Van Halen Tour Reviews

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Most of what I have heard coming from attendees at Van Halen shows has been pretty positive and apparently the old boys are out there getting the job done. And making a big old pile of cash in the meanwhile, I might add.

As you might expect, there are plenty of reviews being written and I thought I would share links to a few of them here.

Providence Journal (R.I.)
New York Times (Philly Show)
Canadian Press (Toronto)
Chart Attack (Toronto)
Toronto Sun (Take a guess!)
Mass Live (Uncasville, CT)
Live Daily (Uncasville, CT)
Plain Dealer (Cleveland)

The YouTube video on the right was shot by a fan during the Toronto show.

I’ll leave it to you to check it out and find out what song was being performed. As amateur concert footage usually goes, it really is not too bad.

It’s good to see that these old guys (in my age group, I might add!) have the energy to get out there and put on a full-blown rock show. Gives us all some hope that we are not all washed up just yet! 🙂

19 Comments

  1. Larry October 19, 2007 at 11:29 am

    Saw the show at the United Center and was disappointed. The sound was mushy at best and mics were feeding back all night. The background vocals were prerecorded with M.A. and Dave and I heard Dave’s voice while he was flipping the mic stand around. Eddie was solid as usuall but hard to hear in the mush. The band seemed like they were going through the motions, which made for an uninspired performance. Dave’s singing was better but the stage banter was old and overplayed. “Look at all the people here tonight”, “Lose the dress keep the shoes” might as well have made a canned track of Dave comments too. I’m not a Sammy fan and I was really looking forward to seeing this show, but I think the reality is, the best years of this band are WAY behind them. Can’t fault them for padding thier retirement funds and giving it another spin but don’t fall for the hype. Check out all the unsold tickets on Ebay and Craigslist people almost giving away and ask yourself if the fans are being honest or just afraid to admit that the days of VH are over.

  2. The Truth October 25, 2007 at 2:35 pm

    Larry above sounds like he needs a vacation or he’d be better off getting a job as a stuffy movie/restaraunt critic!

    Saw the show in Minneapolis and it was TIGHT. Eddie is a genius seemingly reborn in his intensity and energy. The whole band seemed to be flat out enjoying themselves together the chemistry was awesome. Stadium shows are loud this ain’t an I-tune playing on your Bose noise reducing headphones! Rock and Roll is a little sloppy by nature but this concert was CLEAN!

    Pre-recorded vocals huh Larry? Whatever method you used to determine that should be pattented and sold because the rest of us must be clueless!!

    The days of VH are FAR from over. True fans of this legendary group have been salivating for this tour for 23 years!! They did not dissappoint and any sound issues that Larry may have experienced I would lend to perhaps that venue being outdated and poorly run. The MPLS show was CRISP.

    A chapter of my life is complete now that I got to see DLR and the VH brothers together once again. Ignore the critics boys you’re doing the country a long desired service! WELCOME BACK IT’S BEEN TOO LONG!!!

  3. RealRockNews October 25, 2007 at 6:28 pm

    Thanks for that opposing viewpoint, Truth.

    That first critique did seem a tad harsh and did not reflect the other things I have been hearing about this tour.

  4. Rich October 30, 2007 at 2:19 am

    I flew from Utah to Charlotte for opening night so as a real fan it is hard for me to be to critical. I will be attending the show in LA on the 20th as well as San Diego and Las Vegas. I thought that this was one of the best shows that I have ever seen! As I said, it is hard to be critical but I can honestly say that the band stayed true to what the real fans have been waiting for and I think that is the point. I don’t think that the band is really expecting to recruit a whole new legion of fans by playing songs that are over 23 years old! This to me is a great if not the greatest band giving back to the true fans that have stood by them through all of the transformations and waiting for the original. Keep that in mind when you see them. I thought the sound and theatrics were perfect for what we expected. And by the way, i can say that I know of a few new fans (my boys)12, 11, and 7 years old!

  5. RealRockNews October 30, 2007 at 6:40 am

    Thanks for that first-hand account, Rich.

    I just love hearing that your boys have become VH fans since it should help keep “real rock” alive into the next generation.

  6. barre October 30, 2007 at 10:59 am

    larry must be a fan of another band trying to put vh down and make himself feel better about his – i saw van halen at the second show in philly , and they were fantastic , i have seen them atleast 20 times in the past and also followed vh with sammy and daves solo stuff and it would rank in the top 5 shows ive ever seen by any of them , they were right on , dave after many years of high pitched screams has caught up to him ,but he still did a great job and sang more than usual . lets stop nit picking about the downsides of a band that can out- rock anyone , i’m sure you act and perform the same way you did 20 years ago !?! right – it was well worth the money – in fact it was priceless

  7. Mike November 2, 2007 at 12:03 pm

    I saw the show last night at the Verizon Center and thought it was very good. I did miss Michael Anthony’s energy and I wasn’t blown away by any on stage dynamics and yes the sound production had a few issues, but hearing the classic stuff made up for everything. I agree none of us are quite the same as we were 20 years ago. Don’t over think it ! It’s classic Rock, just sit back and enjoy, and be glad you had the opportunity to see the boys together one more (maybe last) time.

  8. Stephen November 5, 2007 at 5:28 pm

    Around 95% of the reviews out there are very positve..Can’t wait until they come to San Diego in a few weeks.

  9. private dancer November 7, 2007 at 8:03 am

    I saw the show at the IZOD Center in NJ, Larry what the hell are you talking about, this show was solid, no feedback what so ever. Eddie had a problem with one of his monitors but he took care of that (if you were there you know what I’m talking about ;)). The show was true, and new and old fans were pleased. I thought the tickets were pricey but after the show it didn’t matter, they kept me satisfied…..

  10. Rich November 11, 2007 at 6:57 pm

    Oh my god what an amazing feeling it was seeing the world’s greatest band again!!! I have been waiting 23 years for this moment and I was not dissappointed by any of the 3 shows I witnessed (Mohegan, Boston and Worcester, MA). I am now a High School teacher and have certainly changed a lot since seeing the Worcester Tour in 1984 (Hot For Teacher certainly has new meaning), but I can still judge a great show and you will truly witness greatness when/if you see the 2007 tour. This is hard rock the way it was meant to be played!!! Watching so many parents with their kids was awesome, but watching the band will blow you away. So what if Wolfie has no stage presence; he plays well and hits the high notes on the background vocals. I only hope they stay together and produce new music following this tour…

    Rock on,

    Rich from Cambridge

  11. Jeff M November 15, 2007 at 9:40 am

    Saw the mighty VH in Indianapolis and it was awesome. The sound was solid and hearing all those great tunes I grew up with was priceless!! Eddie was as good as I’ve ever seen him. It was great to see him sober and enjoying himself. DLR is one of the best frontmen in rock history. Alex was a beast on the drums and Wolfie was the real deal. He would not be out there if he wasn’t. I am going to the 12/30 Vegas show and can’t wait. I am glad these icons of rock could put the egos aside and pull this off for the fans who absolutly deserve it.

  12. Gerry November 28, 2007 at 11:29 am

    I saw the true MONSTERS of rock at Cox Arena S.D., I not sure what concert or planet Larry was at. These guys gave me shivers it was so unreal. Diamond Dave, Eddie and Wolf the man cooked.

    Gerry

  13. Mark November 30, 2007 at 11:42 pm

    Well the guys don’nt do it like they did in the the old days. Alex does’nt pound a bottle of Jack before your eyes. EVH does’nt jump off stacks of Marshall Amps and slide on his knees across the stage. David Lee Roth does’nt jump ten feet in the air with double scissors kicks or jump off Al’s drum set with hand to toe splits. There is no general admission,stand where you please. Nor is there any forty foot fire balls coming out of the stage with earth shaking explosions! Yes those were the days let me tell you. You left that show soaking WET!! But I will say the Guys still ROCK OUT. I do not know many bands that can play with such a furry as those guys do. Do not miss the show if you get the chance. VAN-HALEN thanks for the 2007-2008 TOUR and THE MUSIC! ROCK and ROLL Guys YOU ARE THE BEST!!

  14. JB December 31, 2007 at 12:31 am

    Las Vegas (MGM GRAND) 12-28-07.

    Eddie and Wolfgang Van Halen really enjoyed playing for the crowd and rocked!!!! As for David Lee Roth, well let’s say he’s trying … Alex, he rocked too. All and all,the good ol’ boys still have it and what a site to see! The sound at the MGM GRAND Arena was awesome. Pay the money and go, it’s probably your last chance.

    JB

  15. hannah January 29, 2008 at 10:21 pm

    saw them in san antonio. they rocked!!! nothing sloppy about that show. Loved what dlr said on stage, “we’re back….three quarters original, and one quarter inevitable.”

  16. xjug1987 February 11, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    They must have been awesome back prior to DLR’s departure. I’ve seen them 3X w/Sammy, and though the 1st time was great, the last 2 were crap. Especially 2004 where fat Sam and Dumpy Mike looked like over weight, middle aged grandparents. I’m 46 and I go to a show like this to relive my youth, not be reminded of my age. However, last night in Atlanta was different. This was a weathered band, of guys in their 50’s that knew how to give 110%. No kidding, DLR can’t sing like he used to, and the antics were cartoon DLR, his cheesy grin, is not the DLR from album covers like VHII, however there was no way to conceal his genuine joy of being where he was. Dave knows how to put on a show and gave it his all. Ed gave it all, and Alex, is the Eddie Van Halen of Drums. He really gives everything he has. Wolfgang was very good on bass, and brought color, fun and a new “youth” to the band. Many a family in Atlanta brought their kids to see the show, and guess what, so did Eddie. That’s cool. All told it was a great show and great event. The sound guys are in big trouble cuz they killed the sound… during Eddies 20 min solo. Not a good career move. Its the Van Halen I always wanted to see 20 years ago, but waited 20 years to see. Entertainment money well spent. Thank you guys for keeping your issues at bay, and giving the folks that made you, a memory of why we said, “Holy Crap” who’s this, the first time we heard Van Halen on the radio when we were in high school. Whew, great show.

  17. Gary Cherone February 16, 2008 at 3:50 am

    They suck ass. What used to be a great band has turned into a parody of itself. I saw the Sam and Dave tour in Denver, and Dave was wheezing – he couldn’t sing then and he can’t sing now. You want to talk about Fat Sam and Mike? Have you looked at (notso) “Little Wolfie”? The kids a tub – if that gave you a reminder of your youth for the positive – Yikes. And talk about HomoErotic! How about Ed riding the inflatable microphone on stage bounging up and down on it. I guess he misses Valerie more than he lets on.

    These guys have been pimping out the fans for years going back and forth with band members. Screw em. I’m never buying another ticket or CD. Who wants to see Crippled Al, Sober Ed, Fat Wolfie and Bald Dave sing Dance the Night Away?

    Sheep – that’s who!

  18. Gary Cherone’s Mom April 30, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    Yes, the band was much better when my Gary was singing … I love you son!

  19. jeff June 4, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    saw them last night in Oakland Eddie, Alex , Wolfgang got it going still Eddie can play like he allways has freaking awsome they sounded great , rocked it hard .But David lee you suck He looks like a strung out tweeker. look like he was a leader in a parade swinging his baton around. he should go back to the circus. The band is still rocking

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