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!
Showing posts with label Van Halen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Van Halen. Show all posts
Monday, April 28, 2008
You Really Got Me . . . stoked!
OK, this might not help my dorkdom much but I'm seeing Van Halen tonight. I'm stoked. From everything I've read the band is good . . . tight. Their set list is a Van Halen fan of the past dream come true. 26 songs in all. Wow. I can't wait. But wait I must and take care of this nagging little detail . . . work.
So the little one goes to her auntie Mimi's while the wife and I have our extended 80's moment. In addition to the band, I can't wait to see the crowd.
Panama!
So the little one goes to her auntie Mimi's while the wife and I have our extended 80's moment. In addition to the band, I can't wait to see the crowd.
Panama!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Eruption! I don't have to wait long!
I've admitted to being a Rock 'n Roller, and a bit of a metal head. I have a love for the 80's hard rock bands and have seen quite a few over the years. One of my perennial favorites is Van Halen. Not only does Van Halen virtually define 80's hard rock, Eddie was instrumental (get it?) in shaping it's sound with his unique sound and guitar technique. He didn't invent finger tapping, but he did pave the way for it's popularity.
When David Lee Roth split from the group, I was a little shocked . . . and sad. What would happen to the group I loved so?
Sammy Hagar Walks In (get it?).
It was perfect. First, he was another guitar player. Second, he wrote some pretty good songs on his own. It really brought Van Halen to a new level. As much as I liked the old Van Halen and Roth, the new Van Halen rocked. Sammy was every bit as good a front man as David was. Vocally, probably a bit better.
Anyone who has followed the group knows Eddie is kind of a nut case. Temperamental, over bearing, controlling . . . and worse when he's sober. He was a mess. It came as no surprise that Sammy eventually left. Eddie also had other problems. Tongue cancer and arthritis. He's had surgery to cut out a portion of his tongue and surgery to replace a hip. Guitar god, perhaps. But mortal none the less. It seemed like the end.
There had been talks of a reunion on several occasions. David did come back once before to join Sammy on a short tour and record updated versions of their songs. Again, it was short lived. Eddie, Sammy, and David together on the road? I can only imagine. My understanding is that there's no love loss between David and Sammy. Go figure.
Fast forward to recent times . . . ironic how it turns out David is the most normal of the bunch. He did radio for a while (he's a conservative) and trained to become a paramedic . . . and worked as one going on hundreds of calls. He's a pretty stand up guy, now. Though time and age has tamed Eddie as well.
I believe it was early last year when the news finally broke . . . Van Halen was reuniting with Roth. Then, no. Then, YES! Unfortunately, there would be no Michael Anthony as he got fed up with everyone and formed a new group and was committed to them. In steps in Eddie's son, Wolfgang. All of 15 years old, Wolfie was to take Anthony's place on bass guitar.
What?
I still think it's pretty weird, but all reports indicate he's good. Real good.
I had planned to go to Chicago with my wife to see Van Halen as Milwaukee wasn't on the original tour schedule. I thought it would be a cool over night date. At the time, though, I really wanted to go to Door County with the whole family. Doing both would have been expensive. Plus, I thought if I waited, they'd get around to Milwaukee. I was right. The day the tickets went on sale was the same day Miley Cyrus tickets went on sale. Miley was virtually a waste of time as tickets sold out within minutes. Van Halen, though, I scored big. Very good seats.
Eddie seemed ready to hit the road. Seemed to have his "act together", so to speak. Nope. News came of a few dates being postponed due to medical reasons. As I post this, no one knows why, yet. Soon after more dates were cancelled. Including Milwaukee.
Crap.
News today has it that Van Halen will perform at the end of April . . . instead of April 7th. So, not bad. Not bad at all. It will be interesting to see if the Bradley Center sold out. Other places have. Whatever the case, I'm looking forward to this. Seeing Van Halen again is not just about Eddie or Dave. It's a testament about the music of the time. I highly doubt we'll see a Britney Spears come back tour in 30 years.
Rock on.
When David Lee Roth split from the group, I was a little shocked . . . and sad. What would happen to the group I loved so?
Sammy Hagar Walks In (get it?).
It was perfect. First, he was another guitar player. Second, he wrote some pretty good songs on his own. It really brought Van Halen to a new level. As much as I liked the old Van Halen and Roth, the new Van Halen rocked. Sammy was every bit as good a front man as David was. Vocally, probably a bit better.
Anyone who has followed the group knows Eddie is kind of a nut case. Temperamental, over bearing, controlling . . . and worse when he's sober. He was a mess. It came as no surprise that Sammy eventually left. Eddie also had other problems. Tongue cancer and arthritis. He's had surgery to cut out a portion of his tongue and surgery to replace a hip. Guitar god, perhaps. But mortal none the less. It seemed like the end.
There had been talks of a reunion on several occasions. David did come back once before to join Sammy on a short tour and record updated versions of their songs. Again, it was short lived. Eddie, Sammy, and David together on the road? I can only imagine. My understanding is that there's no love loss between David and Sammy. Go figure.
Fast forward to recent times . . . ironic how it turns out David is the most normal of the bunch. He did radio for a while (he's a conservative) and trained to become a paramedic . . . and worked as one going on hundreds of calls. He's a pretty stand up guy, now. Though time and age has tamed Eddie as well.
I believe it was early last year when the news finally broke . . . Van Halen was reuniting with Roth. Then, no. Then, YES! Unfortunately, there would be no Michael Anthony as he got fed up with everyone and formed a new group and was committed to them. In steps in Eddie's son, Wolfgang. All of 15 years old, Wolfie was to take Anthony's place on bass guitar.
What?
I still think it's pretty weird, but all reports indicate he's good. Real good.
I had planned to go to Chicago with my wife to see Van Halen as Milwaukee wasn't on the original tour schedule. I thought it would be a cool over night date. At the time, though, I really wanted to go to Door County with the whole family. Doing both would have been expensive. Plus, I thought if I waited, they'd get around to Milwaukee. I was right. The day the tickets went on sale was the same day Miley Cyrus tickets went on sale. Miley was virtually a waste of time as tickets sold out within minutes. Van Halen, though, I scored big. Very good seats.
Eddie seemed ready to hit the road. Seemed to have his "act together", so to speak. Nope. News came of a few dates being postponed due to medical reasons. As I post this, no one knows why, yet. Soon after more dates were cancelled. Including Milwaukee.
Crap.
News today has it that Van Halen will perform at the end of April . . . instead of April 7th. So, not bad. Not bad at all. It will be interesting to see if the Bradley Center sold out. Other places have. Whatever the case, I'm looking forward to this. Seeing Van Halen again is not just about Eddie or Dave. It's a testament about the music of the time. I highly doubt we'll see a Britney Spears come back tour in 30 years.
Rock on.
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