the forgetting the words bit has been schtick for a long long long time.

Yup.

Its all schtick.

Dave used to do it during Romeo Delight back in the old days. Because even back then when he actually DID forget the words, there would be no "I forgot the fucking words", just a whole chours or verse missing. :D

[Redballjets88]

Originally posted by scottydabodi
On a personal note, from ME to all the Know-it-Alls at Rolling Stone, your reviews of ANYTHING have been remarkably underwhelming for a longer period of time than we've waited for Dave and Ed to play live together again.

Earth to Rolling Stone: You have SUCKED for DECADES. Go suck a dick.

PS -Hey, do ya think ya could cram a few more ADS in your mag, cuz those are more interesting than your articles...

i don't know if they can put in more ads but they probably plan on having about 5 or 6 more Bob Dylan cover pics before the year is up

[naturochem]

Originally posted by DLR'sCock
I honestly have thought that the forgetting the words bit has been schtick for a long long long time.
For the most part, I think you're correct, Cock.

The US Festival was one of several exceptions to this I personally witnessed, as the fuck-ups were obviously not contrived like they were most of the time -- 'fucker was gagged out of his mind there!!
:gulp:

[naturochem]

Originally posted by binnie
If your seats were high up then that quite often happens: the sound rolls around in the top of the arena and gets muffled. That's happened to me at a few gigs.

Ps: music CANNOT be too loud :D
Hey, I used to feel the same way, but after suffering a fair amount of hearing loss in one ear, and more than a cunt hair in the other, I now sometimes use moderate protection during gigs.

Any sound above 90db can cause hearing loss, but I normally don't worry till about 140, which I've far exceeded with the Boogie & Marshall, let alone getting directly in front of a pegged FOH PA speak!!!

My bike pushes the 140db level at the pipes too... :D

[janarak]

Originally posted by naturochem
Hey, I used to feel the same way, but after suffering a fair amount of hearing loss in one ear, and more than a cunt hair in the other, I now sometimes use moderate protection during gigs.

Any sound above 90db can cause hearing loss, but I normally don't worry till about 140, which I've far exceeded with the Boogie & Marshall, let alone getting directly in front of a pegged FOH PA speak!!!

My bike pushes the 140db level at the pipes too... :D

Protection when you gig or at gigs ??
Tried to play live with plugs in one and both and it aint the same,
Your Hearing ends up shot in a band, end of.
Could be my age tho lol

[diamondsgirl]

Originally posted by LoungeMachine
...yet no mention of Back Bends.....


wtf?

:gulp:

Dear Lounge;

Try to stay on topic. This thread is about the Rolling Stone review. There's another thread entirely dedicated to Dave's back bends. Please discuss back bends in the back bend thread.

Thank you.

DG

[diamondsgirl]

I suddenly started getting Rolling Stone in the mail a few months ago. So far no one has fessed up to buying it for me, and I sure as hell didn't pay for it...

...someone's idea of a practical joke, maybe?? :D

Anyway...they had a decent pic of Ed not too long ago, I'll give them that...and thats about it.

This review has some gems in it.

[Hyman Roth]

Originally posted by diamondsgirl
I suddenly started getting Rolling Stone in the mail a few months ago. So far no one has fessed up to buying it for me, and I sure as hell didn't pay for it...

...someone's idea of a practical joke, maybe?? :D

Anyway...they had a decent pic of Ed not too long ago, I'll give them that...and thats about it.

This review has some gems in it.

Well that's great!!

In case you ever run out of toilet paper.

[diamondsgirl]

Originally posted by Hyman Roth
Well that's great!!

In case you ever run out of toilet paper.

:D

[nightlife]

On a personal note, from ME to all the Know-it-Alls at Rolling Stone, your reviews of ANYTHING have been remarkably underwhelming for a longer period of time than we've waited for Dave and Ed to play live together again.

Earth to Rolling Stone: You have SUCKED for DECADES. Go suck a dick.

PS -Hey, do ya think ya could cram a few more ADS in your mag, cuz those are more interesting than your articles...
My sentiments exactly!!! Rolling Stone is nothing but a political rag. They suck. They have snubbed CVH for decades. Unless it's U2 or Bruce Springstien they don't write about it.

[DLR'sCock]

Kudos to Panamarks comment!