Van Halen - Madison Square Gardens NYC

Andy's Review

Being able to write an unbiased review of this gig was always going to be difficult. Having waited the best part of 23 years to have the chance to see Eddie & Dave on the same stage brings a certain level of anticipation and potential blind adulation into the mix. I’d already pretty much decided the gig couldn’t get 5/5 due to a certain Mr Anthony missing. That aside, on Tuesday 13th November 2007, I, along with my All Out Guitar colleague, Rory Sullivan, got to witness 'roth and roll' history….

After having sunk several ‘nerve’ beers in Mustang Harry’s just down the road from Madison Square Gardens, we got to the arena in time to see a very very short set from Ky-Mani Marley. All good but a bit out of place possibly?

At 8:30 sharp the lights went down and the primitive rumble of EVH’s guitar kicked in. Diamond Dave appeared at the top of the now famous ‘S’ stage waving a giant flag and from the very beginning both men were on fire. Completely rejuvenated and seemingly healthy. The tone and shear volume of Eddie’s guitar was brutal and the crowd lapped it up. Dave was on top form – a far cry from his gigs of the early noughties. Okay, he missed a couple of lines here and there but that didn’t matter as he once again proved himself the ultimate rock frontman.

No one seemed to mind that Mike was missing but that’s not to say he wasn’t missed. His replacement 16 year old Wolfgang Van Halen did a fantastic job and has a bright future but you couldn’t help feeling that it wasn’t how it should be.

As the set flew by – hit after hit – it became very clear why this tour is getting so many good reviews; Dave and Eddie mean it and they have something to prove.

Summing Up

All in all it was a deafening, exhilarating, soul thumping 2 hour ride. Both nostalgic and somehow relevant today. The ultimate party band is back. Almost.

AND Thoughts from Rory 'The Red Hot Rocker':

An excellent concert that lived up to the hype completely. The show could have been longer than the 2 hours delivered, but they are in their 50's and unlike The Police, they fuckin' nailed it for the duration.

Eddie's hip was obviously playing up, as he stood almost in the same place throughout the whole gig, which was a shame as his jumps are as infectious as Dave's. Eddie was on fire however. His hugely overdriven guitars provide a heavenly but brutal assault of hard Rockin' sounds and his new EVH model sounded the most awesome. He also had the number 4 on all of his guitars, even hidden in the Frankenstein patterns, thus stating that this is indeed 'Van Halen Mark 4' and let's hope, here to stay!

Wolfie deserves full credit for fitting into the world's greatest ever Rock group with consummate ease and for such a young kid. He was note and harmony perfect but unfortunately has no stage presence, so Mike was missed more than ever what with Eddie stuck to the spot. We all love Mike anyway and now realise it even more.

Alex successfully pulled off the rarest of events at a Rock concert - an entertaining drum solo no less. He hit the living daylights out of his fantastically 80's retro kit and the second half of the solo was neatly synced up to musical stabs and rhythms in the mould of a well known percussionist called Mr. Peart. I think Mr. Peart would have enjoyed the solo too.

Smiling and nodding, jumping and screaming – Dave was in his element and indeed, a Diamond once again. His voice was powerful and eager, his outfits were stylish and his stomach was shockingly toned. He is still a Rock star and definitely the main man. As I said to someone later that night, 'Dave is in fact God and Eddie is Jesus' (what a wanker!)

To my amazement, I only became 'over-emotional' just the once during the perfect 'Somebody Get Me A Doctor'. It was an emotional evening for many but the 2 hour show seemed to pass by so quickly that there was seemingly little time for weeping. This was a spiritual event in many ways for many people and I personally could not really ever believe that I was seeing what I was seeing - it was a miracle that they happened the first time round, let alone the second time after the 23 year World Bitchin' Championships.

The pre and post atmosphere around the venue was electric - we left Mustang Harry's at 3am, having met actors, bankers, firemen, drunks, bikers, teenagers and most shockingly - a group of Canadians who had flown to NY only to discover that their tickets were fakes. They still thought the trip was worthwhile for the buzz they experienced after the show.

I would like to personally thank Van Halen for existing again and if Wolfie wants to go to college at any stage, how about giving Mike a call?

Youtubes

• Unchained / I'll Wait
  Jamie's Cryin
  EVH Solo
  Panama
  Ice Cream Man

Set

1. You Really Got Me
2. I’m the One
3. Runnin’ With the Devil
4. Romeo Delight
5. Somebody Get Me a Doctor - Rory's standout track
6. Beautiful Girls
7. Dance the Night Away
8. Everybody Wants Some!
9. So This Is Love?
10. Mean Street
11. Pretty Woman
12. Drum solo
13. Unchained
14. I’ll Wait
15. And the Cradle Will Rock
16. Hot for Teacher
17. Little Dreamer
18. Little Guitars – Andy’s standout track
19. Jamie’s Cryin’
20. Ice Cream Man
21. Panama
22. Guitar solo
23. Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love
24. 1984/Jump