Well, VH opening night clips are hitting the web

[Gainfreak]

On another note, Im not saying the EVH has to play like he was in his prime again, Im just saying that if he can't play that way then he should play more in context of what he is capable of doing at this point in time.(ala Clapton)

He needs Carl to come out and stunt double for him, play a "real blues" solo over a Trower backing track.

I’m sorry but that is beneath Carl. He doesn't play out anymore since he became a master player.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

I don't think getting older is an automatic excuse for not playing well. There's plenty of players who continue to get better well into their advanced years

 

[Gainfreak]

I don't think getting older is an automatic excuse for not playing well. There's plenty of players who continue to get better well into their advanced years

Its actually a crock of shit until you reach a really old age But I didn't want to say so! The bottom line is that Eddie did not touch the guitar for a few years and its showing IMHO.
Tell Frank Gambale who is in his 50's that he is past his prime. the guy is sharper then ever IMHO.

 

[Gainzilla]

The only thing disappointing to me is that Eddie's playing doesn't seem much different than his sober nights from the last tour. Few and far between as the sober nights were....

His style of the last ten years or so just doesn't hit me like he did 20 years ago. At least he dumped the sustainer, I guess.

But I take back what I've said about Wolfie, he seems to be kicking ass.

I agree with you big time... especially on the solo spot which I agree should be retired. Thats a hard thing to do because lets face it, its EVH and its kind of expected that he does something but maybe it should be a somewhat worked out medley of his solo pieces as opposed to just noodling off the cuff.

The songs themselves sound pretty damn good IMO and Eddie appears to have regained a bit of what he lost but as Ralphie said, its early in the tour and with a couple of shows under his belt, he may get his groove back. Currently, I dont have tix for any area shows but it would be nice to see the guy that amazed me more than anyone else recapture some of what made him so magical

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

Three things I notice...

1) EVH - Very rusty, but GREAT tone!!!

2) I miss those awesome screams Roth used to do... actually he over did them in the early years. Now, I guess he can't do 'em?!

3) Wolfy's a solid musician.

Keith

ps... I just wish the Toronto date was later on in the tour...
when they're really cook'n!!

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

I don't think getting older is an automatic excuse for not playing well. There's plenty of players who continue to get better well into their advanced years

Its actually a crock of shit until you reach a really old age But I didn't want to say so! The bottom line is that Eddie did not touch the guitar for a few years and its showing IMHO.
Tell Frank Gambale who is in his 50's that he is past his prime. the guy is sharper then ever IMHO.

Yep!

Got to see Lynch recently!! The guy's on top of his game, better than ever!

Keith

 

[Gainzilla]

I don't think getting older is an automatic excuse for not playing well. There's plenty of players who continue to get better well into their advanced years

amen Tom!!! Robin Trower at almost 63 hasnt lost a step, Frank Marino at 57 might be at his best, Ronnie james Dio at 65 is a freak of nature... the list goes on and on... From what Ive heard of the recent EVH stuff, There are glimpses of the fire that made Eddie a star, I really hope that he can rediscover that..

 

[tweed]

I don't think getting older is an automatic excuse for not playing well. There's plenty of players who continue to get better well into their advanced years

amen Tom!!! Robin Trower at almost 63 hasnt lost a step, Frank Marino at 57 might be at his best, Ronnie james Dio at 65 is a freak of nature... the list goes on and on... From what Ive heard of the recent EVH stuff, There are glimpses of the fire that made Eddie a star, I really hope that he can rediscover that..

Exactly!!

I am almost done listening to the entire opening night show. Its kinda funny and sad all at the same time. When he's on fire, he's on fire, when he clams it its like a bucket full o clams instead of just a few here and there. And Im not saying he has to play perfect or anything close to that, but when he flubs up its just, .... It's mostly in the rythms parts, almost like he forgot where the songs were going. Hopefully with time that will get better.

 

[killertone]

I am noticing his rhythm time is off just a bit. Seems like he is playing a little too behind the beat. Digging the tone though and Roth sounds pretty damn good.

I am debating getting a ticket for the KC show...a bunch of buddies of mine are cruising up there since there are no Texas dates. Speaking of that, what the fuck? No Texas dates?

 

[Gainfreak]

I don't think getting older is an automatic excuse for not playing well. There's plenty of players who continue to get better well into their advanced years

Its actually a crock of shit until you reach a really old age But I didn't want to say so! The bottom line is that Eddie did not touch the guitar for a few years and its showing IMHO.
Tell Frank Gambale who is in his 50's that he is past his prime. the guy is sharper then ever IMHO.

Yep!

Got to see Lynch recently!! The guy's on top of his game, better than ever!

Keith

Keith!!

There is one thing that I said to myself as a kid and that was that I told myself that I never wanted to be a nostalgia kind of guy as I age. If an idol of mine is sucking, I will say so and I will not let my previous memories of what once was affect my judgement.


On another note, This is also the reason why I can listen to a lot of the younger guitarist that are out today and appreciate what they are doing instead of being that old jaded prick who dismisses anything that is current
Good is good and to close your mind off, like so many people my age do is just plain stupid IMHO.

All the best bro!!

~R~

 

[Telephant]

Speaking of that, what the fuck? No Texas dates?

Tell me about it Bro. Which is a shame. A coworker was telling me back in the day, they always used to play Texas. He mentioned some big festival they used to have in Dallas back in the day called the Texas Jam. Wish I could of been around for that.

 

[degenaro]

Uhem...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjx_GjyXCs4

 

[loudgtr]

Flame away I'm sure . . . but whenever I see video clips of Eddie playing- when Cherone was with them, he played simply amazing! I don't think I've ever seen him play better then in the live clips when they were on tour for VHIII. Do a youtube search and check it out. Tone wasn't that much different from what he has now...but his chops were A+ compared to what they are now.

BTW didn't Dave used to jump around alot live? So far all the clips he seems pretty laid back all the time. I thought he'd be running around alot more than just walkin all the time. At least Ed seems to have the same energy live as usual.

 

[Rufus Leaking]

I don't think getting older is an automatic excuse for not playing well. There's plenty of players who continue to get better well into their advanced years

amen Tom!!! Robin Trower at almost 63 hasnt lost a step, Frank Marino at 57 might be at his best, Ronnie james Dio at 65 is a freak of nature... the list goes on and on... From what Ive heard of the recent EVH stuff, There are glimpses of the fire that made Eddie a star, I really hope that he can rediscover that..

Exactly!!

I am almost done listening to the entire opening night show. Its kinda funny and sad all at the same time. When he's on fire, he's on fire, when he clams it its like a bucket full o clams instead of just a few here and there. And Im not saying he has to play perfect or anything close to that, but when he flubs up its just, .... It's mostly in the rythms parts, almost like he forgot where the songs were going. Hopefully with time that will get better.

I honestly think he's just killed so many brain cells from years of abuse, that connections in his brain are now sporadic and misfiring.

It is sad but at least he's back out there playing fairly well and teamed with Roth again. His tone is pretty ferocious although a little snarly and
'cocked wah' sounding. I can't believe how much gain he's using these days!

 

[Gainfreak]

Uhem...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjx_GjyXCs4

 

[Bob Savage]

well i just bit the bullet and scored 2 tix for Dec. 20th at anaheim pond.

i figure i never got a chance to see the roth era VH when they were my favorite band of all, so i got a second chance!

taking my boy for a father/son deal....he's been begging me!

WOW!!! Pat, as many shred shows and stuff as you went to back in the day (or at least, I perceive you went to loads...), I'm blown away you never saw the original VH lineup!

If I had a son that wanted to go, I'd probably hit this tour up too.

Make sure you guys wear full body condoms. That old VH crowd is gonna be skanky.

 

[thiswaythatway]

The only thing disappointing to me is that Eddie's playing doesn't seem much different than his sober nights from the last tour. Few and far between as the sober nights were....

His style of the last ten years or so just doesn't hit me like he did 20 years ago. At least he dumped the sustainer, I guess.

But I take back what I've said about Wolfie, he seems to be kicking ass.

I actually think that he sounds terrible. I really dig the tone but I never saw Eddie miss so many notes and play so badly other then the 94 shows. That said, Im sure it's just because he hasn't touched his guitar in a long while and he has the jitters but so far, I think his playing is sub par. Id love to hear some more clips later on in the tour but for now... he doesn't have it together and even though I am a HUGE fan I will not let my love for the Band cloud my judgement. What Im hearing is pure crap IMHO. I don't care if Eddie is past his prime or any of the many excuses I have been hearing on many of the boards. I know the man is capable of playing better and Im possitive that he will play much better later on after the ring rust has cleared!!

I wish he would play I'm The One the same way it's on the record. But i wonder if he ever played it exactly the same. One of my favorites licks is on that tune and i was waiting for it, but it never came. It's a series of cool pull-offs in E Pentatonic at the 12th fret on the second main solo.

And i think it will take about 5 weeks for a big feud to erupt to cancel the whole tour as Eddie slides off the wagon and blames the type of concete used in the arenas as to why he's a drunk drug abuser.

 

[Bob Savage]

And it seems like it's really time to retire the long solo spot. No shame in that.

Absolutely. I don't want to be negative, but some of that solo was painful to listen to. Hopefully Ralph is right and Eddie's going to kick it up once he gets settled. My personal opinion is that this is as good as it gets though. All in all, I think the band sounds very good and Wolfgang is indeed doing a great job of filling Anthony's shoes.

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with you big time... especially on the solo spot which I agree should be retired. Thats a hard thing to do because lets face it, its EVH and its kind of expected that he does something but maybe it should be a somewhat worked out medley of his solo pieces as opposed to just noodling off the cuff.

I hate to tell you fellers this, but EVH is not playing that solo piece for us guitar players. He is playing for the legion of screaming, thrilled, amazed non-guitar-playing fans who expect that guitar solo and respond as if what he is doing is the second coming of the messiah, regardless of whether he's drunkenly rolling around on his back with the sustainer feeding back in '04 or playing at the absolute top of his off-the-cuff amazing game in '82...

I don't see why he should change anything to please a bunch of guitar players... its working for the audience as near as I can tell...

Steve

 

[tweed]

Uhem...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjx_GjyXCs4

Holy freaking CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Step away from the DTuna and put the guitar down. I wonder if he couldn't hear himself on stage and was just rollin' with it. Almost like the last Zepjam. It was so stinking loud you couldn't hear yourself playing 2 ft from the amps.