Horrible Review

[fryingdutchman]

I can't really fault this guy who wrote the review, except for his lame attempts at snarkiness and sarcasm.

He does acknowledge that VH makes its best music with Roth, which we all know is true.

But Dave keeps trying to sing out of his range, even on songs that don't necessarily call for it.

I said it in the 4/21 Greensboro review thread, but I'll say it again here. He fucks up "Dance The Night Away" within the first two or three lines by singing way higher than is necessary. I appreciate trying to make the live performance sound different than the studio recording, but when the original recording is sung in a lower register and your voice is strongest in that register, then FUCKING SING IT THAT WAY and avoid these needless bashings from so-called "music critics."

Listen to the opening lines of DTNA from Greensboro and tell me that it sounds good or that it sounds right. Can somebody convince me that it was necessary for him to do that?

Unfortunately it seems that Dave is making his bed here...and now he's being forced to lie in it.

[fryingdutchman]

This is why I will never get a masturbation coach.

And the masturbation theme continues.....

[Hardrock69]

One thing I noticed back in the 2007-2008 tour period was that Dave WAS putting a lot of effort into SINGING the parts that should have been done that way.

He was not trying to sing in a higher register than normal. As a result, his delivery was better than it had been back in the day, where he talked his way through a lot of stuff that had been sung in the studio.

He is a smart dude....he will figure out what he needs to do....he is going to know when he is struggling and will take steps to deal with it.

He better, lol, as he is playing in Gnashville tomorrow night...and the crowd is going to be FULL of massive amounts of musicians, producers, engineers, industry heavyweights, etc.

Naturally I will post a review after the fact.

[fryingdutchman]

He is a smart dude....he will figure out what he needs to do....he is going to know when he is struggling and will take steps to deal with it.

No doubt he's smart as a whip, but he'd better hurry the fuck up with figuring out the issues.

Because if the "faltering lead singer" shit gets traction, it's going to mean trouble. This Cohen guy isn't the first reviewer to call Dave out for the vocals on this tour.

And if the blower rants and walking off stage to bitch at the crew causes band friction, then it's REALLY going to mean trouble.

[DavidLeeNatra]

the Charlotte vids I saw so far are proving that dave ist getting back in his 07/08 shape...if he isn't already...no comparism to the first shows...

[ELVIS]

I disagree, E. Maybe the passage of time has clouded your recollection, but there were vocal issues in '07 or '08.

Very very little...

[ELVIS]

One thing I noticed back in the 2007-2008 tour period was that Dave WAS putting a lot of effort into SINGING the parts that should have been done that way.

He was not trying to sing in a higher register than normal.

That's what I'm saying...

His normal register for those songs is gone...

Let's hope natra is right, as I haven't seen any recent vids yet...

[DavidLeeNatra]

That's what I'm saying...

His normal register for those songs is gone...

Let's hope natra is right, as I haven't seen any recent vids yet...

look at HFT form Charlotte, Dave seems to feel comfortable and having REAL fun, not just pretending it...

[ELVIS]

Just watched it...

Not bad at all...

[Va Beach VH Fan]

In Greensboro on Saturday I was really trying to listen for the amount of times that Dave tried to reach for those higher registers, and honestly it was only 2 or 3 times, coming later in the show....

Other than that, Dave was very solid....

[fryingdutchman]

Very very little...

It was more prevalent than you might recall.

But I think alot of it was overlooked because:

1. Everyone was over the moon apeshit happy about the tour even happening at all.

2. Eddie's performances were very hit or miss.

3. Extra focus on Wolfgang's performance and speculation about "piped-in" backing vox.

[DLR Bridge]

It was more prevalent than you might recall.

But I think alot of it was overlooked because:

1. Everyone was over the moon apeshit happy about the tour even happening at all.

2. Eddie's performances were very hit or miss.

3. Extra focus on Wolfgang's performance and speculation about "piped-in" backing vox.

Agreed. Dave was the best part of the show on that tour, but I do have some bootlegs whereby he seems to be barking it out a bit. I have one where the "I'm taking whiskey..." part of Romeo Delight is pretty... not so good. But ultimately, it's all good!

[fryingdutchman]

Agreed. Dave was the best part of the show on that tour,

Again, you and I seem to be like-minded.

It wasn't too hard for Dave to be the bright spot in that tour with Eddie still being in his funk and being very spotty in his performances, and having an unproven commodity in Wolfgang. DLR and Alex came across as the only two who really had their shit together....but Dave got the credit because he's out front.

But now, with Ed, Alex, and Wolf clearly at the very top of their games, Dave has nowhere to hide. He either brings it at the same level, or he's going to be subject to criticism.

Unfair? Perhaps. Especially for a 57 year old guy who's still more limber and active than guys half his age.

But that's the double-edged sword of being the larger-than-life presence that Dave is. He will always be evaluated more critically because he positions himself at the top of the mountain every single time....like any good frontman should.

[fryingdutchman]

But it's crazy how some keep holding Dave to be like he was 20-30yrs ago??!!

I understand your point.

But don't you think there might be a possibility that DAVE is trying to sing like his voice was 20 or 30 years younger?

His throat is telling him something and he's not listening. That's why he's wrapping his neck in scarves and bitching about the air conditioning.

[loucap81]

I don't know about you guys but I couldn't care less what a newspaper critic says about Van Halen and DLR. First of all, the joke's on them as newspapers sink into oblivion and they'll be lucky to still have a job in five years. Second, I don't need validation from anyone, especially someone who's not a fan of the band and doesn't appreciate why DLR was so crucial to Van Halen nor understands his talents.

Earlier in the tour I do think it was valid to criticize what he was doing. I was one of those critics. It wasn't just about the raspiness of his voice (which certainly doesn't seem to be a problem anymore--Greensboro was awesome) but also that he seemed to be trying to upstage Eddie. It seemed like his ego was getting the best of him but I think he's reined it in now.

But these newspaper critics are ragging on him for things he's ALWAYS been, i.e. showman first, singer second. Much the way the great Bon Scott was--I mean you didn't go to an AC/DC concert to hear operatic singing the way you would a Queen concert. So when I read those criticisms it simply tells me the reviewer doesn't get the essence of classic Van Halen. Whatever, most people don't. Who cares.