In the Van Halen review that went on the PG Web site Wednesday, I noted that something seemed to be missing from the band.

Seemed to me that maybe it was the vocal acrobatics of David Lee Roth.

Needless to say, it generated some reader reaction.

• Chris, who says he plays a bunch of instruments, offered this more technical analysis:

"There indeed is a problem with this band. But it's Alex, not DLR's raspy voice or EVH's left hand mechanics or more 'in-the-safe-box' approach to improvisation. Alex rushed almost every song. And his playing is too busy and he lacks proper dynamics, even for a rock drummer. Eddie and Wolfie had trouble keeping up with uncle speed racer, because he kept either pushing the tempo inappropriately or he accelerated slightly when doing a long fill clockwise around the whole kit. This in effect pushes the 1 beat 'early' which can be cool, but not if the effect is to up the BPM. This caused a lack of synchronization between bass, drums, guitar unless wolfie and eddie followed uncle speed racer down the rat hole."

• A.J. saw it another way:

"They definitely weren't tight -- Dave sounded really ragged and (my guitar whiz friend tells me) it was EDDIE who was all over the place tempo-wise, and that Alex was solid as a rock. I felt like I was seeing a decent local band (you know, where none of the members look anything alike) with EVH sitting in."

• A friend in the industry whose opinion I respect said:

"I agree [about Roth]. Van Halen were good but not great. Eddie was great, so was alex. And Wolfie I thought did well too. Dave was actually sort of a distraction to me. He's in good shape, still mobile, but just...ANNOYING to some degree, y'know?"

Yeah, I do.

• Sylvain thought the problem was with my own tastes:

>"So, how are your Elvis Costello albums? You are so off the mark on your review it's laughable. Show me another frontman who brings it like Dave.... you just don't get it and obviously you aren't a VH fan."

Yes, I have more EC records than VH records, and they're fine. Another frontman? How 'bout Iggy Pop? He brings it a lot more than Dave. So does Elvis Costello, who could sing the chrome off a bumper.

• Roy thought I went to the wrong show:

"I don't know what show you were watching, but wed night show was ROCKING. The crowd was definitely lame on the floor considering all the bad outfits, but from where I was sitting 6 rows back in the igloo, EVERYONE there was jamming. Maybe you should put away your New Kids on the Block records and start listening to some real rock."

New Kids on the Block wasn't "real rock"? You're kidding.

• Nathan, from Minneapolis, thought the problem was Pittsburgh.

"I've seen them twice so far on the tour, and I'll see them in Duluth, GA, next week. I think you live in a slow city called Pittsburgh, just as bad as Philly!!! I live in Minneapolis, corporate city USA buddy....Best Buy, Target, 3M, General Mills...I can go on and on...Bro. Go listen to Maroon 5 like all the other morons, and try to write a decent review with meaning!! East coast dumb &*#@s!"

I sent him back a simple email:

Super Bowl IX

Steelers 16 Vikings 6

Stanley Cup Finals 91-92

Penguins-North Stars

Pittsburgh wins series 4-2

'nuff said