Saw Van Halen with Diamond Dave last night!

[Rick Lee]

What better way to spend the day than driving the 993 ridiculously fast up to Philly to see VH and then back home after a quick stop at Pat's for cheesesteaks? Yes, I did this. My two buddies and I split a cube of Beast in the parking lot and then walked up to the box office where we paid FACE VALUE for FLOOR SEATS! We were dead center, less than 50 ft. from the stage. Best $149 I've ever spent.

Concert was LOUD. I saw Rush five times in outdoor ampitheatres this summer and once indoors last weekend. I had forgotten how loud it is indoors. VH was incredibly LOUD. Bring earplugs.

Anyway, they all played great, Dave sounded way, way better than in the old bootleg clips I'd seen of classic VH days. He was really on, in tip top physical shape and wasn't over the top in any way at all. I think Ed probably set him straight before the tour and told him to keep it down a little.

Ed has not lost it at all. The man brought his A game last night and played way better than in the Youtube clips I'd seen from the final rehearsal. He couldn't move around as much as the others because he doesn't use a wireless. So he's a bit hobbled by the patch cords. We all know Ed is a tone freak and I've read he's one of those guys who can tell a huge difference in sound quality between different cables and wireless. Al was on fire too. Played like a champ. Wolfgang played very well too. I hate to make excuses for the guy, but you pretty much have to for a 16 yr. old whose first ever gig out is playing with VH. He doesn't have much stage presence, but he can play and he can sing. Still, I'm a Michael Anthony loyalist and that whole thing still bothers me.

Highlight songs were Somebody Get Me a Doctor and Beatiful Girls. The guitar work in both those just gave me goosebumps. Ed absolutely crushed each guitar solo. However, the one that really surprised me and IMHO stole the show was the guitar solo for And the Cradle Will Rock. Dead on nailed it. Go see these guys. You won't be disappointed. I'll see them again when they come to DC on 11/01.

[Rick Lee]

Here's how it looked from my cell phone.

[Big Ed]

what the heck is a cube of beast?

Sounds like a great time!

[Rick Lee]

Cube of Beast is a 30 pack of Milwaukee's Best. It's a college tradition - Beast for VH shows, Piels for Rush and Pabst for all others.

[JeremyD]

Noice - can't believe no shows in the southeast -

[gprsh924]

Uggh, I can't believe you drank beast.

[Big Ed]

Oh God, I haven't drank that crap since college. I still remember chugging the first 3 beers each night to catch a buzz so we couldn't taste the swill.

[masraum]

hmm, ok, 10 beers each, and not just any beer, but Beast? Yikes.

Some traditions need to die or at least evolve.

[Rick Lee]

Hey, when we started drinking Beast, it was all we could afford. My two buddies at the show were college buddies and we went to a TON of concerts with dirt cheap beer in those days. It's just a tradition. At home I drink the good stuff. Besides, how can you ripcord from a bottle? You need cans and an ignition key for that stuff.

[Paul T]

Was there too, also with a couple of college buddies (no beast though!). I agree, best show I've seen in a long time. I'm a huge VH fan and they really brought it. Would love to go again...

I'm hurting today - not used to pounding beers on a Monday!

[Rick Lee]

My ears are still ringing. I wadded up some napkin strips for ear plugs, but then just gave up and went sans and held my ears for the excellent mix during guitar solos.

[911boost]

The Beast rocks, was it Beast Light, or Beast Heavy? I still grab a 12 pack every once in a while. I am by no means a beer snob. I have New Belgium in my back yard and I drink that too, but sometimes you just gotta..

Bill

[JavaBrewer]

Any camera shots of Ed or that new bass player?

I won't go to a concert without ear plugs. Too much abuse of ears in my youth via concerts and Sony Walkman. I went to a Joan Jett concert in Santa Barbara back in the 80's and my ears rang for days.

[gprsh924]

I prefer natural light

[gt350mike]

Originally Posted by gprsh924

I prefer natural light

I was a poor college student back in the day and when I was given the choice between the Beast and Natural Light (my son calls it "Natty"), I went with a coke or water!

I drank Ol Milwaukee at a end of the school party during my sophomore year and it gave me the worst hangover that I have ever experienced, so I made it a cardinal rule to stay away from the cheap stuff!!!

Glad to hear that VH is doing well………..I hate the fact that they decided not to have a show for us backward ass hillbillies in the SE!

[JavaBrewer]

I wasn't there - this is off utube. I can say that in this one song Ed physically moves more than he did the entire show a year back here in San Diego touring with SH. And not a single glup of *mystery* beverage...

[450knotOffice]

Awesome! Thanks for that. Cant wait to see them.

[jbripps]

I'm seeing them here in NY on November 3...a Saturday....super excited....thanks for the great feedback. More excited now.

J

[Rick Lee]

Very slight chance I'll be at the 11/03 show too. Will definitely see them here on 11/01. But that's gonna suck because I'll be with a lot of people and they'll all want to sit together, which means they'll want nosebleed seats. Got stuck like that for one Rush concert too, where our group was huge and wanted to sit in the lawn, which I really hate.

[Craig 930 RS]

Hey Rick -

I've got seats 20 rows back, dead center for Seattle in December. How many rows back were yours - they look close!