I don't care what anyone says....

[rgorke]

Van Halen rocked the Hollywood Bowl Friday night. Did Dave sing every word perfect? No, he never has. However, he entertained like a king. I was on my feet the entire time (partially because the dopes in front of us wouldn't sit down). Ed's tone was fantastic. Long gone are the days of the whiney cocked wah.

Then there is the musicianship. The VH family was locked in so tight. They sounded better than the albums!! (and yes, I know Wolfgang didn't play on the original albums).

A two hour show went by in nothing flat. There was not one song that was "meh, I wish they would have played X instead". one of the best parts (because there is no single best part) is that they played B sides or deep cuts or whatever one wants to call them. Songs that haven't been played live in 30 years or more if they ever were played live....Drop Dead Legs, Dirty Movies, Women in Love, Light up the Sky.

Finally, Ed's solo was top notch and not just a repeat of what we have heard over and over again. There were new licks and new takes on licks.

Now all we need is new material.

And, as Dave would say, "True story, true story."

[mightymike]

Yes get in the studio fresh off the tour and crank out an album while they're in top shape.

A best of live DVD from this tour would be cool, but that's my play list .

[Velva]

I couldn't agree more. They kicked ass in South Jersey in August. The tone didn't have that high end scratch that gives me ear fatigue. It was just meaty goodness. They played like they felt it. No bullshit. Everything that I love about them. It was refreshing!

[rgalpin]

looking at - well - parsing through and examining like a self appointed judge of all things that are,were, and might be... footage from the hollywood show(s) on YT...

Funny @ 10:24 in the YT link below - listen to what ed plays... it's 38 years after the fact... and there it is, the opening salvo to Eruption at the the 17th fret. I think it's so very very interesting how ed's approach is so free sounding but yet it's all coming from a relatively confined set of licks and go-tos. Doesn't make me enjoy it any less - just adds to the enigma of it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ-TtwAVXn4

Dave is ON IT man! He has pretty much entirely nixed all that ultra high tenor squeeze and gone back to his good old soul voice - it IS the heart of the van halen sound - the thing that always and forever kept them from being a metal band - DLR - the blues singer. PERIOD. Unmatched. Stay in the wheelhouse DLR - you own it! outright!!

good stuff. man - yeah - go to the studio. do not pass go. do not collect 200 pesos. go directly to the studio - and capture some of the fire i'm seeing in the YT clip - I think I even saw ED dance a little - I KNOW I saw one 180x2 = 360 spin move. haha! cool.

glad you got to go to the show ROGER!!

[rdodson]

Y'all have nailed it. DLR is still great when he does what only HE does...sing the baritone blues as well as anyone with a melodic pop harmonically-rich arrangement and HEAVY instrumentation. It is a very cool and eclectic mix.

Ed does sound great and kudos for Al making it work even with his arthritis.

[Its Luke]

Just picked up the live in Tokyo album

I waited because initially I was disappointed with what I heard

However now after giving it a few spins, I really enjoy it.

Granted, Eddie isn't playing with the plexi tones on the first albums that we all love, but his playing at this age and stage in life is inspiring to me.

[mightymike]

In this tour the tone of the amp is better, Ed's hand speed is better now that he is all healed up from that surgery, and it'smaking him play better overall. Then top it off with the killer set list, being there with family, seeing his son come into his own, and you can see the joy and inspiration in his playing that is manifesting itself with a new set of licks. He is playing so effortlessly that he must be practicing a lot. Probably with his son which is awesome.

Back in the old days,,those new litttle tricks found their way onto the next album.

A couple new things I like that he does is that squeal.dive he has added to LUTS, then that kill switch trick that sounds like my old skill.saw being buried into a log.

He is also doing some of the Spanish Fly fast picking that I haven't seen him do for years.
He is really rejuvenated

[Santino]

It's the same amp he used in 2012. 5150 III modded to Stealth specs. A prototype if you will. And yes, he sounds damn good. Whole band does. I was skeptical of Simple Rhyme, but the background vocals were very good. In fact that was the suprise of the evening. And I've seen them twice before. Still was suprised how good the backing vocals were. VH still kicks ass!

There's Ed's quote about the Stealth head here
http://forum.metroamp.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=42764

[mightymike]

Some of the changes to the amp were posted in the builders forum. Huge improvement. Almost sounds like a BE100 now. Just as aggressive but in a more Marshall voice now. That reasonance tweak really some punch and depth on the low notes.

[dirtycooter]

Ed is kicking royal ass again!!!!! Go Edward!!!! Been away for a bit. On serious serious business. But this?? Even better Ed looks like he is in 95 balance tour shape and then some. Thought I would never see it again.