I hate New Jersey.

I live in NYC and go through great lengths daily to avoid stepping foot in the Garbage State. So when I found out Van Halen was performing live with DLR at the Continental Airlines Arena IZOD Center (what a wack name for a venue) I was completely torn. For one night I would have to put my Jersey Issues aside to see the greatest F-ing rock band of all time.

What WAS the greatest f-ing rock band of all time might be a bit more accurate. Yeah, it was great to see a big rock show in an big arena – big sound, big solos, big screen. Even cooler was to see Diamond Dave back in the front alongside Eddie Van Halen, having what seemed to be a pretty damn good time. But pound for pound, the whole experience was pretty bitter sweet.

On the surface, the show looked and felt like classic Van Halen, but after my initial burst of awe settled I could not help but feel a bit depressed. Gone were the trademark walls ‘o Marshall stacked cabinets only to be replaced by Eddie’s own signature EVH brand. Also absent from most of the show was the red and white Frankenstrat guitar that was so identifiably VH. At times I was not sure if I was watching a rock show or a concert-length advertisement. A humbling experience, to say the least.

Read the rest of the article and check out VIDEO from the show after the jump. (more…)

Last night’s Muse & Cold War Kids concert at MSG brought ‘rock’ back to the rock show.

In recent years I’ve been bored by “rock” concerts that were half-assed and lacked energy. Not last night! Muse left everyone in the arena saying, “wow WTF just happened! I’m deaf, I have sea legs because the arena was literally shaking, my eyes are blinded from the Kiss-esque visual effects and I’m completely happy that I spent $40 bucks on that ticket.”

Cold War Kids, the opening act, have a sound that’s soulful and chill, plus any band that busts out a Sax solo is cool in my book. CWK will benefit greatly from this stint with Muse and I’m looking forward to seeing them again in NYC.

After the jump check out the pictures and a sweet bootleg vid of “Plug in Baby.” (more…)