- The Beatles: But, hey, let's be realistic.
- Led Zeppelin: Never gonna happen, even with Jason Bonham on drums...the show at O2 in England a couple of years ago non-withstanding. Though, I HAVE seen Robert Plant solo twice and Jimmy Page solo on his 'Outrider' tour.
- The MIGHTY Van Halen!
Now, when I say the MIGHTY Van Halen, it's because any version not fronted by David Lee Roth is a wussed out, watered down version of Van Halen. Sorry to the Sammy Hagar fans out there, but let's be realistic about this - Van Halen with Hagar is like The Who with Kenny Jones on drums, or Guns N Roses with Buckethead on lead guitar: there is talent and flashes of greatness, but the chemistry is different and cannot be replicated.
As far as the Gary Cherone years (or was it YEAR)...well... *COUGH*...and we move on....
So that leaves the proverbial 'elephant in the room' being Michael Anthony vs. Wolfgang Van Halen on bass...
I don't see Michael Anthony missing from this touring package as much of a misstep as, say, Bill Ward not playing with the rest of Black Sabbath (aka Ozzy and Friends). Is the reason for him not being with VH at this point kinda silly? Yes. Would it be really, really cool if he was in the band? Yes. But unlike Bill Ward, what Michael Anthony did/does can be replicated. Yes, there are better drummers than Bill Ward out there, but it's just not Black Sabbath without him. On the other hand...VH lost Michael Anthony (again, stupid reasons...EVH's ego and pride, etc) and gained ANOTHER Van Halen - Wolfgang...Eddie's son.
To me, that last part is probably the main source of the consternation around this situation: He's Eddie's son, he was only 15 when he joined, he's a pudgy boy, whatever... I can't say that I didn't feel the same - it was like your boss hiring his high school dropout son to be your supervisor.
With that said, last night the only reason why I thought of Michael Anthony was in the sense of "it really doesn't matter that he isn't here": Wolfie really did an absolute bang-up job of being Van Halen's bass player - the kid can play (I mean, he IS EVH's kid, for pete's sake!) but moreso, his vocal harmonies are SPOT ON. In fact, I would say that was one of THE MOST impressive parts of the entire show - the backing vocals were so strong that it allowed David Lee Roth to do his 'thing'...but also were so strong that they REALLY put the spotlight on DLR's vocal 'oops' as well.
Now...let's talk about the show.
Stage set was actually very minimalistic. There was a very large video screen behind the band, Amps on both sides of the stage, Drum riser, and that is it... Plain, simple, beautiful.
One of the greatest moments of my life was meeting David Lee Roth about 12 years ago. It was at "Crazy Girls" in Los Angeles - a strip club that is about as un-strip club as it gets - it was a music industry hang out, and none of us ever watched the girls. We KNEW all of them!
This was one of DLR's regular haunts, and on this one occasion I got to hang out with him for about 45 minutes - just me and him...two guys just shooting the shit about music. He was every bit "David Lee Roth" during our conversation, and was this same showman self on stage last night: witty banter, odd references, great puns - a funny, likable awkward guy. His singing drove one to be mercurial...meaning your emotions vacillate between "This man is the god of all frontmen" to " For Christ sake, can you sing it CLOSE to how you recorded it?? I wanna sing along, dammit!" This has been DLR's m.o. for years, so this came as no surprise to me (I've seen him 4 times during his solo career). He danced around lyrics, changed them on the fly, and, in one instance ("Chinatown") forgot them...AGAIN (he forgot the lyrics to the same song at their previous show at MSG - he at least acknowledged this with self effacing humor).
Being that this show was taking place at Mohegan Sun - a Native American-run casino - much of his humor was centered around that...joking that he already "lost all the money he was going to make tonite", and that the hospitality was so good at the blackjack tables they even "refreshed my bong water for me". I kept thinking "the Kitsch is back!"
He danced, shuffled, slid, and split all night, but the karate spin kicks were few and far between...and those that were there lacked the grace they once used to - but hey, the guy is 56 years old, and if I am as energetic as he is when I am 56, I'll be able to sell the surplus to LIPA.
Vocally, well...um... He's David Lee Roth. As I mentioned before, since Wolfgang and Edward were so strong and on point vocally, it really made DLR's mistakes more pronounced. Funny thing is, when he WANTED to sing, he sang like a friggin' songbird! New songs like "The Trouble With Never" and "Tattoo" (ugh...as much as it's growing on me, I'm still not a big fan) showed he still has the pipes for classic Roth rock n roll, but that was countered by him doing who the FUCK knows what to "Dance the Night Away". It was like nails on a chalkboard - I winced in pain several times...oy veh... He tried singing the entire song an octave higher - basically shouting the whole thing...badly.
Redemption came with "Somebody Get Me A Doctor", "Women in Love" and in the form of a rollicking rendition of "Ice Cream Man" - right after he was talking about what seemed like more than just a hobby of raising herding dogs. With "Panama" , he was at his DLR best, pounding through the verses and getting the crowd involved on the the chorus.
Overall, though, I give DLR a "B-"
Alex Van Halen is as consistent a rock drummer there is out there. I do feel that at times he is overrated, but most certainly not to the "Lars Ulrich" status of overrated drummers. He's a solid drummer that, in any other band or genre, wouldn't fit all too well. He has his own style, tailored for VH, and there is nothing wrong with that. His solo was brief, but fun, and his playing overall was in the pocket except for when I think he lost the click track a couple of times during "Tattoo" and "I'll Wait"...he didn't really seem in sync. Highlights of his playing were DEFINITELY on "Hot for Teacher", "Romeo Delight"
Alex VH gets a "B"
Wolfgang, as mentioned before, did a fantastic, solid job of playing and singing. I really have zero complaints about him except for things he can't control - he wasn't Michael Anthony (but like I said, he made me not really care) and being so young he kinda looked a little out of place on the stage with these Rock Goliaths. Taking on that challenge is daunting for anyone, and with the added pressure of being "Eddie's kid", well that has to take its toll...but this kid rocked it and was great in the role - and he turns 21 on 3/16/12...ugh, I'm old...
Wolfie = "A"
And now, for Edward...
One of my first accomplishments as a young guitarist was learning how to play "Eruption". It took me months to get it as right as I could, and I still hadn't mastered it. 25 or so years later and I STILL can't play it right! Being that I had never seen Van Halen before I was wondering if HE could play it right after all these years.
When I bought "A Different Kind of Truth", the first thing I noticed was how fantastic EVH's guitar solo's were. They seemed very fluid and seemed like he had a LOT of fun playing them. Seeing him in concert - at 57 years old - did nothing to change that opinion. Actually, my opinion of Edward has been raised to new heights. I think that we all have taken for granted how great he has been over the years. This guy has been cranking out innovative and exciting playing for the better part of 35 years and CONTINUES to do so. He played with what seemed to be so much JOY it made me wanna go home and practice for a year. His trademark smirk was omnipresent and he was jumping around the stage like someone half his age.
CORRECTION: He jumped around like someone half his age, who hadn't fought through cancer, hip replacement, and alcohol addiction like he has.
I'm trying, but words can't say exactly how incredible he was... From start to finish he shredded, and was so effortless in his performance you can tell he why he was, is and will be a Guitar God...why he influenced Dimebag Darrell, Zakk Wylde, and about a billion other guitarists to pick up (or throw down!) a guitar. It didn't matter if he was going tap-crazy on "Hot for Teacher" or setting a mood with "Women in Love" or "Girl Gone Bad" - everything he played was perfection. I mean it. I didn't hear a sour or misplaced note the entire night. THAT was impressive, especially with his style being more 'reckless abandon' then 'Berklee College of Music'.
His solo consisted of standard fare, though - encompassing most of his guitar instrumentals from the classic VH albums: "Eruption", "Spanish Fly", and "Cathedral", and a bit of fun guitar acrobatics. As much as DLR was center stage, Eddie was DEFINITELY the star of the show.
Edward Loedwijk Van Halen: "A-mutha-fuckin PLUSSSSSS"
Overall grade: "A-"
The show was so much fun. My problem was with the audience, who showed up LATE (there was no opening act...), spilled beer on us (and not just a little), and should have bought 2 seats to accomodate their sizable, well, everything... (sorry Kelly).
But outside of that, as one in our group said, I can cross this off my bucket list. My only problem is that I WANNA SEE THEM DO IT AGAIN!!!! I have to find another show to go to...anyone game? Atlantic City 3/24?
So, what did they play???
- Unchained*
Runnin' With the Devil
She's The Woman
Romeo Delight*
Tattoo
Everybody Wants Some!*
Somebody Get Me A Doctor*
China Town
Hear About It Later
Oh, Pretty Woman
Drum Solo
You Really Got Me
The Trouble with Never*
Dance The Night Away
I'll Wait
Hot For Teacher*
Women In Love
Girl Gone Bad
Beautiful Girls*
Ice Cream Man*
Panama*
Guitar Solo
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
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