Occasionally Joe and I convince ourselves that we are young, when in fact, we are old. Late last year, two of our favorite bands announced concert dates and we decided we were young. Bon Jovi is my all-time favorite band and when I missed their last concert tour, I felt enormous guilt. (Maybe guilt wasn't the right word - maybe anguish at my old-ness.) Van Halen is one of Joe's favorite bands and are touring with the original lead singer, which neither one of us had seen.
Now, this concert calendar only created issues because in between these events, which were on the 14th of April and the 24th of April, respectively, we squeezed in a trip to Ireland!!! I wrote a couple of mini-reviews, which my friend enjoyed, so I decided to add them to my blog:
Bon Jovi:
I think my concert days may be about over, to be honest. I felt this nostalgic need to see Bon Jovi because I had seen every stinkin’ tour since Slippery When Wet EXCEPT the last one. So, then I felt all bad that 7 concerts (or however many) just wasn’t enough. Anyway…it was still good, but I just don’t have the desire to stay out that late on a school night anymore. Somebody Daughtry opened for them. I had to ask the girl next to me who that was because I’m totally clueless, but she said he’s from American Idol. Joe’s brother, Matt, says he’s great and he’s downloaded some of his stuff. O-kay. Jon – at one point – brought a girl up on stage with him. He was kind of out in the crowd. I’m not sure what he was standing on because he was above the crowd, but on a tiny stage. On the way back to the main stage, he seemed to be jumping across these tiny stages. Anyway…in spite of the fact that the median age was about 45 and the median weight was about 200 pounds, he managed to find the youngest, skinniest, prettiest girl in the arena. She was probably there to see Daughtry, but I guess you can’t blame a guy. She might have been the only one he could actually lift up there.
It really bites to get old!!! The best part about the night was the conversation that happened behind us on the train on the way home:
BOY: (drunk) YEAH, MAN!!! We’re on the TRAIN!!! The one with the upstairs. (NOTE: ALL the train cars have an upstairs on the TRE).
GIRL: (takes phone away from boy) I’m not sure which car…Just tell me what our stop is. Irving West? Okay. NOOOO!!! I was too busy trying to get “boy’s” drunk a** on the train!!!! (hangs up on call)
BOY: (sighs “lovingly”) Do you think were should get maaarrriiieedddd?
GIRL: Get OFF me! GAWD!!!!
Van Halen:
Is it still cool to smoke pot, because if it is, I missed that memo. Seriously. Major pot smokin' and it was disgusting!!!
I have to say that it’s a for sure sign that you’re (I’m) getting old that the highlight of the concert for me was that Eddie was wearing a brand new looking sparkly WEDDING RING!!! What??? Did he get married while he was in rehab? Was the rehab rumor ever confirmed (his re-admittance, that is)? I looked him up in Wikipedia when we got home, but no mention of a new wife. I assume he isn’t still wearing his ring from Valerie given that they’ve been split up for 7 years. Anyway…
Eddie looked great. He looked very healthy and he looked like he was having a good time. His hair is really tight (short), but I thought it looked good on him. If he’s sick or strung out, he’s hiding it well. Although I admit to not being an expert, I thought he sounded great, too. Dave looked good, too. His six-pack is more a two-pack now, but he’s thin and in great shape for a guy his age (not all bloated up like Vince Neil!!!). He has some major pork chops (sideburns) going on, but his hair is short, too, which since he’s thinning – a bit – on top, it is also a good look for him (Bret Michaels should possibly take note). He is such a peacock the way he struts around on stage with his chest all puffed out. Total showman. I could see how that would get on other band member’s nerves, but he shared the stage well all night with Eddie. They looked like they were having a great time together. I told Joe, it was definitely the Eddie / Dave show. Wolf walked around the most. They had a ramp onstage and Wolf would walk up and down (the youngster), but Eddie stayed in the same place pretty much and Dave just went back and forth and then there was a part that went out into the crowd a little that he went out on a couple of times. Dave sounded good, but he’s definitely lost his range. He can’t hit the high notes anymore at all – he doesn’t even try. He still has some high kicks, though, too. Eddie – not so much. All in all, it was quite enjoyable.
I didn’t see Wolf’s face all night – his hair is long in front and was covering up his eyes. I’ve seen pics though and he looks just like his mom, I think. I went to bathroom at one point and Joe said while I was gone, he played guitar and seemed to really come alive. I’m sure that’s what he grew up playing. Joe felt like they really downplayed him, but I guess that’s kind of a catch 22. What a mound of pressure – to be Eddie Van Halen’s kid!! Eddie was showcasing his equipment line – EVH amps and a Wolfgang guitar.
So…there you have it. Great show, fun times. Joe couldn’t resist a t-shirt.
The biggest difference I noticed between the two crowds – Bon Jovi vs. Van Halen: Bon Jovi was girl’s night out; Van Halen was boy’s night out. :-) Imagine that!
