The VH Trade Site Forums Archives

[Scott Roberts]

I've wiped out all old polls since they're basically useless without the actual polls attached! Here's a question to start out this forum again from scratch:

Now that the tour is well underway, what's your overall opinion of it based on listening to boots or attending concerts?

This includes Ed's performance as a guitarist, Sammy's performance as a vocalist, and the band's performance as a group; the setlist and length of shows; cities played and tour itinerary; PR and interviews; and backstage experience (if applicable).

[TheFish]

I had a blast last Thursday in St. Paul. It was actually kinda surreal!!!
9th row Dead center!! 4*
Eddie was OK. Let's get over this people. Eddie is NOT the same player he was even 6 years ago! He may never be! Before the flaming starts, realize, this guy IS my favorite player ALL-TIME!
Al is ON FIRE!!!!!!!
Mike is the MAN!!
Sammy still rocks!
The funny part of the whole night was some of us COMPARING goose bumps during the show!!!! :eek:
I can't wait to see them again. Hopefully we won't have to deal with another Greatest Hits set for awhile!
Be there, or...., shut your fucking mouth!!!!! :cool:

[Anonymous]

I was torn between "could be better" and "poor", but had to go with poor in the end.

I think it's a mediocre setlist... compared to the one we got in 1998, this is lame.
I don't like any of the new songs.
Opening with Jump and Closing with When It's Love strikes me as just plain wrong.
The whole thing with Wolfie seems really gimmicky to me.
I don't like the newer, sloppier EVH. The whole band sounded a lot tighter on the III tour, to my ears.
We shouldn't have an opener at this point; we should have a 3 hour set like Rush and Dream Theater have been giving their fans.

The only thing that's actually impressed me with this tour, to be honest, is Sammy's vocal performance. I bash the guy on a pretty regular basis, but he is admitablly in great shape. When I first heard the Greensboro show, my first reaction was "Holy shit, Sam sounds better than he did on RHRN!" Unfortunately, the rest of the band has fallen short of expectation...

[Dr. Reynolds]

KC, MO. 7/26/2004 Took my 13 yr. old son there. His first VH show. This kid had a BLAST. Oh... so did I.
Alex's drum solo was so "freckin'" long. Kicked ass.....
Sammy is still the same. I thought he was a raper at the start. The Hip-hop-rap-hat????
Mike kicked too. He sang like a chap. on SBGMA Dr. Sweet...
Eddie... the great Guitar hero. that new solo. Not the same, but hey!!! Gotta change sometimes. It's not the 80's anymore.........no?
Wolfy on stage was great!!!!!!I was hoping a solo from him, huh? Farther like son. learn from the best....he's next.

This 2004 tour kick ass 100%. That's my opion ........
Hope everybody has a super great time .... as we did.

[spanked55]

I'm diggin' it!

Set-list: Cool. Don't really care to hear the Roth stuff.. it wouldnt be the same anyway, right???

Eddie: Something's up with Ed. It's been talked about around here alot... he's off... he's trying new stuff... he's definately a different player. Too much sustainer!!

The other three guys are SOLID. Sammy sounds great... his voice is really excellent.

I'm enjoying it while they're back.. who knows what will happen from here! ;)

[TUNESMITH]

guitarfreak, i agree 100%, couldnt have said it any better myself.
cept for the new songs, which i like, everything else was right on the money.

think ed is spending a lil too much time painting guitars? j/k

[VHLIVE]

I personally like to new Tour. Sammy sounds better than he has ever sounded. Mike is rock solid. Alex never has a bad night and was nothing less than amazing.

EDDIE........hmmm. Okay, I think Eddie is in a different place than he has ever been, both musically and personally. He seems to be concentrating on enjoying the live peformance more than hitting every note perfectly. I like the sloppy factor, great live feel. Makes Eddie seem human for a second...lol. He seems to be savoring every moment and the fact that he has Wolfie come out some nights is great. Saying that it is gimmiicky is heartless!!!!! Eddie has never smiled so much than he has on this tour.

As far as comparing it to the 1998 tour goes, I am trying to forget it. I am a fan of Gary Cherone and Extreme, but with Van Halen it was nothing more than a joke. Not a good match. Some good songs on that album, my personal favorite was DIRTY WATER DOG!!

I love the idea of having an evening with Van Halen, like Rush does. 3 Hours of nothing but Van Halen...AWESOME!!!!

Just my 2 cents worth

[mhnyr2000]

Admittedly I won't get to see it in person till Sept but from the 4 bootlegs I've listened to they've been incredible.I also admit Sammy could sing the phone book with Eddie playing guitar and I'd still think it was great

I love the fact that they are playing alot looser then they used to....especially Eddie.As far as the setlist goes they can't please everyone because there are so many songs.They'd have to play for 4 hours

[coolbeans9]

Took the kids to hershey to see them ..they rocked ....great show :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

[Big Bad Bill]

Gotta wait more than a month to see 'em live, but from the bootlegs I've heard, I'd rate them as "good" (though not their best ever even with Sam). :)

[Anonymous]

I am still sooooo happy they are back with Sammy. I've been waiting since that dark day in 1996 for this to happen and when the reunion rumors became reality, I couldn't believe it. I went on a road trip all the way from Des Moines, IA to Greensboro, NC for the opening night of the tour. It was great, but I was really disappointed they didn't have any surprises in the setlist (changes since the dress rehearsel show) other than Panama. I was really hoping for any of 5150, Summer Nights or Cabo Wabo, but especially 5150. I mean come on; it can't be 5150 Time without 5150!!!! And only two hours of VH? For crying out loud, that's not enough time for such an extensive catalog of hits.
But what's most annoying is how they're stuck in the same setlust night after night. How hard is it to change even one song per night? I liked how they alternated pairs of songs on the III tour. I like all of the songs they are playing, I just wish I could hear some other ones once in awhile. And it's time for some new Roth tunes. As much of a Van Hagar fan I am, Somebody Get Me A Doctor is one of my favorite parts of the show.

[chickencow]

I saw the 9/11/04 Fort Lauderdale concert. I enjoyed a "mini concert" about 15 - 20 feet in front of Eddie before the show (I bought a 5 Star Package from iloveallaccess.com) which was billed as a sound check. Thereafter, I enjoyed the actual concert from about the same vantage point.

That energy VH is so well known for was there for me. Watching Eddie play was thrilling. He seemed to be really enjoying himself. Like a kid having fun. It was hard not to get caught up in that vibe.

No matter how sloppy, rusty, etc., some may see his playing as at times, there were plenty of moments where he did things on his guitar that only Eddie seems to be able to to do so amazingly. If you're into Eddie's work as much as I am, the show was a total treat.

[Anonymous]

:thumb:
i will keep this short.i saw them in atlanta,it was awesome.i really dont know what everybody is talking about eddie being sloppy.iheard him mess up one time the whole night,i wish i was that good.i think his playing right know is as good as ever.the deal with the sustainer,its just a new toy for him.if you go and look at all the past releases,he gets a new toy every couple of albums.the phase 90 on the first couple of releases,the flanger on a couple of releases,a wah on a couple.i will say in closing i hope we hear one more full album of new stuff atleast...

[Yerfdog]

johnjroc wrote: :thumb:
i really dont know what everybody is talking about eddie being sloppy.iheard him mess up one time the whole night,i wish i was that good...

Well, I have many boots to date. I have seen them before (via boots), and I have seen them since. When I saw them in KC (my first ever VH show), Ed just plain sucked. I really can't explain it. I don't know whether he was drinking, or rusty, or whatever. I know my girlfriend and I paid $200 to see them live, and it was a HUGE disappointment. BTW, I've been a fan since 1980. I was basically crushed. I'm hoping it was just rust....

[Hawkstar97]

Ok---don't fret about your experience Yerfdog---I was at both St Louis shows just after yours--Those shows rocked--but yes...the guys may have been a bit rusty--went out to the Vegas show--I was still not disapointed at all--and mind you--I bought 5-star tix for these shows--row 1 in St Louis--row 2 in LV...but then--last Friday night--VH played here in Little Rock--to an embarrassingly small crowd (paper reported 5,494)--again--Row 1 seating--this show was very different than the others that I have been to on this tour. The guys look like they are in a groove of yester-years gone by. I am 49 and have gone to as many VH concerts as I could--even managing to see these guys do warm up for Black Sabbath (blew BS away on that one!)--so I really feel that I am not caught up in all of the hipe--but they have hit a new stride on this tour--back in form--you need to either make another show or lets find a video of one of these latest shows --seems that after Labor Day all the reviews that I have seen on different message boards all speak the same as my thoughts. Boy....if I ever find a copy of last Friday's concert--I will drive it up to you--break open a bottle of Cabo Wabo and we will watch the best concert of the tour!--keep the faith...things are happening all over on this tour!--Hawk