by Scott B » Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:21 am
People, people, people. No one was a bigger naysayer than me at the launch of this tour. I was still having my doubts up until I saw them on 2/18. Yes, Dave's voice isn't where it was 30 years ago, but very, very few singers are as good as they were back in the day. Ed was fantastic, Alex was still powerful, and Wolfie earned his spot on the stage.
Van Halen has never, ever been about spot-on. There is always a healthy portion of slop in their playing. That guitar slamming thing on you tube is bollocks. Clearly, the rig was acting up. BTW, the guitar he is playing is one of several prototypes, so maybe there were issues there.
Remember, 3/4 of the band are in there 50s, and this hasn't been an 8 date US Tour a la Iron Maiden. VH is touring old-school, and that has got to be taking it's toll on their rather high-mileage frames.
So, if you've got tix and the show goes on, go on. If the tour crashes and burns, I'll bar-b-q my crow and eat it with a smile on my face knowing that for at least a little while longer, VH ruled again.