2015-08-07 Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Toronto, ON

My Buddy that’s there just had his camera taken from him by security.
Also the venue has lost all power…

Power back on
Craig got his camera back VIP people got it back from security.
Power issues sorted out.
Same songs in Sound Check as last gig..

ron: Did he try to use it during Soundcheck?

No at the entry gate they took it from him..

guitard: I think what Ron’s trying to get at is – was it taken specifically for the soundcheck and then given back afterwards? As in – it’s not OK to bring to soundcheck, but OK for the main show.

I thought that VIP would assume that you had a camera, phone, etc. & informed you not to use it during sound check, but it was OK during the show. Sounds like a lack of communication between the artist & venue.

Great pics~!! Thanks.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/08/08/david-lee-roth-ruins-van-halens-vibe-in-toronto

David Lee Roth ruins Van Halen’s vibe in Toronto
BY JOHN WILLIAMS, POSTMEDIA NETWORK
FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, AUGUST 08, 2015 09:06 AM EDT
UPDATED: SATURDAY, AUGUST 08, 2015 03:27 PM EDT

Van Halen, Molson Amphitheatre
2.5 stars

Artist: Van Halen
Location: Molson Amphitheatre

TORONTO – “Hey Eddie, can you see if Sammy Hagar is still available?”

After Friday night’s two-hour performance by the David Lee Roth-led Van Halen at the sold-out Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto, some may be asking that very question that I just posed.

And, really, it’s a damn shame. Guitarist Eddie Van Halen has clearly got his mojo back – he’s playing, sounding and looking better than he ever has – it’s really a testament to a man who is focused on keeping the demons of his past in the past, and he’s clearly fallen in love with music again – you can see it on the glowing smile on his face.

No, we’re definitely not referring to him. Nor his son/bassist Wolfgang (even though yours truly has a soft spot for former bassist Michael Anthony), or to trustworthy backstopper Alex Van Halen.

We’re looking straight at you, Diamond Dave.

Singer Roth seems to be eyeing a career in old Las Vegas, what with all his wardrobe changes right in the middle of the show, the way he struts around in a slow-paced fashion, or how he expects a response from the crowd every time he smiles at them.

And let’s be realistic. We weren’t expecting the same leg kicks from yesteryear (and he thankfully left the spandex pants at home), nor were we waiting for the high-pitched “Wooooos!” and “Ohhhs!” We were, however, hoping for more than a half-assed lounge singer. And an excruciatingly bad one at that. This cannot be the same guy who made caterwauling and being a rock frontman an art form.

Roth spent a good chunk of the time talking — or sometimes mumbling -through a lot of Van Halen staples on this night, including Runnin’ With the Devil, Everybody Wants Some!!, Hot For Teacher, Panama and their 1981 classic, Unchained — which was barely recognizable.

I mean, even Eddie Van Halen has admitted that Roth is the guy that fans want to see, but at least on this night, those in attendance may be rethinking that standard party line.

And any notion that Eddie Van Halen and Roth don’t get along (as mentioned in the revealing EVH/Billboard interview from a few months back), was dispelled early on, with the two interacting frequently, whether it was smiling at each other while sharing the same microphone or gleefully admiring one another from the either end of the stage. Or perhaps they are both just supreme professionals, and it’s no different than you and I being mildly affable with an extremely annoying co-worker.

The group is smack dab in the middle of an ambitious 40-date tour which runs into October. Given the band’s tumultuous history, one wouldn’t be too far off in thinking that it may not have gotten to this point. But it has.

Roth’s night wasn’t a complete disaster. He showed shades of his old voice on tracks like Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Love, Hot For Teacher and a stellar version of Little Guitars, with EVH lighting up the crowd with some sizzling guitar work and backing vocals.

Opening for VH was axeman Kenny Wayne Shepherd, whose backing band seemed bored of the proceedings, and who could blame them. Most of the tunes were just one giant set-up for his long, meandering guitar solos that left the smattering of people in attendance heading for the concession stands.

Twitter: @johnwillms
Email: john.williams@sunmedia.ca

How many critics have to rip this guy before you guys admit Dave vocally sucks and is an embarrassment to the band and the brand that is Van Halen. I cannot believe how his fans can say his vocals are good. We all want to be able to continue to see and enjoy this band but come on if this was another singer in another band they would be ripped here worse than the critics are ripping Dave.