Van F*cking Halen

When I heard the news that Van Halen was reuniting with David Lee Roth, I was excited. While I have always thought Sammy Hagar was the perfect choice as their frontman replacement, it put to rest years of great music that had Roth's trademark style all over it. Other groups just move on, playing the songs that made them famous in the first place. Sammy sang a few of David's songs. But it really didn't compare.

The tour started late last year. Everything I was reading was good. Real good. Surprisingly good. These guys are in their 50's! How good could it be?

God damn rock on f*ckin' good is how.

Van Halen just completed two and half hours of rocking their music, their way, as if it were 38 years ago. No one has anything on these guys.

My wife and I ate at Elsa's prior to the show. There was an opening act. It started at 7:30. I figure VH would be on at 9:00 and we'd be home around 11:00. Wrong. We missed the first couple of songs. They started about 8:30 and played to about 11:00.
It was incredible! David Lee Roth is an amazing guy. First, his voice . . . if he was a 10 38 years ago, he was a 9 tonight. He sounded incredible. Energetic, funny, smiling constantly . . . he didn't do quite the amount of karate kicks, but he did do them. At one point he opened his shirt . . . god damn him. You could put a 25 year olds head on his body and you'd have a close to perfect man. Rock hard, cut, toned . . . damn him. If anything, I've got him on hair. All of them, though, were age appropriate. Nick looking, clean, sharp.

Eddie was a little more subdued than he's been in the past. Between age and having his hips replaced, it's no wonder. But there was nothing wrong with his fingers. Eddie reminded us all night not only what a pioneer he's been to the Van Halen sound, but that he'd still kick anyone's ass on guitar. He moved and jumped a bit throughout the night. But my feeling is that the warranty has runout on the hips and he's not taking any chances.

Alex is Eddie's OLDER brother. Which mean he's around 55! Quite simply put, no one has told him that, yet, and it doesn't show. Neil Pert might still be considered on of rock's greatest drummers, but Alex is right behind him. His solo was amazing.

Then there's Wolfie. Wolfgang Van Halen. 16 year old son of Eddie. OK. I understand 50 isn't THAT old, that there's still a lot of life left in a person, an ability to perform and entertain. But there's the opposite end of that spectrum. Noobs don't have the years of experience, of playing and perfecting, of playing the crowd, of lasting the night! 16? Well, let me put it this way . . .

Michael who?

The kid is awesome. Really good. Both on bass and vocally, too. He had one short solo during the night. He nailed it good.

26 songs later and it looked like most people left the Bradley Center in shock . . . happy . . . but amazed. Amazed that somehow they had aged, but Van Halen did not. It was a good crowd. About 90% full and rockin' throughout.

And with good reason. Van Halen gave a lesson in rock music tonight. They gave a lesson in performing, being cool, being hot, and getting down with it. They were awesome!