Van Halen - Philadelphia 03.05.12

As a long-time Van Halen fan, particulary the DLR-era and Diamond Dave's solo career, it pains me to write this review of their live performance the other night.

Opening the night was r&b/funk band Kool & the Gang. An odd choice it would seem, but they pulled it off rather nicely. 10 guys, all dressed in white, entered the stage and brought the funk for the next 40 to 45 minutes. While I wouldn't consider myself a fan, in their entire set, there was only 1 song I didn't know. If you've been to a wedding reception in the last 10 years, you know their songs. It's Ladies Night so get out there and Celebrate. Moving on...

The band hit the stage right before 9:00 to 'Unchained'. So far, so good. The band sounds fine. Dave looks like some sort of half bull fighter/half 19th century shoe shine boy. Shiney shirt, tight spandex (?) pants and a glittery, sequined waistecoat with a tweed vest, long scarf and Brian Johnson's jeff cap. Ridiculous.

The band sounds good and the set-list was awesome (see below). Along with the hits, they dug deep and played some tunes that probably haven't been played live (if ever) in 25 years. They sprinkled in some new tunes and they fit right in. It looks like they are mixing up the set-lists here and there on a nighlty basis, so you're not gonna hear the same show twice, which is great. Dave's voice sounds better than it has in a long time, even if he's not hitting all the high notes of yesteryear. This is the good parts.

The bad part is that the band themselves, especially the Van Halen brothers. The show, while sounding good, was rather stale and boring. The stage was pretty bare bones. No pyro or big props. There was a video board behind the band, but it just showed live footage in black & white. Occasionally, they'd scroll some other b&w images of the current band. No old footage to remind you of how young they used to be or that old bass player, whats-his-name.

Now I'm sure Dave's happy that he doesn't have to be an EMT anymore, so he's having fun. But Eddie and Alex seem to be going through the motions, just doing this to collect a paycheck at the end. Eddie doesn't seem to stray very far from his mic at all, probably afraid he'd have to run back to hit his vocal cue. He had hip replacement surgery and it shows. He barely moves around the stage. He doesn't interact with Dave and the only time he doubles-up on mic with Wolfie is when Woflgang walks over to Eddie's side of the stage. Speaking of Wolfgang, he's no Michael Anthony, but he handles the bass and vocal duties well enough. He still seems lost though, wandering around on the big stage. It's like he's not sure where he's supposed to be unless he's at his mic. And he looks scared when Dave approaches him. The whole band interaction was awkward and stiff.

Alex's drum solo was weak. Depending on your opinion of drum solos that is. After 'Pretty Woman', the rest of the guys walked off and Alex started his solo. Playing along to a Latin-type conga track, his "solo" lasted all of about 3 minutes. He didn't even hit the giant gong behind him. I don't think he removed his sunglasses the entire evening either.

By the time Eddie started into 'Eruption', I knew his solo was coming up and the show was ending. I'd had enough at that point and decided to head out to avoid the traffic. I'm just as a cranky old carmudgeon as Alex. I only missed the last 2 songs and a confetti canon blast.

Fortunatly for me, I was able to watch the show for free. However, with tickets going for $160 a pop, I would've been highly disappointed with the show. Yes, I know it's not 1982 anymore and it's "all about the music, man," but seeing them performing live (and Dave bald spot) just reminded me of how much it's NOT 1982 anymore. You can't go back and this concert proved it.

It sucks seeing your rock star heroes grow old. Put on the new album or any of the old classics, shut your eyes and remember how things used to be.

Setlist:

Unchained
Runnin' with the Devil
She's the Woman
The Full Bug
Tattoo
Everybody Wants Some
Somebody Get me A Doctor
China Town
Hear About It Later
Pretty Woman
Drum solo
You Really Got Me
The Trouble with Never
Dance the Night Away
I'll Wait
Hot For Teacher
Women In Love
Girl Gone Bad
Beautiful Girls
Ice Cream Man
Panama
Eruption/guitar solo
Ain't Talkin Bout Love

encore:
Jump

Thats it in a nutshell.....it's not 30 something years ago.


I'd say that alot if not most of the audience(s) have never seen Van Halen w/ DLR. So they have nothin to compare it to. Those of us who had seen them in their hey day have to understand and expect that it isn't gonna be the same.

Oh yeah, thanks for the review

Part of my disappointment though is that some bands can and do pull it off 30+ years into their career.

Sure, it's not exactly the same. Everyone gets old, things change. But seeing Iron Maiden, Priest, Sabbath, Aerosmith, you walk away and go, "Man, I can't believe these guys are still kicking it. They still know how to put on a great show."

I didn't get that feeling at all with VH. They just seemd old and phoning it in.

I think the main problem Van Halen suffers from, or should I say David Lee Roth suffers from is, at least to me, is the man's entire image was based on being a youthful athletic frontman, something Steven Tyler, Alice Cooper, Ozzy Osbourne and others did not have.

DLR is fit and probably in better shape then I am in, but he is 57, that is just my opinion, I am still looking forward to the show and maybe it was an off night for the lads, the problem is, in today's market no one can afford to have an off night, not with ticket prices being what they are and folks uploading live performances on youtube ten seconds after they walk out of the arena

Do they really have to charge so much? Drop the price in half and I bet they still make a mint.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Do they really have to charge so much? Drop the price in half and I bet they still make a mint.

Not to mention a sold out show just about in every market they hit

manny wrote:

Dark Horseman wrote:

Do they really have to charge so much? Drop the price in half and I bet they still make a mint.

Not to mention a sold out show just about in every market they hit

Well, they sold out the Philly show, so I guess as long as people are going to pay it, they're gonna charge it.

From a sound and set-list perspective, it was a great show. The band sounded great and Dave was in fine form. Looking at the set-list, I'd be hard pressed to find someone that would complain (although I sure someone here will find a reason "What, no 'One Foot Out the Door'? Pfft).

Was it worth the ticket price? Heck no, but who is? There was just no energy or excitement from the band. Bruce Dickenson runs & leaps around the stage while Eddie lumbers after him. Angus gets up on a roadie's shoulders for his solo. Rob rides a Harley onstage. Roger Waters erected and destroyed a wall.

It just seems like the show could've been so much better than it was. I wanted to leave that night thinking "Damn, they still got it after all these years". Instead it was "Meh. I better get outta here. It's almost my bedtime".

MetalGuy71 wrote:

manny wrote:

Dark Horseman wrote:

Do they really have to charge so much? Drop the price in half and I bet they still make a mint.

Not to mention a sold out show just about in every market they hit

Well, they sold out the Philly show, so I guess as long as people are going to pay it, they're gonna charge it.

From a sound and set-list perspective, it was a great show. The band sounded great and Dave was in fine form. Looking at the set-list, I'd be hard pressed to find someone that would complain (although I sure someone here will find a reason "What, no 'One Foot Out the Door'? Pfft).

Was it worth the ticket price? Heck no, but who is? There was just no energy or excitement from the band. Bruce Dickenson runs & leaps around the stage while Eddie lumbers after him. Angus gets up on a roadie's shoulders for his solo. Rob rides a Harley onstage. Roger Waters erected and destroyed a wall.

It just seems like the show could've been so much better than it was. I wanted to leave that night thinking "Damn, they still got it after all these years". Instead it was "Meh. I better get outta here. It's almost my bedtime".

Now I am wondering if I will be disappointed when I see them!

How was the crowd reaction? Was there a lot of crowd energy or were they just "meh"?

I go to a show for the music, I could care less if the band runs around on stage and does athletic moves.

Sucks that the energy wasn't there though, at least you got in for free.

I'd love to see this when it comes around here (considering I've never seen the band with DLR) but I am not forking over that kind of money to see them. Cool setlist you saw there.I don't think the lack of energy would bother me too much if I heard that list (or something similar).

I considered going to Denver to check them out. 1500 mile round trip + hotel/tix doesn't equate to buying the DVD at Christmas time. I have a dozen plus VH shows between 1978 and 1983 with one Sammy era gig at Texas Jam 86' under my belt, so my memories are quite content with that.

I'm going to see them tomorrow night! I'll let you know how they do in Buffalo!!!

S.D. wrote:

I go to a show for the music, I could care less if the band runs around on stage and does athletic moves.

Sucks that the energy wasn't there though, at least you got in for free.

You might care if you spent $160 bucks and went to a giant arena. It's different going to a small club or theater to see a "musician's band". Certain expectations come with playing a 20,000 seat arena and sadly, they were not met that night with Van Halen.

A few months ago, I saw the Foo Fighters play the same building. Their stage set-up was minimal as well, except for a big catwalk that went down the length of the floor. But the big difference was 1.) ticket price and 2.) the energy and excitment of the band. Dave Grohl never stopped moving the entire time, they played for nearly 3 hours, Dave did a solo acoustic set, the drummer sang some songs, etc. They didn't need to blow off pyro or have a rotating drum kit to make it exciting. You could tell they were having fun up there and that energy transferred to the audience.

The bottom line is unfortunately, seeing the Van Halen live wasn't much more exciting than sitting at home and listening to the same songs on my mp3 player.

MetalGuy71, I trust your opinion regarding all things hard rock and metal. Outside of your obvious humor relating to many a topic, you're not what I would consider an opportunist as it pertains to bashing a band for the hell of it...

...thank you for saving me $160.00

Quote :

as long as people are going to pay it, they're gonna charge it

QFT

metalinmyveins wrote:

MetalGuy71, I trust your opinion regarding all things hard rock and metal. Outside of your obvious humor relating to many a topic, you're not what I would consider an opportunist as it pertains to bashing a band for the hell of it...

...thank you for saving me $160.00

Thanks. As I said at the beginning of the review, it hurt me to write a bad review of the show. I love the band, I love the new album. I wanted this concert to be great. And it just wasn't. It was average at best. Maybe some other folks seeing the show will have a different opinion than mine.

Well, running around on stage or nailed to the floor, either works for me as long as the performance is good. Most of best concerts I've ever seen were by groups who essentially just "stand there"...but the music supplied all the energy required.

My days of wanting to see fancy athletic stage moves, twirling mic stands and huge pyro-performances are long gone.

Great show in DC last night - had a great time. Here's the set list:

Unchained
Runnin' With the Devil
She's the Woman
Romeo Delight
Tattoo
Everybody Wants Some!!
Somebody Get Me a Doctor
China Town
Jamie's Cryin'
Oh, Pretty Woman
Drum Solo
You Really Got Me
Blood and Fire
Dance the Night Away
I'll Wait
Hot for Teacher
Women In Love
Hang 'Em High
Beautiful Girls
Ice Cream Man
Panama
Guitar Solo
(Including "Eruption" and "Cathedral")
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Jump

Saw Van Halen Saturday, and they kicked ass, whatever kinks they had in the set when MG saw them, they worked out by the time they got here in Tampa.

The headset mic is gone and DLR used a hand held wireless mic, and he sounded great and energized. Unlike shows in the past David Lee Roth did not do long raps and focused on the music. He also actually sang, unlike in the past where he would keep over lyrics, mumble them or not sing them altogether.

He no longer jobs around but does some goofy dance moves, but he is still the ultimate frontman, and saw DLR and Eddie Van Halen do something I have never seen them do, they hugged on stage.

Alex Van Halen was also in top form and his drum solo was actually interesting, and if you have ever seen Van Halen in the past, this was not always the case. Eddie Van Halen was incredible, and the band was tight, the stage set was bare bones, just a stage, white Eddie Van Halen amps and a wooden placemat for Roth.

Wolfgang does not have much stage presence but he sounded good on the backround vocals, he does not hit the high notes like Michael Anthony but he sounded good.

I saw Van Halen with Sammy Hagar once and they were good but this was beyond that, DLR made the huge arena feel like a club despite it having however many thousand people in the place.

Kool and the Gang was great, at the beginning of their set, alot of folks sat on their hands but by the third song in, they won the audience over, these guys were excellent.

Both bands seem to love playing Tampa, and mentioned how much the audience was into it, they seemed surprised by the reaction they were getting.

During 'Hot for Teacher' DLR even gave a shout out for the Latin ladies which got a roar.

Fun show and here is the set list:


Unchained
Runnin' with the Devil
She's the Woman
Romeo Delight
Tattoo
Everybody wants some
Somebody Get me a Doctor
China Town
Hear About it Later
(oh) Pretty Woman
(drum solo)
You Really Got Me
The Trouble with Never
Dance the Night Away
I'll Wait
Hot for Teacher
Women in Love
Outta Love Again
Beautiful Girls
Ice Cream Man
Panama
(guitar solo)
Aint Talking about Love

and they did not bother leaving the stage, they just went straight into their encore

Jump

New dates added:

Jul. 07 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
Jul. 09 - Hampton, VA - Hampton Coliseum
Jul. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center
Jul. 13 - E. Rutherford, NJ - IZOD Center
Jul. 15 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena
Jul. 17 - Rochester, NY - Blue Cross Arena
Jul. 19 - Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
Jul. 21 - London, ON - John Labatt Centre
Jul. 24 - Toledo, OH - Huntington Center
Jul. 26 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena
Jul. 28 - Cleveland, OH - Quicken Loans Arena
Jul. 31 - Fort Wayne, IN - Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
Aug. 02 - Columbus, OH - Schottenstein Center
Aug. 04 - Knoxville, TN - Thompson Boling Arena
Aug. 06 - Memphis, TN - FedExForum
Aug. 08 - Birmingham, AL - BJCC Arena
Aug. 10 - Greenville, SC - BI-LO Center
Aug. 12 - Cincinnati, OH - U.S. Bank Arena

Quote :

Jul. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center

Wow. Coming back for an encore? Don't think I'll stick around for that one though. Once was enough. Are Kool & the Gang still gonna open or are they getting different support?

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Quote :

Jul. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center

Wow. Coming back for an encore? Don't think I'll stick around for that one though. Once was enough. Are Kool & the Gang still gonna open or are they getting different support?

Good question - the story didn't say who was opening. Maybe KC and the Sunshine Band are available......

Quote :

Ky-mani Marley is the opening act for all added concerts.

I don't know who that is. I'm assuming it's an offspring of Bob Marley, I guess.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Quote :

Jul. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center

Wow. Coming back for an encore? Don't think I'll stick around for that one though. Once was enough. Are Kool & the Gang still gonna open or are they getting different support?

If you get a chance you should stick around, the kinks they had in their show seem to have been worked out, the show I saw kicked ass

manny wrote:

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Quote :

Jul. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - Wells Fargo Center

Wow. Coming back for an encore? Don't think I'll stick around for that one though. Once was enough. Are Kool & the Gang still gonna open or are they getting different support?

If you get a chance you should stick around, the kinks they had in their show seem to have been worked out, the show I saw kicked ass

Perhaps when the date gets closer, I'll reconsidder. I'm already planning on sticking around for the Aerosmith show the following week, so 2 nights out might be more than the wife will allow.