Van Halen began the yearlong celebration of its 40th anniversary with a vintage romp at the KFC Yum! Center that was pure VH in just about every way.
Singer David Lee Roth bounced around the stage like a big, 57-year-old kid, delivering a performance that was half burlesque, half living-room show-off, and all rock star. Alex Van Halen brought his usual thunder on the drums, and while diehards probably still miss original bassist Michael Anthony, Wolfgang Van Halen has become a serious replacement.
But the night belonged to Eddie.
Eddie Van Halen, the guitar-shredding heart of the band’s sound, was in peak form. His right hand was like a jackhammer all night as he showed utter command of his instrument, with no apparent ill effects from a 2009 surgery on his left hand. This was crucial, because while the band’s best material stands alone as seriously good, voraciously hard rock, Eddie’s guitar is Van Halen.
The band opened to a full house with “You Really Got Me,” the Kinks cover from their first album that introduced them to a generation of bangers. They immediately followed with “Runnin’ With the Devil,” and in all played nearly half of that classic 1978 debut. Eddie’s traditional solo showcase, which incorporated parts of “Eruption,” was stellar, but the night’s highlight was a pulverizing version of “Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love.” The song has lost none of its ravenous, anthemic edge.
The only song that could have possibly followed it was “Jump,” and the band’s biggest hit ended the night with a massive singalong and a cloud of confetti, Roth leading the way with a mile-wide grin.
Roth was plenty happy all night, and while he’s clearly lost an octave or two, his performance was a pretty great approximation of old-school Diamond Dave. He made up for what was missing in his upper register with a swagger that was more fun than sexual, and an endearing playfulness that was long on goofy charm. He even managed a few leg kicks.
Similarly, the band’s new material was an approximation of old-school Van Halen: decent, sometimes even good, but more a suggestion of their best work. The songs were appropriately heavy, with a thick bottom end, but the hooks were weak compared with what happens when “Hot For Teacher” explodes into its chorus. Not that anything compares with “Hot For Teacher.”
Here’s the complete setlist:
1. “You Really Got Me”
2. “Runnin’ With the Devil”
3. “She’s The Woman”
4. “Romeo Delight”
5. “Tattoo”
6. “Everybody Wants Some!!”
7. “Somebody Get Me A Doctor”
8. “China Town”
9. “Mean Street”
10. “Oh, Pretty Woman”
11. Drum solo
12. “Unchained”
13. “The Trouble with Never”
14. “Dance The Night Away”
15. “I’ll Wait”
16. “Hot For Teacher”
17. “Women In Love”
18. “Outta Love Again”
19. “Beautiful Girls”
20. “Ice Cream Man”
21. “Panama”
22. Guitar solo
23. “Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love”
24. “Jump”
New Music Jukebox
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