Readers weigh in on Van Halen, ZinZanni

This week, readers weighed in on Patrick MacDonald's review of Van Halen and Misha Berson's write-up of Teatro ZinZanni.

Off Key

Van Halen is showing their age but, no doubt about it, they still rock. I do, however, have a problem with the sound system at KeyArena. This was our first time at this venue. During the introduction to several songs, "And the Cradle Will Rock" for example, the sound mixing was garbled and the vocal/guitar was out of sync. Plus, it was hard to hear David Lee Roth's vocals during several songs.

We were seated at $300-plus seats and had an almost direct view of the mixing board. I noticed four laptop computers. I guess this is the state-of-the-art system for sound mixing boards. But I have to tell you, the sound quality of this concert was one of the worst I have heard. There is something to be said for too much technology. In the past, there was never an issue with sound quality at a concert. Probably because the sound guy used an old-school analog mixing board. Granted, it is and will never be like studio quality, but this was pretty bad.

If Van Halen heard their concert from where we were sitting, they would most definitely want to know about it.

— Robert Mahar, Gig Harbor

Also sounding off

Your review of the show was right on, except for the sound. (A major deal, of course.) Spending almost $100 per ticket, one would expect to enjoy the music with a clear understanding of what song the band is singing. The instruments sounded great, but once David Lee Roth joined in with vocals, it was difficult to determine what song was being played/sung. There were even times when it seemed as though Roth wasn't even singing, although you could see his mouth putting out the words.

It was a joy to be entertained by one of the greatest bands ever, but we didn't get our money's worth. If I ever get the chance to go to another one of their concerts, I think I'll just stay home and play my CDs real loud and enjoy all aspects of this wonderful band!

— Kim Bauer, Newcastle

Below the belt?

Did you really need the parenthetical about [16-year-old Wolfgang Van Halen's] baby fat? The comment about being out past his bedtime was funny and got the point across. I know that once you're on stage, you're fair game for reviewers, but that zinger just seemed like a cheap shot.

— J. Marie Riche, Woodinville

Time to clean up ZinZanni's act

I read with great interest [Misha Berson's] review of the reopened Teatro ZinZanni. I first saw the production 10 years ago at the Mercer Street location and loved it. Since then I have taken a number of out-of-town visitors to the production, as recently as last summer. One evening a group of six (including two pre-teens) ended up costing me nearly $1,000, but the evening was worth it, and the boys in Maryland still talk enthusiastically about their experience.

However, it seemed to me that over the years, the show had become increasingly filled with juvenile sexual humor. I am a psychologist who does a fair amount of sexual counseling and am as far from prudish as it's possible to be. However, after taking friends last summer to the production, I decided that I would not return again since I found the emphasis on immature sexual humor to be tedious and simply insulting to an intelligent audience. I was therefore heartened when I read your sentiments echoing my own. Thank you for separating the wheat from the chaff in your articulate review.

— Ben Danis, Seattle

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