VH on Kimmel

[sixstringking713]

I felt ed rushed eruption and was sloppy

otherwise good guitar playing

 

[Rogue]

Comparing the two versions of DTNA, I'd say infinitely applies, but as always, YMMV...

I've actually never heard a '79 performance where he sounded as bad as the recent stuff, but I haven't scoured the Interwebs, so who knows, maybe...

Or any earlier performance. He's always taken some artistic freedom and changed things up from time to time, but now he's using it as a crutch. It seems the times he tries to do it right is few and far between.

He still has a rapport with the audience, though, and seems to be enjoying himself. He's gotta know he's not cutting it anymore. I saw VH in 2014, and I don't remember it being that bad. So maybe in a live situation, a few brews, the energy, that live sound, it's easily overlooked.

 

[Rogue]

I felt ed rushed eruption and was sloppy

otherwise good guitar playing

I felt that way too. That's also the way I've felt about all his "performances" I've seen recently. It's like, "well, I've got to play this again, so here...."

The vamping section of Panama after Dave left the stage was cool stuff. Just filling time and impromptu jamming...because the show must go on. I thought it to be the most organic moment from the two evenings.

 

[RG955TT]

I felt ed rushed eruption and was sloppy

otherwise good guitar playing

I felt that way too. That's also the way I've felt about all his "performances" I've seen recently. It's like, "well, I've got to play this again, so here...."

The vamping section of Panama after Dave left the stage was cool stuff. Just filling time and impromptu jamming...because the show must go on. I thought it to be the most organic moment from the two evenings.

C'mon guys they are live TV, of course everything is rushed. Other than Dave's singing I thought it was a great performance. The playing overall and the backing vocals were really good. That's a lot of hard work to get them like that.

 

[Caulk Rocket]

Would you guys rather see Bilbo Mars put on his glorified lounge act? It's fuckin' Van Halen.

 

[Rexxyboy]

I loved watching the footage, its a shame Dave is past it vocally. Loved Ed's tone and playing, guitar friendly mix.

 

[luther910]

IMO David's problems stems from trying to sing the songs on higher notes than previously recorded. If he just relaxed and sang the songs as he originally sang them, he should be "fine". Remembering the lyrics (after all these years) would also help.

My personal theory about this is that he has taken all the negative comments about his vocal range to heart, and decided to prove his critics wrong, which has only made the problem worse.

 

[R Weaver FX]

It's obvious he had to rush Eruption to fit it into the television time allotment

 

[AndyK]

IMO David's problems stems from trying to sing the songs on higher notes than previously recorded. If he just relaxed and sang the songs as he originally sang them, he should be "fine". Remembering the lyrics (after all these years) would also help.

My personal theory about this is that he has taken all the negative comments about his vocal range to heart, and decided to prove his critics wrong, which has only made the problem worse.

Good points! I agree - why screech and shriek - in Dance The Night Away?? It was originally recorded in his lower register voice - like MOST early VH. As many have said before, He'd be WAY better off singing everything in his smooth cool lower range, rather than screaming all the time.

 

[buckwild]

IMO David's problems stems from trying to sing the songs on higher notes than previously recorded. If he just relaxed and sang the songs as he originally sang them, he should be "fine". Remembering the lyrics (after all these years) would also help.

My personal theory about this is that he has taken all the negative comments about his vocal range to heart, and decided to prove his critics wrong, which has only made the problem worse.

great point. He's aged which is part of life, so the music and maybe even the band could lower to a full step down too.

 

[Schaf]

Man, I think Ed's playing and tone was awesome. Does it sound exactly like VH1? No. But, I would be perfectly happy with that tone especially for a live TV feed. Sounded damn good to me. I'm not sure what people are expecting from the guy?

DLR has always stunk it up live pretty much past Diver Down. I saw them 4 times between Van Halen II and 1984. He just got progressively worse even then.

 

[Stramm8]

Not cutting DLR any slack here but after listening to some videos from the audience, I'm wondering if Dave can hear himself?? Ed's guitar is cranked and just from limited personal experience trying to sing back up, if you can't hear what you're singing you're all over the place. Not that this is the reason he's so bad but it could be a contributing factor...

 

[luther910]

Man, I think Ed's playing and tone was awesome. Does it sound exactly like VH1? No. But, I would be perfectly happy with that tone especially for a live TV feed. Sounded damn good to me. I'm not sure what people are expecting from the guy?

DLR has always stunk it up live pretty much past Diver Down. I saw them 4 times between Van Halen II and 1984. He just got progressively worse even then.

I don't know that Eddie has been much criticized. Should he be above that? Many of the people here are "brown sound disciples" and I for one have my views when he uses a sound more suited to metal. Many of the amps people love over here are based on that sound, the Friedman's, being a good example. One of Ed's trademarks was his ability to clean up his guitar with his volume knob. It seems to me he now has to change to his clean channel. Big deal? I think so, but that's just me

 

[Caulk Rocket]

Ed should detune his guitars so Dave can sing them in a lower key.

Detuned + 5150 = VH brütz

 

[SkyhighRocks]

These 2 sounded much better for Dave...they should have aired these songs instead...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xoIpHxRtVs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rei0kQxDuPc

 

[sixstringking713]

I felt ed rushed eruption and was sloppy

otherwise good guitar playing

I felt that way too. That's also the way I've felt about all his "performances" I've seen recently. It's like, "well, I've got to play this again, so here...."

The vamping section of Panama after Dave left the stage was cool stuff. Just filling time and impromptu jamming...because the show must go on. I thought it to be the most organic moment from the two evenings.

C'mon guys they are live TV, of course everything is rushed. Other than Dave's singing I thought it was a great performance. The playing overall and the backing vocals were really good. That's a lot of hard work to get them like that.

No I mean his NOTES were rushed and sloppy. That's fine that he had to play thru eruption fairly quick but the middle section (where you go up to 7th fret on A string and then D string and climb up the neck) was WAY sloppy and rushed. He should have played those notes a lot cleaner.... Reminded me of a kid I knew in college who could "play eruption" and I asked him to play it for me and he just did that sort of thing - jamming all the notes right after another and not playing it right. But to most people they dont know any better to notice how sloppy it is..

 

[jape23]

I felt ed rushed eruption and was sloppy

otherwise good guitar playing

I felt that way too. That's also the way I've felt about all his "performances" I've seen recently. It's like, "well, I've got to play this again, so here...."

The vamping section of Panama after Dave left the stage was cool stuff. Just filling time and impromptu jamming...because the show must go on. I thought it to be the most organic moment from the two evenings.

C'mon guys they are live TV, of course everything is rushed. Other than Dave's singing I thought it was a great performance. The playing overall and the backing vocals were really good. That's a lot of hard work to get them like that.

No I mean his NOTES were rushed and sloppy. That's fine that he had to play thru eruption fairly quick but the middle section (where you go up to 7th fret on A string and then D string and climb up the neck) was WAY sloppy and rushed. He should have played those notes a lot cleaner.... Reminded me of a kid I knew in college who could "play eruption" and I asked him to play it for me and he just did that sort of thing - jamming all the notes right after another and not playing it right. But to most people they dont know any better to notice how sloppy it is..

Yeah, fuck Edward Van Halen for not playing every single note up to our lofty standards.

My favorite thing to do when enjoying rock music is to watch closely and listen intently, arms crossed, waiting for someone to fall short in executing every single part with extreme precision. I don't care if the musician is playing under the pressure of live T.V. with millions of people watching. I don't care if the dude is 60 fucking years old! If he fucks up in any way at all, I'm going straight to my keyboard to let everyone know that he didn't play every single part like he did in the studio when he was 23 years old!

 

[sixstringking713]

I felt ed rushed eruption and was sloppy

otherwise good guitar playing

I felt that way too. That's also the way I've felt about all his "performances" I've seen recently. It's like, "well, I've got to play this again, so here...."

The vamping section of Panama after Dave left the stage was cool stuff. Just filling time and impromptu jamming...because the show must go on. I thought it to be the most organic moment from the two evenings.

C'mon guys they are live TV, of course everything is rushed. Other than Dave's singing I thought it was a great performance. The playing overall and the backing vocals were really good. That's a lot of hard work to get them like that.

No I mean his NOTES were rushed and sloppy. That's fine that he had to play thru eruption fairly quick but the middle section (where you go up to 7th fret on A string and then D string and climb up the neck) was WAY sloppy and rushed. He should have played those notes a lot cleaner.... Reminded me of a kid I knew in college who could "play eruption" and I asked him to play it for me and he just did that sort of thing - jamming all the notes right after another and not playing it right. But to most people they dont know any better to notice how sloppy it is..

Yeah, fuck Edward Van Halen for not playing every single note up to our lofty standards.

My favorite thing to do when enjoying rock music is to watch closely and listen intently, arms crossed, waiting for someone to fall short in executing every single part with extreme precision. I don't care if the musician is playing under the pressure of live T.V. with millions of people watching. I don't care if the dude is 60 fucking years old! If he fucks up in any way at all, I'm going straight to my keyboard to let everyone know that he didn't play every single part like he did in the studio when he was 23 years old!

Lol.. All I said is i thought eruption was sloppy... but yeah if I'm going to drop couple hundred on concert tickets to see them, I don't wanna see ed just going thru the motions.. Maybe its just me.

 

[jape23]

I felt ed rushed eruption and was sloppy

otherwise good guitar playing

I felt that way too. That's also the way I've felt about all his "performances" I've seen recently. It's like, "well, I've got to play this again, so here...."

The vamping section of Panama after Dave left the stage was cool stuff. Just filling time and impromptu jamming...because the show must go on. I thought it to be the most organic moment from the two evenings.

C'mon guys they are live TV, of course everything is rushed. Other than Dave's singing I thought it was a great performance. The playing overall and the backing vocals were really good. That's a lot of hard work to get them like that.

No I mean his NOTES were rushed and sloppy. That's fine that he had to play thru eruption fairly quick but the middle section (where you go up to 7th fret on A string and then D string and climb up the neck) was WAY sloppy and rushed. He should have played those notes a lot cleaner.... Reminded me of a kid I knew in college who could "play eruption" and I asked him to play it for me and he just did that sort of thing - jamming all the notes right after another and not playing it right. But to most people they dont know any better to notice how sloppy it is..

Yeah, fuck Edward Van Halen for not playing every single note up to our lofty standards.

My favorite thing to do when enjoying rock music is to watch closely and listen intently, arms crossed, waiting for someone to fall short in executing every single part with extreme precision. I don't care if the musician is playing under the pressure of live T.V. with millions of people watching. I don't care if the dude is 60 fucking years old! If he fucks up in any way at all, I'm going straight to my keyboard to let everyone know that he didn't play every single part like he did in the studio when he was 23 years old!

Lol.. All I said is i thought eruption was sloppy... but yeah if I'm going to drop couple hundred on concert tickets to see them, I don't wanna see ed just going thru the motions.. Maybe its just me.

Hey man, it's all good. We're all entitled to our opinions. What prompted my response was not just your post specifically, but more of a general internet culture of criticism that seems to exist everywhere these days. I've probably been guilty of it as well a time or two, probably on this very forum. It just gets to be kind of silly after a while. Everyone always seems to be criticizing someone else for not measuring up in some way. I certainly don't think EVH, or anyone else really, is above criticism, but it seems like there is never a shortage of people quick to point out even the most minute imperfections while overlooking so many of the positives of a given performance.

 

[Mailman1971]

Everyone always seems to be criticizing someone else for not measuring up in some way. I certainly don't think EVH, or anyone else really, is above criticism, but it seems like there is never a shortage of people quick to point out even the most minute imperfections while overlooking so many of the positives of a given performance.

Exactly.
You wanna hear it CD perfect? Go listen to the CD.