My Lost weekend (The time I saw VH July 9, 10, 11 2004)

[Squidward24]

I'll try to give a good review of my weekend full of Van Halen concerts, tunes, DVDs and not much else.

July 9th, 2004 Van Vandel Arena, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Drove 1 hour 45 minutes from Jackson to Grand Rapids, blasting VH along the way, saw some guy get a BJ form his girl WHILE DRIVING!!?? The venue is small, not completely 'in the round'. Not sold out, but GR is not a mecca like say Detroit. The crowd was well behaved, for a Michigan concert crowd. Average age seemed to be middle to late 30s, a nice mixture of people.

The merch they had was not too high priced, save for a $125 Baseball jersey I wanted (but did not get). The opening band Silvertide, SOUNDED good, I did not see them at all over the three days.

The concert was great, save for terriable sound, due to the venue being small, and my friend and I being straight back from the stage on the upper bowl. The band was tight, but loose as well. Crowd reaction was incrediable, no suprises in the set, but it was great to hear those songs.

My friend Christian and I went to this show.
***

July 10th, 2004 Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

45 minute drive to the Joe. Had dinner at a place called Fishbones, if you visit Detroit find the place called 'Greektown' and you'll find the resturant. Sold out. Typical Detroit concert crowd, rude, always yelling 'VAN HALEN-YEAH' while walking around the venue. Again did not see the opening band. Same set list as last night, the sound was better, the band tighter then last night.

The highlight was a banner tossed up on stage the said something like "Right now Sammy and VH are rocking Detroit. Dave's Unemployed" Sammy wore it for one song until Eddie saw it, read it, then pulled it off him and tossed it.

Eddie's Wah-Wah went down during 'Poundcake', and his cord came unplugged during 'Ain't Talkin' Bout Love" but he recovered from both incidents. Second to last night of the first leg of the tour. The last time they played JLA was on the 5150 tour, Sammy made a comment about it.

Christian, me, his wife and my girlfriend(first time seeing VH) went to this show.
***

July 11th, 2004 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan

Again did not see the opening band. Nice crowd, better the Detroit. No problems during the show, the sound was better then last night. They band was better all around, Eddie's solo was more focused maybe, but more enjoyable all around. Same set list as last night, so I saw the same show three times in a row, big deal it got better as the shows progressed.

Last show of this leg of the tour, they get a week off. All around probably the best of the three shows in evert area. Had two Cabo Wabo tequlia drinks...YUMMY!!!! MAS TEQULIA!!!

All round I had a great weekend, watched a DVD of the June 22nd show, listened to my VH bootleg 'Rocks The Beer Hall' on the way to Grand Rapids. Bought a leather wrist nad thing, a wallet and a shirt, so I spent around $500 for ticekts, food. parking and merch.....money well spent.

Christian, Me, my girlfriend and another friend(second time since 1991) saw this show.
***

Set list was the same for all nights, with the exception of Deeper Kind Of Love, only done in Grand Rapids.

Jump ~ Runaround ~ Humans Being ~ Up For Breakfast ~ bass solo/Somebody Get Me A Doctor ~ Poundcake ~ It's About Time ~ drum solo ~ Top Of The World ~ Unchained ~ Why Can't This Be Love ~ Eagles Fly/Deeper Kind of Love ~ The Seventh Seal ~ Best Of Both Worlds ~ Eddie ~ Dreams ~ Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love ~ Right Now ~ You Really Got Me ~ Panama ~ When It's Love