michaelomiya
08-10-2004, 12:45 AM
OK, there are reviews of VH's reunion tour all over the internet. However, I'd give an Anderson-homer's perspective on the tour, EVH, his tone and his playin', on our lil' ol forum here.
Well, we drove out from LA on friday night, arrived at Ballys shortly after midnight. Immediately I spot guys sporting VH t's (old and new) in the lobby. As all of us know, after seeing a show, you've ALWAYS got an opinion, and these guys were no different. Without exception, everyone was commenting on how great the show was. Well, being the cynic and the "know it all" that I am, I immediately discounted these opinions as folks who never saw VH in their "heyday" (like me:D ) OR they are starstruck fans. Whatever.
Let me also say that the Mandalay Bay events center is NO Forum, NO Staples, NO Pond, NO LA Convention Center, and NO Long Beach Arena (back in the 80's, all of the metal bands played LB!). No, the Mandalay Bay's acoustics ROCK all of these venues. First off the events center is only 12,000 seats. Maybe it's the PA (think Universal Amphitheater GOOD), maybe I needed more sleep after hanging at the Paris and MGM until 6AM. Whatever.
And the fans?!?! Well it reminded me of the KISS show at the Forum in July 1996 - first reunion show, and folks 30+ years old bringing their kids - it was a blast seeing youngsters (defined as anyone younger than me) rockin' to VH!! Everyone was psyched to see Eddie, Sam, Alex and Mikey. No...make that AMPED!
VH took the stage at 9PM and played until 11:10. There were 6 DLR tunes, including Aint Talkin bout Love, YRGM, Somebody Get Me a DR, Panama, Jump and UNCHAINED!!!! Eddie's tone was a lot drier, and much less effected than in the past "For Unlawful" (1991-93 including the promotional live RHRN tour), Balance (1995-96) and VHIII (1998) tours. In other words, his tone was robust w/ SIZZLE, it was "brown" and mid-rangey. No scooped out Recto or typical 5150 settings (ala Nu-metal) here. Damn nice and refreshing. Album-wise, think "VH2", rather than "VH1" or "FW" tone. Definitely phase or flange, but little echo or 'verb, and very Marshall-esque.
I've bashed EVH for his recent business transgressions, but EVH DELIVERED on tone that night. The tone he had on 8/7 and the tour in general (based on boots), has been very 1979/80.
Eddie's playing was fairly accurate until after his solo spot. By fairly accurate, I mean he was hitting most of the notes, but would be slightly out of tempo w/ Mike and Alex, or he'd play a couple wrong notes during the solos (Jump and Someone GMAD). But, y'know, from the time I first saw VH live at the LA Coliseum (the California World Music Festival in 1979 - I was a mere 12 years old) until say the Monsters of Rock tour in 1988 (also at the LA Coliseum) EVH has never really been that precise solo-wise. I've always thought that Eddie's live playing improved between 1991-1996 (Ernie Ball MM? who knows). Bottom line is that the guy likes flying and improvising. I always remind myself that VH ain't Rush (note-for-note replication of all songs), and that's what makes the VH concert such a unique experience - never know what you'll be getting!!;) Eddie was in good shape, doing several of his trademark mid-air, "running" splits. However, he never did a "running" split off Alex's riser. He was smoking, but only one cig during his solo, and he was drinking something out of a snapple bottle.
Now his solo was a session in wanking, and not the good kind. Consider about 3-4 minutes of wailing (controlled feedback) as he laid on the ground in front of one of his 5150 straight cabs (no longer prominently featuring the Peavey logo and replaced by a huge "EVH" - see pic below from Rutherford, NJ) as an intro?. In the past, say on Diver Down or the Fair Warning tours, he'd run through a medley of his signature solo pieces (mean street intro, little guitars, intruder, cathedral, spanish fly, women in love intro, closing w/ the tapping from eruption). Later on he'd incorporate the two handed tapping from the 1984 tour solo spot (plexi glass piece under the Barreta to hold the guitar top pointing at the ceiling, which he incorporated into the intros to "In N Out" and "Judgement Day") and the lullaby from the 5150 tour, which would reappear as 316, also from "For Unlawful". But on this night his "medley" (after the feedback exercise) was a poor version of "women in love" intro, the chorus of "dance the night away" into a 2 handing hammering exercise that was out of tempo and off key. Ed said onstage that this was a "work in process". Whatever. It pretty much sucked the energy out of the audience. 13 minutes later, Sam, Alex and Mike kicked into "top of the world", "aint talkin bout love", "right now" and closed w/ "jump", "panama" and "when its love" for their encore.
http://members.cox.net/eddyrox/EVH2.jpg
The crowd was into every song. I was screaming soooo loud during "Unchained" I went deaf for a few seconds:eek: :confused:.
Gearwise, that Axxess BS2's gotta be working, 'cause his MXR flanger and phase 90 (stock) were really prominent in his mix. AND, he played the new EVH Charvel (black and yellow) on only the new tune "Up for Breakfast". The rest of the show was his Tobacco burst Peavey Wolfgang. Did I say that his tone flat out ROCKED?! Well if I didn't, I'll say it again, "EVH's tone FLAT OUT ROCKED!!!". Equipment? Peavey Wolfgang - basswood back and maple top, maple neck. What was interesting was that I noticed a neck plate on the back of this particular Wolfie. Anyone who owns one knows that the production models have no plate, with screws drilled right into the body and neck. Ed also played without the Nady wireless, opting for a cord, and had that cord holder screwed into the body, which is located just above the bottom strap lock, extending like 6 inches away from the guitar and keeps EVH from tripping over the cord. This is a piece he debuted on the VHIII tour. (this pic is from 8/6, Friday's show at the Mandalay Bay)
http://members.cox.net/eddyrox/EVH1.jpg
Great show, inspite of all the "critical" little miscues. I'll be at Staples on the 19th for Van Halen's "homecoming". If it's anything like Vegas, my senses will be overloaded, and ears experiencing permanent damage!!! Check out Eddie now if you can. While he ain't perfect, he IS the MAN who started/innovated sooooo many aspects of guitars and playing, much of what we take for granted in 2004.
Well, we drove out from LA on friday night, arrived at Ballys shortly after midnight. Immediately I spot guys sporting VH t's (old and new) in the lobby. As all of us know, after seeing a show, you've ALWAYS got an opinion, and these guys were no different. Without exception, everyone was commenting on how great the show was. Well, being the cynic and the "know it all" that I am, I immediately discounted these opinions as folks who never saw VH in their "heyday" (like me:D ) OR they are starstruck fans. Whatever.
Let me also say that the Mandalay Bay events center is NO Forum, NO Staples, NO Pond, NO LA Convention Center, and NO Long Beach Arena (back in the 80's, all of the metal bands played LB!). No, the Mandalay Bay's acoustics ROCK all of these venues. First off the events center is only 12,000 seats. Maybe it's the PA (think Universal Amphitheater GOOD), maybe I needed more sleep after hanging at the Paris and MGM until 6AM. Whatever.
And the fans?!?! Well it reminded me of the KISS show at the Forum in July 1996 - first reunion show, and folks 30+ years old bringing their kids - it was a blast seeing youngsters (defined as anyone younger than me) rockin' to VH!! Everyone was psyched to see Eddie, Sam, Alex and Mikey. No...make that AMPED!
VH took the stage at 9PM and played until 11:10. There were 6 DLR tunes, including Aint Talkin bout Love, YRGM, Somebody Get Me a DR, Panama, Jump and UNCHAINED!!!! Eddie's tone was a lot drier, and much less effected than in the past "For Unlawful" (1991-93 including the promotional live RHRN tour), Balance (1995-96) and VHIII (1998) tours. In other words, his tone was robust w/ SIZZLE, it was "brown" and mid-rangey. No scooped out Recto or typical 5150 settings (ala Nu-metal) here. Damn nice and refreshing. Album-wise, think "VH2", rather than "VH1" or "FW" tone. Definitely phase or flange, but little echo or 'verb, and very Marshall-esque.
I've bashed EVH for his recent business transgressions, but EVH DELIVERED on tone that night. The tone he had on 8/7 and the tour in general (based on boots), has been very 1979/80.
Eddie's playing was fairly accurate until after his solo spot. By fairly accurate, I mean he was hitting most of the notes, but would be slightly out of tempo w/ Mike and Alex, or he'd play a couple wrong notes during the solos (Jump and Someone GMAD). But, y'know, from the time I first saw VH live at the LA Coliseum (the California World Music Festival in 1979 - I was a mere 12 years old) until say the Monsters of Rock tour in 1988 (also at the LA Coliseum) EVH has never really been that precise solo-wise. I've always thought that Eddie's live playing improved between 1991-1996 (Ernie Ball MM? who knows). Bottom line is that the guy likes flying and improvising. I always remind myself that VH ain't Rush (note-for-note replication of all songs), and that's what makes the VH concert such a unique experience - never know what you'll be getting!!;) Eddie was in good shape, doing several of his trademark mid-air, "running" splits. However, he never did a "running" split off Alex's riser. He was smoking, but only one cig during his solo, and he was drinking something out of a snapple bottle.
Now his solo was a session in wanking, and not the good kind. Consider about 3-4 minutes of wailing (controlled feedback) as he laid on the ground in front of one of his 5150 straight cabs (no longer prominently featuring the Peavey logo and replaced by a huge "EVH" - see pic below from Rutherford, NJ) as an intro?. In the past, say on Diver Down or the Fair Warning tours, he'd run through a medley of his signature solo pieces (mean street intro, little guitars, intruder, cathedral, spanish fly, women in love intro, closing w/ the tapping from eruption). Later on he'd incorporate the two handed tapping from the 1984 tour solo spot (plexi glass piece under the Barreta to hold the guitar top pointing at the ceiling, which he incorporated into the intros to "In N Out" and "Judgement Day") and the lullaby from the 5150 tour, which would reappear as 316, also from "For Unlawful". But on this night his "medley" (after the feedback exercise) was a poor version of "women in love" intro, the chorus of "dance the night away" into a 2 handing hammering exercise that was out of tempo and off key. Ed said onstage that this was a "work in process". Whatever. It pretty much sucked the energy out of the audience. 13 minutes later, Sam, Alex and Mike kicked into "top of the world", "aint talkin bout love", "right now" and closed w/ "jump", "panama" and "when its love" for their encore.
http://members.cox.net/eddyrox/EVH2.jpg
The crowd was into every song. I was screaming soooo loud during "Unchained" I went deaf for a few seconds:eek: :confused:.
Gearwise, that Axxess BS2's gotta be working, 'cause his MXR flanger and phase 90 (stock) were really prominent in his mix. AND, he played the new EVH Charvel (black and yellow) on only the new tune "Up for Breakfast". The rest of the show was his Tobacco burst Peavey Wolfgang. Did I say that his tone flat out ROCKED?! Well if I didn't, I'll say it again, "EVH's tone FLAT OUT ROCKED!!!". Equipment? Peavey Wolfgang - basswood back and maple top, maple neck. What was interesting was that I noticed a neck plate on the back of this particular Wolfie. Anyone who owns one knows that the production models have no plate, with screws drilled right into the body and neck. Ed also played without the Nady wireless, opting for a cord, and had that cord holder screwed into the body, which is located just above the bottom strap lock, extending like 6 inches away from the guitar and keeps EVH from tripping over the cord. This is a piece he debuted on the VHIII tour. (this pic is from 8/6, Friday's show at the Mandalay Bay)
http://members.cox.net/eddyrox/EVH1.jpg
Great show, inspite of all the "critical" little miscues. I'll be at Staples on the 19th for Van Halen's "homecoming". If it's anything like Vegas, my senses will be overloaded, and ears experiencing permanent damage!!! Check out Eddie now if you can. While he ain't perfect, he IS the MAN who started/innovated sooooo many aspects of guitars and playing, much of what we take for granted in 2004.