Van Halen concert review (in progress)
February 18th, 2008 by Wade Tatangelo in NewsVan Halen w/Ky-Mani Marley
Mon., Feb. 18, St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa
I’m at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa tonight attempting real time updates on the Van Halen concert. My Internet connection is shaky so I can’t promise much but we’ll see. I’ll post a full review later tonight under a separate title.
7:30 p.m. UPDATE:
Opener Ky-Mani Marley (son of reggae legend Bob Marley) took the stage shortly before 7:30 and had the crowd roaring when he launched into his dad’s killer ballad “No Woman, No Cry.” Ky-Mani, backed by a full band that includes a pair of female singers, went into rap mode for the compelling single “The March.” Culled from his new album Radio, it’s a catchy number that manages to condemn war while supporting our soldiers.
It’s now 7: 45 and Ky-Mani has launched into his dad’s hit “I Shot the Sheriff.” Like “No Woman,” it’s a close facsimile of the original. Looks like that’s it for his set, up come the lights. Time for me to leave the laptop in the press box that’s located only a few feet beneath the rafters and check out Van Halen from my seat on the lower level. I’ll be back to blog in a few.
9:05 UPDATE:
The lights went down at 8:30 sharp and the crowd jumped to its feet thanks to an offstage guitar solo by Eddie Van Halen. The axe man then appeared front and center with David Lee Roth soon appearing on a walkway above the stage singing “You Really Got Me.” Drummer Alex Van Halen is positioned in the back with bassist Wolfie Van Halen (Eddie’s 16 year-old son) off to the side.
So far, the bad blood between Roth and Eddie appears nonexistent. The two men hug and point to each other during hits like “Running with the Devil” and “Beautiful Girls.” It’s just past 9 p.m. and Eddie’s now unleashing a scorching solo with Roth egging him on. VH’s original singer sounds a bit rough but the vintage voice is definitely recognizable and by no means shot.
Eddie’s playing might be as good as before. I overheard a Forum employee mention the guitar great had the flu but it sure doesn’t appear that way. Credit to Wolfie, he’s holding his own just fine.
10:02 UPDATE:
Roth, sweaty and shirtless under an open jacket that reveals washboard abs, continues with the charisma cranked to 11 – but his voice gets raspier as the evening progresses. Maybe the sound man has wisely lowered the vocals on the mix, he clearly can’t be heard at times over the exploits of Eddie, Alex and Wolfie. Eddie’s finger-tapping fierceness is awe-inspiring. At this point in the concert, though, it’s getting repetitive. The virtuoso never played with feeling and there’s only so much shredding you can’t take before even the most technically-difficult accomplishments sound pedestrian.
The crowd, which appears to have filled each of the Forum’s 20,000 seats, remains on its feat and elated. They sing along and pump their fists dutifully to faves like “(Oh) Pretty Woman,†“And the Cradle Will Rock†and “Hot For Teacher.†Even Alex is left alone behind his gigantic drum kit for an extended solo, the audience largely remains standing, cheering and hollering. Meanwhile I can’t help but check my watch. Roth is now center stage by himself picking an acoustic guitar and offering a way introduction to “Ice Cream Man.†Yawn. He loses the crowd, then mentions smoking joints and the concertgoers are back applauding.
10:08 UPDATE:
After continuing his story and revealing it’s about a Saturday night in 1972 — and then waxing nostalgic about an ex, Roth finally performs “Ice Cream Man.” The rest of the band comes back on stage and leaps in at the exact same point they did on the original version from their ‘78, self-titled debut record. My interest in the show is waning considerably.
10:16 UPDATE:
Roth’s dusty pipes can’t carry “Panama†but at this point in the show the crowd is mouthing every word at such a level it’s irrelevant. Eddie’s solos still are stinging but the sameness is bordering on annoying. Van Halen has performed the same setlist ever since they started their much ballyhooed reunion tour last autumn. Tonight’s is no different. After “Panama†comes Eddie’s time to put his naked torso under the spotlights and engage in a little autoeroticism with his beloved six-string. He starts off slow, with a couple of distorted blues licks but then comes the trademark finger-tapping and, yep, you guessed it, here’s “Eruption.â€
10:29 UPDATE
Eddie just wrapped his outsized guitar solo with a marathon finger workout up and down the fret board. Dudes thrust devil-horns. Wild cheers. I’m gathering my things. Here comes Roth and co. with “Ain’t Talking About Love.†Time to pack up the laptop. I’ll catch the “Jump†encore on the way to the exit.
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February 19th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
You’re an ass.
February 19th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
We were at the concert and frankly i was worried about Eddie. He seemed very disoriented and unstable. The great guitar solos weren’t his usual caliber. Glad to hear it was possibly the flu, there seems to be an epidemic here. We were hoping he wasn’t messed up on drugs or alcohol. David Lee Roths high energy definitely carried the show along with Alex. These guys didn’t stop. Wolf did a great job for his first concert tour and the fact that he is..16. All we could think is what an experience for a 16 year old, to play classic rock on a live stage with such great artists. Wow. My heart was troubled when I realized that there was not a moment when Eddie Van Halen put his arm around Wolf and said, “I want you to meet my son, I am so proud of him.” Cmon Dad. All in all, great music but wanted to see a stronger, more present Eddie.
February 20th, 2008 at 7:42 am
I think VH is a great band but the sound system was terrible. The sound was the worst sound system out of every concert I have been to. I did a little research and found out the sound was terrible on the 4-5 shows I read about so it wasnt some fluke here in Tampa. I dont understand how the guy reviewing the show^ could even tell if eddie was hitting half the notes in his solos-the sound was that bad. You couldnt tell what was going on half the time-and I am very familiar with Van Halen songs. Eddie wasnt even playing his solos like they are played it was like the easy version-I guess he was sick? I figured VH would have one of the best sounding PA(sound) systems around but it wasnt the case. I believe this sound system was rented and it just didnt cut it for a arena show. They probably sold their sound system after they split up years ago. I know I keep going on about how bad the sound was but its just such a let down because had they had a decent PA(sound system) the show could have been so good because VH are great musicians. O- did I mention the opening act was BOB Marleys grandson??????? It was really bad.
February 20th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Actually, it was Bob Marley’s son. And not bad at all in my opinion.
February 21st, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Thanks Mr. Shmo, for telling it like it truly was. The only time the sound was good was when I had my fingers in my ears to filter out the noise. (If only I hadn’t forgotten my HEAROS, I’ll never leave home without them again) Any one who gives this show high ratings is confusing Nostalgic VH Loyalty with the sad reality that they didn’t care enough for their fans to make the sound great. I’ve seen some great Rock bands that, frankly, really stink live. (Aerosmith of the late 70’s, when they were usually wasted. And Bob Dylan of the ——– insert date here, to name a couple.) I like VH’s albums as much as any one. I saw their first tour when they were an opening act and they were one of the greatest bands touring at the time, they literally stole the show from their headliner every time. To give them any kudos for this performance is a mistake. Come on Van Halen, we deserve better for being loyal fans and supporting you through all your trials and self induced tribulations.