I would like to piggyback a couple of points if I may....
True, and I am developing a theory here. I would like a singers opinion. I have worked in a loud factory for over 20 years. I find that not only am I losing the higher registers, I am also losing a little bottom end also. I wonder if Dave is having a hard time hearing himself sing in the lower octives now that he's getting older. Not much vocal power in the lower end already and with hearing loss, I dunno, just a thought. Didn't bother me.
Eddie saw it too and pointed it out to the roadie. It was extremely hot in there. They must be some sweaty dudes.
Noticed this too. Especially after the new songs. Almost dead after Chinatown and The Trouble With Never. Kind of embarrassing. I attribute it to almost no lack of airplay for the new stuff here in Nashville. People around me went nuts for "the hits", but were heading to the beer line/bathroom during Here About it Later, Women in Love, etc. WHAT? REALLY? Thing is, they have probably never heard those songs in their lives. Just proves what I said in jest a few pages back. Not a Dave town, heck not even a Van Halen town. Place would have went batshit crazy if they would have done some obscure Molly Hatchet song....
To me, this sums up the haters. That's it. They don't get it. There is an entire generation that have never seen a true rock show, EVER! Oh, they've been to rock concerts, but concerts with piped in vocals, over the top stage production and unenergetic "whoa is me" singer that stare sullenly into the crowd. They are use to guys like Daughtry and Nickleback (sorry, did not mean to say those names on this site. Just had to prove a point here).
Van Halen is different. They are the greatest bar band in the world. They aren't one of these label created bands build on looks and Dave wouldn't have lasted long on American Idol (sorry again). They made their bones playing live trying to keep the patrons engaged in what they were doing.They came up before perfection was demanded. Dave has NEVER sang a song "just like the record". EVER! He's a ringmaster, a showman, a facilitator of fun. He's not Pavarotti for Christ sake.
Rock and roll, at one time, was suppose to be fun. Not what it is now, some "cooler than thou" kinda crap where the lead singer sounds like Cookie Monster and sings about how bad his life is. Van Halen made it fun for me last night. At the end, when Dave brings out the checkered flag, my 16 year old daughter started laughing and said "this is stupid, it doesn't make sense." I told her "you finally get it. It's not suppose to make sense, it's suppose to be fun!"
I think she got it....
Roth on!
True, and I am developing a theory here. I would like a singers opinion. I have worked in a loud factory for over 20 years. I find that not only am I losing the higher registers, I am also losing a little bottom end also. I wonder if Dave is having a hard time hearing himself sing in the lower octives now that he's getting older. Not much vocal power in the lower end already and with hearing loss, I dunno, just a thought. Didn't bother me.
Ok so midway through the set....he suddenly demands someone come out and mop up the stage.....WTF? No roadie appeared...so Dave himself took some scarf that had been around his neck and actually began to wipe the floor!
Remember I predicted it would be a tough crowd? Well, it was. The crowd was sort of dead. Sure, they did give up a lot of applause, and they were not TOTALLY dead....but I just expected them to be more excited than they were.
Some people just don't get it.
Van Halen is different. They are the greatest bar band in the world. They aren't one of these label created bands build on looks and Dave wouldn't have lasted long on American Idol (sorry again). They made their bones playing live trying to keep the patrons engaged in what they were doing.They came up before perfection was demanded. Dave has NEVER sang a song "just like the record". EVER! He's a ringmaster, a showman, a facilitator of fun. He's not Pavarotti for Christ sake.
Rock and roll, at one time, was suppose to be fun. Not what it is now, some "cooler than thou" kinda crap where the lead singer sounds like Cookie Monster and sings about how bad his life is. Van Halen made it fun for me last night. At the end, when Dave brings out the checkered flag, my 16 year old daughter started laughing and said "this is stupid, it doesn't make sense." I told her "you finally get it. It's not suppose to make sense, it's suppose to be fun!"
I think she got it....
Van Halen delivered.
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