VAN HALEN 2007 TOUR IN TORONTO…VANTASTIC!
Peter Andrew Sacco, Ph.D.
October 17, 2007
It’s getting close to that time of the year again, when pumpkins are being carved, little ghosts and ghouls are getting their trick-or-treating bags ready to collect their sweet spoils, and diehard Rocky Horror Picture cultists are priming their DVD’s to pay homage to Tim Curry and The Time Warp. You know that catchy tune which still lingers in our minds, “Let’s do the time warp again…” Seems like earthlings are always destined to engage in time warps even though Universal Studios Orlando is removing the vaunted and thrilling Back To The Future ride from it’s entertainment repertoire. Just where might one go if they were inclined to go back to the future? Might I suggest a Van Halen concert?
Yes, you heard me right —Van Halen! And did I mention a Van Halen concert featuring Diamond David Lee Roth at the lead vocal helm? A while back I wrote an article on the Van Halen reunion tour scheduled for Fall 2007. The tour features Eddie Van Halen’s 16 year old son on bass guitar, minus original bassist and founding VH member Michael Anthony, who is currently touring with Van Halen’s other prominent lead singer Sammy Hagar in a band known as The Other Half. Eddie’s brother, the amazing drummer Alex rounds out the group. If you recall, I was intrigued and somewhat skeptical for how this tour would play out, let alone if it would ever kick off or last the first quarter of its leg. I was very cynical on how well Roth would sound doing all of the early VH tunes before leaving after 1984. My opinion is in, if it matters at all…Top Notch! I had to pinch myself while watching this show to remind myself that this was real. Yes, 23 years later and Roth was the lead singer of VH again!
After two recent shows in Toronto at the ACC, this band totally rocks! As a matter of fact, I would be hard pressed to find any band out there today who can rock like this group of 50Somethings and a sixteen year old teen. Bar none, Eddie is a guitar god. Edward was and is old school on this tour. Alex can still pound on the drums with the best of them. For only being a kid with no concert or band experience for that matter, Wolfgang, although a little stiff and wet behind the ears holds his own. As for Roth, where did this guy find the Fountain of Youth? I sure as heck want some. I think “everybody wants some…”! Sorry, couldn’t resist!
Watching these shows made me feel like I was back in high school sitting on my bed listening to Van Halen’s Eruption while fingering the neck of my electric guitar—
imagining the possibilities. This second show at the ACC in Toronto was easily one of the superior concerts I have attended. Actually make that ever attended! Two hours of rock and roll! The only song I was mildly disappointed with was their anthem Jump. If Roth was a little more on key when they did the encore tune, I think the concert was as close to being perfect as could be.
I don’t know what the future holds for these guys. You can only play the old stuff and get away with it for so long before fans want something new. From all accounts, Roth asserts this band has a future together. It would seem the other members concur. For any true Van Halen fan’s sake, let’s hope they give us something new to listen to instead of another greatest hits CD. I already have enough of them. I am tired of going back to the future. Let’s start “dancing the night away” to something new and innovative. Van Halen is one of the greatest bands of all time and they are still great with much to offer the music world. They say to “always leave them wanting more…” Fans have always wanted more from this band and let’s hope they give the fans what they want instead of just teasing us with histories past. Rock on!
Peter Andrew Sacco is a freelance writer and author of the very popular new book Penis Envy: Does Size Really Matter Or Is It the Size Of The Matter? (Amazon.com).
Yes, you heard me right —Van Halen! And did I mention a Van Halen concert featuring Diamond David Lee Roth at the lead vocal helm? A while back I wrote an article on the Van Halen reunion tour scheduled for Fall 2007. The tour features Eddie Van Halen’s 16 year old son on bass guitar, minus original bassist and founding VH member Michael Anthony, who is currently touring with Van Halen’s other prominent lead singer Sammy Hagar in a band known as The Other Half. Eddie’s brother, the amazing drummer Alex rounds out the group. If you recall, I was intrigued and somewhat skeptical for how this tour would play out, let alone if it would ever kick off or last the first quarter of its leg. I was very cynical on how well Roth would sound doing all of the early VH tunes before leaving after 1984. My opinion is in, if it matters at all…Top Notch! I had to pinch myself while watching this show to remind myself that this was real. Yes, 23 years later and Roth was the lead singer of VH again!
After two recent shows in Toronto at the ACC, this band totally rocks! As a matter of fact, I would be hard pressed to find any band out there today who can rock like this group of 50Somethings and a sixteen year old teen. Bar none, Eddie is a guitar god. Edward was and is old school on this tour. Alex can still pound on the drums with the best of them. For only being a kid with no concert or band experience for that matter, Wolfgang, although a little stiff and wet behind the ears holds his own. As for Roth, where did this guy find the Fountain of Youth? I sure as heck want some. I think “everybody wants some…”! Sorry, couldn’t resist!
Watching these shows made me feel like I was back in high school sitting on my bed listening to Van Halen’s Eruption while fingering the neck of my electric guitar—
imagining the possibilities. This second show at the ACC in Toronto was easily one of the superior concerts I have attended. Actually make that ever attended! Two hours of rock and roll! The only song I was mildly disappointed with was their anthem Jump. If Roth was a little more on key when they did the encore tune, I think the concert was as close to being perfect as could be.
I don’t know what the future holds for these guys. You can only play the old stuff and get away with it for so long before fans want something new. From all accounts, Roth asserts this band has a future together. It would seem the other members concur. For any true Van Halen fan’s sake, let’s hope they give us something new to listen to instead of another greatest hits CD. I already have enough of them. I am tired of going back to the future. Let’s start “dancing the night away” to something new and innovative. Van Halen is one of the greatest bands of all time and they are still great with much to offer the music world. They say to “always leave them wanting more…” Fans have always wanted more from this band and let’s hope they give the fans what they want instead of just teasing us with histories past. Rock on!
Peter Andrew Sacco is a freelance writer and author of the very popular new book Penis Envy: Does Size Really Matter Or Is It the Size Of The Matter? (Amazon.com).
Print
Email
