VAN HALEN: Charlotte Concert Review, Photos, Video Available
- Sep. 28, 2007
Courtney Devores of the Charlotte Observer reports: Opening night of VAN HALEN's long-awaited reunion with David Lee Roth literally kicked off with several of Roth's highflying kicks at Charlotte Bobcats Arena on Thursday, although Eddie Van Halen was the first to appear on stage with one of his own signature hurky-style jumps.
The last time VAN HALEN performed in Charlotte with Roth as its frontman, he had just turned 30, gas was $1.21 a gallon and tickets to the show at the old Charlotte Coliseum were $12.50.
Twenty-three years later, the band's original members are all over 50 and guitarist Eddie Van Halen's 16-year-old son Wolfgang has replaced original bassist Michael Anthony.
The show sold out in a matter of minutes in August, and the arena was packed when the band hit the stage around 8:30 p.m., following a short but sweet set of pop and reggae-tinged R&B by Kymani Marley.
Fans assumed after well-publicized fighting, ill will and a couple of false starts over the past 11 years that the group would never reunite. But earlier this year the Van Halen brothers announced that Roth would rejoin the fold. If the group can keep egos and tempers in check (sources say the three original members arrived on separate buses for rehearsals), the reunion could be the biggest tour of the decade.
Any animosity wasn't apparent on stage as Roth and Eddie Van Halen saddled up next to each other, smiling, during "Everybody Wants Some" and "Dance the Night Away". Roth and Wolfgang Van Halen even sang "Pretty Woman" side by side.
01. You Really Got Me 02. I'm the One 03. Runnin' With the Devil 04. Romeo Delight 05. Somebody Get Me a Doctor 06. Beautiful Girls 07. Dance the Night Away 08. Atomic Punk 09. Everybody Wants Some 10. So This Is Love? 11. Mean Street 12. Pretty Woman 13. Drum Solo 14. Unchained 15. I'll Wait 16. And the Cradle Will Rock 17. Hot for Teacher 18. Little Dreamer 19. Little Guitars 20. Jamie's Cryin' 21. Ice Cream Man 22. Panama 23. Guitar Solo (incl. "Women in Love" intro, "Cathedral", "Eruption") 24. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love ------------------------ 25. 1984 26. Jump
Watch short, fan-filmed video clip of VAN HALEN performing "You Really Got Me" on September 27, 2007 in Charlotte, North Carolina:
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COMMENT | I'm seeing them in Greensboro Saturday night! posted by : The Govner 9/28/2007 6:36:47 AM
And I like the setlist & the postive comments left at the newspaper website...... this is going to KICK MY ASS!!!
COMMENT | posted by : Dee67 9/28/2007 6:40:22 AM
Eddie looks great.
COMMENT | Meh... posted by : ThisIsMyUsername 9/28/2007 7:08:04 AM
I went and it was okay.
(I'm really pissed at the shitty nosebleeds I sat in for the most part and the yuppie retards in front of me.)
Roth was actually in top form. I was surprised his voice was on par. Eddie was a bit calm but played great. Alex was incredible. Wolfie..... I just can't take this kid. I would've had more respect for EVH if he replaced the great Michael Anthony with somebody more professional. There was one point where Wolfie went out on Dave's ego ramp and that's just pushing the boundaries, even for a bassist. Great set-list. I would've replaced "I'll Wait" and "Little Dreamer" with something else.
COMMENT | Wolfgang is pulling the face.... posted by : Lloydie Lloyd 9/28/2007 7:10:26 AM
that I usually pull whilst I go through de-curryification treatment on the toilet.
COMMENT | Wolfie posted by : VelveetaRevolver 9/28/2007 8:03:38 AM
needs to follow his mother's example and go on Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. This kid needs to lay off the cheeseburgers a bit.
COMMENT | TOO MUCH MONEY posted by : wag 9/28/2007 8:12:57 AM
I'm a VH fan but I'd rather make an extra house payment and wait for the $20.00 live DVD.
COMMENT | posted by : steve_oz_49 9/28/2007 8:48:49 AM
only question I have is......... how did they sound? I am more than confident that Eddie and Alex were tight and spot on... but the sound quality..... I guess I am just looking for someone who was there and not some reporter who is trying to push the venues.
*ahhhhhhhhhh yes, beauuuuuuuuutiful girls*
COMMENT | It's not VH posted by : awolcfh5150 9/28/2007 8:51:03 AM
It's not an official Van Halen reunion without Michael Anthony. I agree with ThisIsMyUsername that VH should have gotten an established bassist for a replacement rather than Wolfgang. As far as his weight goes, that just a low blow. His size has nothing to do with the music being played.
COMMENT | Sound quality... posted by : ThisIsMyUsername 9/28/2007 9:20:46 AM
was near excellent. A bit too loud, but nice acoustics in the arena.
COMMENT | awolcfh5150 posted by : Lloydie Lloyd 9/28/2007 9:23:18 AM
"size has nothing to do with the music being played. "
Try telling that to Posh Spice.
COMMENT | LETS HOPE THEY CAN KEEP THIS TOGETHER! posted by : sircrunch 9/28/2007 9:33:40 AM
WHats even more promissing is the positive feedback left people at the show after the Charlotte News article!
1st we got DIO/SABBATH!
NOW WE GET DLR/VAN HALEN!
THIS HAS BEEN ONE THE BEST YEARS FOR CONCERTS IN A LONG TIME!
COMMENT | posted by : scuzzles 9/28/2007 9:43:06 AM
Its a bit odd seeing a teenager and Eddie home picked son playing with this legenday line up. Most feel hes not worthy, and I agree, but the same people that bust on Wolfgangs weight want the chubby Michael Anthony on bass. MICHAEL ANTHONY IS CHUBBY TOO. GEEZ.
COMMENT | posted by : Psychobolia.com 9/28/2007 10:11:01 AM
One break, commmmmmmmmmin' up!
COMMENT | Background vocals piped in? posted by : ThisIsMyUsername 9/28/2007 10:11:56 AM
I was really suspicious about the background vocals. There were definitely times that a 3rd party was helping sing them when Eddie obviously wasn't and it was left to Wolfie to handle on some parts. I don't know if it was a "behind the curtain" type of thing or if they're utilizing Michael Anthony's harmonies via some sort of digital recording. (Alex's drum solo was enhanced by some keyboards.) There were definite "Anthony" moments in a few of the background vocals.
COMMENT | Cool.. posted by : Kissfan77 9/28/2007 10:26:56 AM
Nice setlist
COMMENT | the Sound posted by : tpauth 9/28/2007 10:50:32 AM
I think the sound could have been better, but I'll bet it had a lot to do with where your seats were located. 2nd row from the top, it wasn't too hot. Not too loud - I kept the earplugs in my pocket. Walking down just 20 or so rows, it was significantly louder. Would have like to have understood Dave's intro to Ice Cream Man - could not make out a lot of what he said.
One of my clearest recollections from seeing them on the 1984 tour was how awful and LOUD the sound was. This was much better.
Great show! Do not miss it.
COMMENT | The Sound posted by : drumkey 9/28/2007 11:23:15 AM
I'll have to agree with the last comment. I was there too and the sound quality wasn't that great in the upper sections. Earlier in the show when the opening band started they had speakers that were shooting towards our section and they sounded great, but mid-way through the first song they cut them off. I figured they would turn them back on once VH came on, but they did not. Also, Bobcat arena has a nice big four-sided screen in the center of the arena that they could have put to great use, but they didn't do that either. VH had their own big screen behind them, but we could not see that for the huge speakers up front. So to recap, as for VH, they were awesome, very good show. As for Bobcat arena's sound and display, they were terrible. I hope the other venues they play at have better accomodations.
COMMENT | there is not much point... posted by : speedemon 9/28/2007 12:08:58 PM
in discussing sound quality of concerts at hockey and basketball arenas. If DLR sounded good, then I would be confident the band is playing well and delivering.
COMMENT | I'm a VH fan but I'd rather make an extra house payment and wait for the $20.00 live DVD. posted by : emperor 9/28/2007 12:25:24 PM
WOW...where do you live that a house payment is $100-$150 a month>?
COMMENT | saw them in '82... posted by : nodeerforamonth 9/28/2007 12:30:26 PM
was one of the absolute LOUDEST concerts I've ever been to. And I've seen Motorhead and Manowar.
COMMENT | Van Halen Tour posted by : SCARYHEAD 9/28/2007 1:24:25 PM
Man i would love to see VH in NYC, Hope they come to the U.K Donington they got to play.
COMMENT | Forget about it posted by : mdc 9/28/2007 2:19:49 PM
I was there. This show cooked. Dave sang better than he did in 84. Wolfie delivered on bass and harmonie vocals. Eddie seemed a little bored with some of the old guitar solos so he changed them up a bit. alex was great. only one song didnt sound as good where I was sitting, "cradle will rock". Everything else sound great. when the band came on stage the crowd drown out the first part of "You really got me". What a party. Go see this show.
COMMENT | Sound was perfect in lower level!!! posted by : ironmaiden316 9/28/2007 2:19:51 PM
I was on the lower level, toward back and sound was great.
How in the hell are some of yoiu idiots bitching about tickets from $75 to $125??? That is cheap compaired to most bands, and this one was worth it!
COMMENT | Backing voals were there posted by : mdc 9/28/2007 2:27:27 PM
There were a couple of times when Eddie forgot to get to his mic but Wolfie was all alone singing his part. I didnt hear any piped in vocals and they damn sure didnt use Mike Anthony's vocals.
COMMENT | Piped in vocals posted by : Dr. Wylde 9/28/2007 2:35:25 PM
Anyone who doesn't think Michael Anthony's vocals were piped in are dreaming. Everything is clicked out and they are digitally cued in once Alex hits the click for the next song...Wolf or Ed dont have that register....sorry folks...but thats show biz! This isn't a Van halen reunion without flying Mike. He wasn't just the bass player! Picture The chili peppers without Flea...
COMMENT | Was there too and... posted by : Failsafe 9/28/2007 3:02:12 PM
Even though my seats sucked (leaning against the wall in the top row) the sound was GREAT! Eddie was spot on, DLR's vocals were pretty dang good, Alex was a madman behind the kit, and Wolf was better than expected.
Don't know if anyone noticed, but except for his "ramp time" Wolfie stood in the only part of the stage w/o a spotlight. He definitely isn't comfortable out front yet. The backing vocals were the most surprising part of the performance...don't know if he'll be able to hit those notes after puberty, but definitely better than expected.
Believe it or not, DLR had very VERY little of his normal antics / banter going on. Either he's coginzant of the fact that it turns people off somewhat, or Eddie gave him some "terms" ;-)
Going to the G'boro show tomorrow night as well. This time I'm front row in the lower level so I'll actually get to SEE them this time. If it's anything like Charlotte, it'll be well worth it. Great players proving why we liked them in the first place. Catch it if you can!!
COMMENT | Believe what you want Bertorama posted by : Dr. Wylde 9/28/2007 3:09:32 PM
You dont just get over a supergroup reforming without all of the players there. Sorry dumbass but we wont get over it! I suppose your such a pushover that a Zeppelin tour with Kip Winger on bass instead of JPP would be ok. Mike wrote those vocal parts and they are piped in alongside of Ed and Wolf. Do you actually think they would tell the truth? Too much TMZ for you...wake up! Good show yes..........reunion??? No way!
COMMENT | If you don't care about staying in key... posted by : Motorted 9/28/2007 4:56:49 PM
A website not affiliated with VH reported that they had recorded some vocals to use live but it was never checked factually. If there was any vocals piped in it would have been on "ill wait because they do play to a keyboard track on it. Jump has gang vocals. I cant see piping in vocals on that tune. Again I was there and I was sure that they were doing their own vocals live.
COMMENT | The dude from Night Ranger does posted by : Expanded Consciousness 9/28/2007 6:05:01 PM
the keyboards live, off-stage for Van Halen (during I'll Wait and Jump) and has for years.
Checkout Wikipedia for that info.
The keyboards aren't pre-taped.
COMMENT | Brown Sound posted by : Expanded Consciousness 9/28/2007 6:08:25 PM
One thing that no one mentioned who was their last night, but was really present to me, is that Eddie's "brown sound" is back!!! That warm, loud sound that is so easy to listen to that my earplugs came right out during the first song.
COMMENT | Screw all of you Sammy Hagar Pussy's!!! posted by : LOVE VH WITH DLR!!!!! 9/28/2007 10:41:15 PM
Sammy Hagar should be touring with Jimmy Buffet with his poodle hair. Sammy has never been respected as a rocker!!! Van Halen is DAVID LEE ROTH!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIVE IT--OR GET OVER IT!!! LOSERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
COMMENT | My review of the First Night! posted by : Expanded Consciousness 9/28/2007 11:37:16 PM
Wow!!! Woa! They did it! A straight on, pedal-to-the metal, hard rock show! With the "brown sound" back! Someone said from the last rehearsal that Edward's sound was between the classic brown sound and the harsher more recent 2004 sound. I had my earplugs in for the beginning of the first song. Couldn't hear anything. Pulled them half way out - started to sound good. Took them all the way out for the night and a flood of that warm, brown sound came in. Clear, strong and warm - it was that sound that had seduced us in the first place. That sound that was so easy to listen to at high volume. My seats were stellar. Worth every penny I paid. Inside the inner circle - VIP, baby! 7th row. Seat 1 - which was left side. Left-center - directly in front of Eddie the whole night. Could reach out and touch the ramp to the right of me. When they walked the ramp they were right there - 2 feet away. Eddie has gotten a hair cut in the last week. In those rehearsal photos his hair was short, but getting shaggy. Now he had it shaved on the sides, short on top, dark, natural color. He was wearing a smiling all night. And with the short hair, tan, veneers on the teeth, and permanent smile he looked like Robert DeNiro to me for some reason. Eddie was not in good form. He was in perfect form. Played everything perfectly, with total ease and grace. Played with the inner peace of a Buddhist monk. Every note flowed fluidly. Slippery. If in the early days he tried with great effort, now he was at Zen master level. Everything was played with feeling. With a supreme naturalness. Not with the sterile, robotic, clockwork precision of some other "guitar wizards". Reminded me of that wonderful sound and feeling he had on those 2 tracks with DLR on the Best Of Vol 1 collection. Eddie was sober and happy to be playing. Dave brought it. Voice strong. Sang everything. Gave great effort. Brought the humor and charm and sexiness and showmanship. Yet, without excess. Just did the best bits. Hit the highlights. With 25 rockers on the set list, it was soon on to the next song. All on stage looked out into the audience with as much interest as we were looking at them. They looked like they were taking in the moment. Marveling and reflecting on it like we were. Taking in the experience. Standing together again before a Van Halen arena-size audience, as they did from 1978-1984. The historical significance of the night was not lost on them either. Nice moments of rapport between members on the stage. Dave and Eddie. Eddie and Woolfie. Dave and Woolfie. All tribally gathered around Alex at the end of "Hot For Teacher". Started with "You Really Got Me". But the crowd really went wild as the first high-speed original tore in - second song, "I'm The One". There were also musical surprises of alternate endings to songs. A song would seem to end in the traditional way, only to be brought back to life again, bringing back the main riff of the song for a coda and a crashing, majestic, pounding final statement. Seeming to say, we came here to kick your ass and we fucking mean it. At that close range and being drunk on 4 beers, I was rocking out and got definite eye contact and awareness and a smile from Eddie as I pounded out an arm and #1 sign salute during one rocking moment, eye contact and smile from son Woolfie as I #1 saluted him for having the guts to stand up there at 16 years of age. And eye contact from Dave as he walked the ramp and searched the faces of the Van Halen audience he has rightly missed. Walked out of the arena and saw a guy looking at his video camera. Got his email. The show was well documented. He told me that there were 3 filmers: upper left, center, and right. An audio recorder on the floor. And a ALD DAT recorder, as well. 2 clips have appeared on YouTube already from digital still-cam users. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wS8uDf4Do8 You Really Got Me In the first one, if you blow up the screen, you can see me and what great seats I had. You can see the back of my head. I'm the tall, skinny dude with the bald spot and the black teeshirt, in front of and to the left of the 2 girls in red. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99DqmBnQ1vQ&NR=1 I'm The One. Rocking! There will be plenty of chances to see me on the Charlotte DVD whenever they went out on to the ramp. I'll be all over that video. The night was summed up by one guy who said, "I'm see'in it and hearin' it, but it's effin hard to believe......FINALLY....it gives me goose bumps! They sound great. The Mighty VH has returned!!!" Photos: http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news?p=van+halen&c=&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-501&c=images http://www.charlotte.com/multimedia/galleries/gallery/296298-a296285-t3.html Review: http://www.charlotte.com/145/story/296311.html Web comments: http://pod01.prospero.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=kr-charlottetm&tid=2256 Soon, hopefully, it will be your turn to see VAN HALEN!
Now this is what I'm talkin bout!!! Dr. Wylde nailed it home!! This is to all of you dumbass poodle head sammy hagar lovers!!!
COMMENT | posted by : wastingbeerz 9/29/2007 4:00:47 PM
Love Van Lee Roth... think this is both awesome and amazing... but still like Van Hagar just a bit better.
COMMENT | GREENSBORO SHOW ROCKED! posted by : LOVE VH WITH DLR!!!!! 9/30/2007 10:56:00 AM
My Wife and I went to the Greensboro concert last night...It was great!!!!!!!!!! David Lee Roth sounded just as good as he did when I saw him 22 years ago. He limited his high kicks, which at 54 who could even do that? His voice was great, he did hit the high notes. David was still the best show man/ performer! Eddie was unbelievable!!! Eddie is the best Guitar player in the world! After they opened with You really got me, David and Eddie hugged, and david started crying b/c they were so happy to reunite and the Synergy you felt was hair raising!!!! This was VH!!!Alex is just majical on the drums. He ripped a drum solo and blew the house down!!!! Wolfi was great. He is young and doesn't have very much stage performance yet, but it will come. At only 16 he was very impressive. The sound quality was awesome...we had great seats right above the floor and it was loud but it kicked ass!!!!! I bought a $40 t-shirt and a $10 wristband for my son, and a $15 G-string for wifey!! How u doin?? I have been to allot of concerts even Motley Crue, but VH blew them all away!!! We saw Peter Frampton at the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach last month and he was pretty good, but this concert last night made PF seem like he was playing in a Nursing Home.!!!! If you don't have tickets get them now!!!!! This is a concert I will never forget! But for all you dopeheads, don't even think about lighting up in the concert. They have cops and security everywhere!!!! We did get to see a couple getting escorted out b/c they were caught video taping.. Have fun!!
COMMENT | bass tone posted by : Dr. Wylde 10/1/2007 11:35:36 AM
Bertorama loves shitty, slap happy bass tone. Mike wasn't Victor Wooten...that style would not fit with VH. Wolfie has a tone that isn't what VH was. Give me a break with all of this new band bullshit/new era. It still isn't Van halen...has nothing to do with Sammy not being in the band. You obviously dont appreciate the bond of a band. You eliminate one link and its gone. Hence why Zep split after Bonham died. Michael Anthony isn't dead...Bertorama is just a little fair weather DLR fan...with a big hairy meat wallet.
I hate to burst yer bubble, fellas. I really do. But Dave is singing just like Ozzy has been for YEARS.....he's not. They use a second singer to cover them who sounds very, very, very good. Ozzy used to use a guy out of Raleigh, NC and the guy would basically double Ozzy's voice (which was mixed WAY down low). The soundmen at these gigs have to basically be like studio engineers to get the sound that we all know and love. Read all about it, boys - it's true. Do a little research. The guy from Journey was busted recently doing something like that and he wasn't even Steve Perry ! That's like Gary Cherone having to use a backing track to try to sound like Hagar the Horrible. It's sad but it's true. Paul Stanley gets his shit fixed too. ALL those old guys do it 'cept maybe for Jon Anderson and Dio.
Blah Blah Blah! all of you haters out there busted on Dave's voice, and whining about Michael Anthony not being with the band.He isn't in the band b/c evidently Eddie and Alex feel Wolfy is more important to the band! Yeah I'll admit DLR is not Harry Connick Jr. that's b/c DLR is a rocker and not a classical or R&B artist. If that's what you want then go see those type of singers, maybe you all should go see Hannah Montana. David Lee Roth to be 54 and out of the limelight for many years sounded great! I saw them in Greensboro and VH rocked the house!! sold out with 18,000 fans standing up the entire concert yelling and jumping up and down. This is a true rock concert !!! This was classic VH.
COMMENT | Sammy Sang Dave's songs (and did a better job) posted by : brsanko 10/12/2007 12:10:37 PM
I'm glad dave is singing well I am a big fan with VH and solo. You guys picking on Wolfgang for being over weight are assholes how would you like it if some one publicly slammed your sixteen year old son for being fat. Come on think about it. The thing is he's just a little chubby he's not even that big (I bet he gets more girls than you do). I like Dave but these guy's have got to lose there fucking egos. Sammy sang all of Dave's old songs but the whole play list is 1984 and before now. If you look at their website it's like their trying to pretend Sammy and Michael never existed and they're only making themselves look stupid. I'd love to see VH with DLR I saw them with SH back in 1995 and it was an awesome show. Dave is cool but if I had to choose between the two I'd go with Sammy. Of course I realize I don't get to choose so I just hope they come out with a new album soon, and get over their egos and recognize the huge contribution that SH and MA have made to their own careers and creative process.
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