Van Halen in Seattle
By
A Headbanger,
Do You Bang Head?
Monday, December 10, 2007 @ 10:14 PM
At Key Arena
- advertisement -
Written by R. Scott Bailey
With 22 years since I last had an unsuccessful opportunity to see the original Van Halen, a lot has changed, but certainly not my love that classic Van Halen sound. So when tickets went on sale in the summer, I did it old school. I went to a ticket seller 2 and ½ hours before tickets went on sale. Since I live about 3 hours from Seattle and that fact that the concert was in December, is probably the reason that I was the only person in line at this location. I had stopped at another location before this one, and was given a ticket to hold my 4th place in line. I could come back 15 minutes before they went on sale and get my spot back. Well, for the Mighty Van Halen, 4th place in line was not good enough. So off I went to another location. There, I was first in a line of 1. This was perfect. 180 minutes later I had 2 tickets for Row 24 center stage floor seats. I can almost hear “Look at all the People Here TONIGHT!” ringing in my ears.
After waiting a few months…a few long months, the show date has arrived. And of course a snowstorm has hit the mountain pass between Seattle and me. So in my quest to make sure I get to the show, I take the long way around to Seattle, through Portland, Oregon. After 6 ½ hours of driving in the torrential rain, I arrived in Seattle the night before the show.
On Monday, I met my friends in front of Key Arena and we headed in. We immediately stood in line with the throngs of Van Halenites in line at the merch booth. With a small spattering of t-shirts and some expensive other merch, I decided on a nice retro logo shirt. (Side note: if you are buying a shirt at the show, make sure you go a little larger than normal. They are thin shirts that will shrink like you won’t believe.)
With concert time coming on soon, we got to our seats, hopeful that the opening band would be decent. With Ky-Mani Marley (son of Bob) selected as the opening band by a certain Mr. Roth, I knew it would be different. And after a 30 minute set of pretty good reggae from Mr. Marley, (including 2 of his dad’s songs), the crowd cheered him and his band as they thanked Van Halen and left the stage.
Only 30 minutes pass when the lights go down and the boys hit the stage to the opening crunch of “You Really Got Me”. Dave and Eddie bounded onto the stage like they have been doing this forever. The energy from the stage was electric. The band was in fine form. Dave and Ed are both in tremendous shape and Alex continues to pound the skins with gusto. You could almost feel the crown dissect Wolfgang’s presence on stage. Well, the kid plays well, and is a pretty good backup singer. I don’t know if he could fill the energy and stage persona of the missing Michael Anthony, but an admirable job was put forth. Keep up the good work kid.
Each song from the band was met with thunderous applause from the crowd. Some of these songs have not been heard live for a long time. Having Mr. Roth back is the shot in the ass the band needed. Not to bash Sammy Hagar, but the past 10 years worth of Van Halen has been emotion free and energy free. Sammy may be the first to admit that, too.
As the band tore through songs from Van Halen I in what started out as almost a chronological time trip through their albums (yes I said albums dammit), each song was a welcome breath of high energy rock. By the time Dave screamed out “Somebody Get Me a Doctor”, the crowd was in the palm of his hand. Eddie wailed on some blues riffs that Dave would vocalize and they seemed to be really enjoying some of that comradery that they made famous so long ago. Dave kicked, wailed and strutted, his vocals sounding better and his smile getting bigger with each song. Eddie The band played gem after gem of long missed Van Halen. My only down time for the show was the drum solo. I guess I am just not a fan of that certain throwback. But Eddie’s guitar solo was certainly welcome. After seeing a train wreck of a solo on the last tour with Sammy, Eddie really redeemed himself. A nice long flashy and energetic version of “Eruption” and other Van Halen pyrotechnics, made this solo one the crowd favorites, though it was unusually placed towards the end of the set.
Dave gave us a cool story about from his youth (ice cream trucks used to store beer, joints passed around and the high quality of 1970’s weed) to lead off “Ice Cream Man”. Dave is no slouch on the guitar and the intro was great. Eddie’s guitar screamed as he and the band joined in. I true highlight for me. Afterwards they lead into the hits from 1984. “Panama” was great to here again, but the surprise was getting to hear “I’ll Wait”.
They closed with “Jump”. The crowd ate it up and the band took its’ bow. I hoped for one more encore, maybe “Hear about it Later” or “Top Jimmy”, but alas no additional encore. They had played a long stretch of songs, and I can only hope this band continues to tour. I will be first in line for tickets again. Lets hope I don’t have to wait another 22 years.
For those of you that are not really Van Halen fans, do those of us that are a favor and do not attend. If you didn’t like them before this, you won’t like them now. They are, aside from a small line-up change and some age, the same Van Halen we all fell in love with so long ago.
Here is a set list of songs. They are not in order, but I think I hit all the songs from the show. Anyone who has a complete and correct set list, please let me know.
Blackhaart - 2/10/2008 7:35:35 AM Caught this act Wed in Des Moines. Just goes to show that VH's bass lines are so easy - even a 15 year old can play them. Wolfie looked he's done a little too much wolfing down of anything in sight. Hes gott a be 50lbs overweight - plus get the poor kid some accutane for Chrissakes.
Eddie and David looked pretty friggin toned for 50-something dudes and the personality of David and Eddies effortless playing were well worth the $125 per ticket for floor seats.
613laws - 1/19/2008 8:29:12 PM I have seen so many bands over the years (yea, though I talk shit I actually like music). However, the 3 best live muscial experiences I ever saw were (not in order): the Clash, 1983 tour, Stanley Clarke (solo bass gig, circa mid-1980s...I can't recall...I was stoned), and REM circa 1985...kicked ass for some popster mumblers. Yea...none were "metal", but that's 'cause metal is punk's retarded cousin.
Oclaf - 1/19/2008 12:02:38 PM best comeback, if you want to say its a comeback is Heaven and Hell, prices were not obscene and the show was THE best...dont know about the police, but i had seen them back in like 79 or 80, zenyetti mondolvi album or something like that? i then joined the service and became a total metal/rock head...the police were big in 83 when i came back from Japan...but they were overpriced like VH, Zep, all you idiots paying to see has beens, yea, i like the music, yea i play it all the time, but NO, i will not buy 100 dollar tickets to see what doesnt compare to what i saw originally...name a band and i have probably seen them, and not just rock...MUYA!!!
lochnessredcat - 1/18/2008 3:04:04 PM i remember reading in some interview after VH broke up and dave was telling the reporter, "now eddie can go around singing 'jump' all he wants" and now that poppy keyboard tune is an encore?!
superboy7 - 1/18/2008 2:47:47 PM This would be so much better if Mike was there. Him and Alex would just lock in and Mike's vocals are just as important as Ed's guitar, and Dave's personality. Wolfie looked stupid up there. The setlist is great, but this is a watered down version of the traveling carnival they were in their early days. Remember all the whiskey, naked chicks, midgits, and craziness? Those days are long gone............
dinkydao - 1/16/2008 1:12:52 PM i have to agree with Freon, and Scrapmetal, i always got a kick out of dave leaving the band because he thought eddie was getting to soft and keyboards driven and he (dave) did nothing but put out lame shit from that point on. I remember him saying about eddie that people wanted to see a guitar hero, not eddie playing keyboards, then he quit and does California girls remake (though the chicks were hot on the video- from when mtv actually played videos that is)
scrapmetal - 1/16/2008 2:58:23 AM Thank you Freon I agree for the most part.ALthough its nice to see some chestnuts from Women & Children,VH II & Fair Warning on the new tour,this is way too late in their careers to be relevant and the inclusion of Wolfie at Mike's expense is a disgrace.Reminds me of Plant & Page snubbing JP Jones on their 2 tours in the 90's.
FreonStud - 1/15/2008 4:59:15 PM Not a reunion tour without Michael. Eddie is a little Bitch. I see by the set list they are denying the Hagar era. Can't believe you guys are pumping up their retirement funds with your $100 ticket purchases. Saw them in '84 when they were "real" and it was a great show. Eddie ruined this band years ago.
613laws - 1/11/2008 6:18:49 PM Scrappy...613 laws dude...think Old Testament. I beg to differ r.e. the reason we're here. It's time for a change. I'm the ranter of change. You see, Kissfan got torn a new rectum by Van Halen. That's fucking a strange thing to say, don't you think. That cofeefag and clonkfag are discussing motherfucking stocks and bonds. Don't get me started on all these stupid bands nobody's even heard of...not to mention a LONG article on Frank Marino...fucking dinosaur. Fossil. Yes, scappy...I opine that I Blobber am the man in 2008! Vote for me and I'll give you a wiggle! I'm sending out feelers for the VP spot. Perhaps Jack Russell?
E_V_H - 1/10/2008 5:08:24 PM Thanks Kissfan77 I agree!!!
Kissfan77 - 1/10/2008 2:03:24 PM People's choice awards are gay...best reunion of 2007 - the Police? fuck offfff... i sent $73 for nosebleeds to see these guys "Jazz" the old tunes...Van Halen came out for $105 and tore me a new asshole...best reunion of 2007...Van Halen and Heven and Hell a close second!
scrapmetal - 1/8/2008 2:57:42 PM BLOBBO: 1)I dont understand the new handle at all 2)Yes indeed,many rock stars are idiotic-especially when they believe the yes men that surround them & are usisng narco & booze and 3)You do add something to this site when you focus on being humourous and the fact that we are here to discuss music,not sex,politics or religion.
613turds - 1/3/2008 5:29:27 PM I bring something to the party too
ALEX_V_H_ - 1/3/2008 5:23:25 PM YOU have a name? Bwahahahahahaha
613laws - 1/3/2008 5:09:00 PM My rhoids bleed sometimes, Scrap. To paraphrase an old Archie Bunker quote, "There's no deeper, darker tragedy than painful hemmorhoids." I never left the anal stage, hence my obssession with sophmoric turd/sex humor. Jesus told us to let the dead bury their own...look it up. That's why I "slander" the dead...most dead rock stars are fucking idiots, Scrap. As for mutiple posts, at least I'm not as big a dick as numbers and/or Judasbishop/analgravy...or so many other dicks. And, don't get me started no my 45 Blobber-related clones. Shit, even my clones have clones. While I am a Jesus freak, I know you will no understand that unless you drink the Kool-Aid...come on in, the water's warm. Now, why I am the first to admit I am a fucktard, you gotta admit I bring something to the party...even if it's only a tiny doobie rolled from homegrwon shitweed. At any rate, you like my latest name?
