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[guitard]

Date: June 16, 2004
City: Philadelphia, PA
Venue: Wachovia Center
Setlist:

1. Jump
2. Runaround
3. Humans Being
4. Up For Breakfast
5. Bass Solo (Michael)
6. Somebody Get Me A Doctor
7. Poundcake
8. It's About Time
9. Drum Solo (Alex)
10. Top Of The World
11. Unchained
12. Why Can't This Be Love
13. Eagles Fly
14. Deeper Kind Of Love
15. Learning To See
16. Best Of Both Worlds
17. Guitar Solo (Eddie)
18. Dreams
19. Ain't Talking 'Bout Love
20. Right Now
21. You Really Got Me
22. Panama
23. When It's Love

Length: N/A
Format: N/A
Menu's (Authored): N/A
VIDEO Quality/Generation: N/A
For multiple angle shows, shot where?: N/A
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Comments: N/A

[Vince G.]

Here's some, just in from vhforums.com:

Heeeere we go!

I was sitting 2nd row, in section 105...across the far side from the stage, a little to Mikey's side.

Set List: Same as the past few night

Crowd: Looked packed to me. If it wasn't sold out, it was damn near close. I could only see a few empty seats here and there...and people were moving around, so it's hard to tell if they were empty, or temporarily abandonded.

Sound: On the money. The only times I had any trouble hearing Eddie was during the keyboard songs, where they had to balance out his guitar with the keys...but when the solo came along, never had a problem.

Eddie: Great tonight. I heard the recording of Greensboro, and if he played at 70% (for example) then, he was at like 99% tonight. I only remember hearing one mistake, and that was at the end of Top of the World's solo...and he made a face about it. His solo section was much more coherent than the one from Greensboro too...did some Little Guitars, Mean Street, Cathedral, Eruption, 316..the usuals...and a bunch of other cool jamming stuff.
I didn't feel he overused the sustainer either. But i guess with Eddie, he finds a new toy, finds every concievable way to use it, and pretty much moves on..
.like the Trans-Trem for example.

Sammy: was on fire tonight. I pray to God I have the energy he does when i'm almost 60!! And I think I feel bad for people seeing him at the end of the tour...cause i don't know how he can keep singing/screaming like this every night!! Amazing! Definelty high on the whole experinece tonight

Al: Same ol' Al. right on the money. My only complaint would be that maybe his solo could have been a little more interesting. I kinda liked what he did during the 3 tour.

Mikey: as usual, what's understood doesn't need to be discussed. He's the man. I love how much he's singing this tour!

The Band as a Whole: I would say they sounded 10x better at least then when I heard them on the 3 tour. The energy was just electric in the place...you could feel the love on stage.

Highlights: The rumblings before Jump begins, the whole stadium singing "Shine On" in Humans Being, Right Now (am I the only one who got misty eyed during this one...especially when the sceens said "Right Now...Eddie is feeling Great"??)

Other funny bits:

-Someone threw Sammy a Yankees jersey that he put on...and got booed for it...so he fell to his knees and hung his head in shame before throwing it back to the person.
-"SPONGE BOB IS IN THE HOUSE!!"

Overall, I'd say that the things people were most concerned with seem to be ironing themselves out as the nights go by. I would like to see the set list vary up some as the tour progresses, but if every show is as amazing as tonights, i don't think any of us will have room to complain.

I heard opening night, and I was there tonight. Granted there's a bias for not having been at the openign show, but I think just on a musical level, this show was AMAZING.

VAN HALEN IS BACK BABY!!!!

-Jarred "JC" Matthes

And....

Ok here it goes! First just a quick correction for Chroma. Mike and Ed did in fact come out in Philly sports team apparel, but the Flyers shirt wasn't personalized. It was a #42 Robert Esche shirt. Small correction, but just wanted to get it out there.

First a quick shot out to all my Philly cats that I chilled with before the show. Bob5150, VanMan, Mark (you're cool as shit dude!) and Mike Kramer (thanks for the beer!) Also to my good friend Brian Elliot who traveled all the way from Ireland with his girlfriend to attend the Hersey, Philly and East Ruthersford show. I'm sure I'll be over this flu by next weekend so we'll have a pint then for sure! Oh, and I almost forgot Empyre44. Dude you fuckin rock! We gotta hang more often when you're in town

Now to the show! The sound was fucking EXCELLENT! The setlist was the same as the last three nights, but I was disappointed one fucking bit. Ed was fucking all over the place, and yea he did miss a few notes tonight. Nothing major though, and it was actually cool to see. The guy was just up and down the stage doing jumps, high fivin fans, signin shit, I mean just doing everything.

As far as gear goes, Ed played the Wolf that he's been seen with the last few shows. He whipped out the 5150 for Up For Breakfast, but I gotta admit it looks weird with that neck on there. I couldnt read it, but it sure as heck looked like a Fender neck to me. His amp heads were hidden back stage so I'll just say he played a 5150 II. Whatever it was it totally had the brown sound all over it.

Highlights: During Ed's solo he was doing the Mean Street intro and added a new part to it. It's hard to describe but both his hands were over the neck. Kinda like what Dave's guitarist does during his solo spot. Cept Ed was doing some weird percussive stuff with his tapping, and it sounded unreal!

Also during his solo he got a little emotional but he didnt cry. He did say this into the mic though, "Thank you for saving my life, you guys are the best!" That was a clear message to us his fans, and it really touched me. He was smoking though here and there, but it's his life so whatever.

Alex's solo was great as well. To me it sounded like he opened with the beginning of Hot For Teacher. I mentioned it to Brian after the show and he thought I might be on to something. It sure as heck sounded like it to me.

Mike's solo. One word: LOUD

Seeing Sammy up in the rafters for Dreams was pretty bad assed too, and the man's voice is unbelievable. I figure he's got atleast five or more tours left in him, maybe more!

Lowlights:

Eagles Fly/Deeper Kind Of Love. I happen to like both songs, but they just bored me tonight. I'd love to see something different here, no disrespect to Sam.

The lowest point of the night happened way before the concert started. It was POURING out there tonight. We did our best to hang in there and chill outside for a bit, but it was just to bad out there. I've been battling the flu for days now, and standing in the rain tonight isn't gonna help. We hung in there though and had a few adult beverages before the gig. Can't blame the guys for the weather.

One last thing. I gotta give props to ILAA. I scored row 9 Eddie's side! I was just in awe all fucking not. ILAA really came thru for me, and I had the best time. The laminates suck however, but I'll still keep it for the memories. I also didn't get a free shirt or anything, but it was never promised anyways. I ordered thinking I'd get anywhere between rows 10-20, and I got row 9! Thank you ILAA!!

[rebel]

Quote: Originally posted by Vince G.:
Eddie: Great tonight. I heard the recording of Greensboro, and if he played at 70% (for example) then, he was at like 99% tonight. I only remember hearing one mistake, and that was at the end of Top of the World's solo...and he made a face about it. His solo section was much more coherent than the one from Greensboro too...did some Little Guitars, Mean Street, Cathedral, Eruption, 316..the usuals...and a bunch of other cool jamming stuff.
I didn't feel he overused the sustainer either. But i guess with Eddie, he finds a new toy, finds every concievable way to use it, and pretty much moves on..
.like the Trans-Trem for example.
Was there ever any doubt really? I'm sure he had some "live concert rust" to blow off, but you know it won't take him long to really get it rolling.....I'm so excited, 8/5 will never get here!!!! :yell:

[Chris UK]

I didn't think the sustainer was a new toy? I'm sure he was using one on the 98 tour, listen to 'A Year to the Day'.

Chris.

[Muroh73]

I was at Hershey and this show and I have to say this show just crushed Hershey. The band and the sound was just amazing and they were LOUD. The band did get Ain't Talkin Bout Love right this time, haha. Sammy was all over the place wearing everything thrown up on the stage (Yankees shirt, Eagles hat, bunch of other shirts). Ed and Mike had the Philly sports shirts on for When It's Love. Mike had a Thome jersey and Ed with the Esche shirt. Only downpoint like was said before was the weather and having to run through the lots to prevent getting soaked (didnt work). Luckily I bought the 5150 shirt and got that on in the bathroom. Anyone going tonight or the rest of the tour you will not be disappointed.

[guitard]

I've been reading all the reviews at VHLinks and word has it that the Philly shows absolute rocked.

One guy went to Hershey and then both Philly shows and he said the last Philly show was the best so far.

I think the first boot DVD I shoot for is the second Philly show.

Randy

[Anonymous]

Was in Sec. 4, row 13 (Mike's side) and it was friggin' awesome!!! To be honest after hearing some of the reviews from the other shows (including those ripping Ed about the sustainer and his goofing around on the solo) I was nervous about what I'd hear. . . but no worries!! As they show went on they got better and better. The 2nd half of the show was tight!!

Same highlights for myself-

- Before "Eagles" when Sammy was talking about doing all of Eddie's solo's, he snuck up behind him and ripped off the first 4 chords from Runnin' With the Devil (at least that's what it sounded like)

- Seeing Eddie dance around, jumping and just generally having a good time.

- Sammy appearing in the rafters to sing "Dreams"

- Eddie's "thank you" before his solo.

- MA just going nuts with the JD bass- it was tight and loud!!!

Can probably go on, but y'all probably already know. It was what I had waited 9 years for. . . totally worth every cent.

BTW- couple of other quickies:

Sammy's "thank you" and him talking about what a humbling experience it was to see the response they were getting was great.

The "Eddie" chants during the solo really got him going- and he seemed genuinely moved by the resonse he got.

Finally- did anyone else think we were getting more in the 5 seconds after the stage lights went off and the arena lights came on? ;)