I hadn't anticipated a rock concert this much in years and was excited about seeing Van Halen, one of the most significant hard rock groups in history. And no, this will not be an impartial review. I will mention a few points of contention but let there be no doubt that I'm a huge fan, glad to be among those in attendance on a rainy October 10, 2007 in Cleveland.
Acknowledging who's really the centerpiece of the group, Eddie strolled nonchalantly onto the stage and started soloing for a few seconds before crunching into "You Really Got Me." The curtain dropped, revealing the rest of the band – David Lee Roth waving a 10-foot red flag back and forth, perhaps signaling the opposite meaning of a waved white flag – expect an assault. And every person in The Q Arena sat wide-eyed as the power and magnitude of the event poured over them.
Just Like Old Times
Obviously pleased, Dave fell right back into his rock star persona like he had never stopped, his flashy bravado ingrained into every swagger and wail. Indeed, if ever there was a born showman, Dave is it. His tight, sparkly outfits revealed a physique even guys a decade younger (blush) would be jealous of. He demonstrated his commitment to marital arts training with kicks as high as his ears and helicopter maneuvers of his mic stand.
His voice started off surprisingly strong, hitting high notes and sustaining vibrato and attitude like it was 1984 again. But Dave didn't seem to sustain that strength beyond the first ten songs, starting to bail out on high notes, and sometimes short phrases altogether. But some of this could be attributed to faulty sound, as the backup harmonies cut through better at times, and Dave was given a new mic later in the concert. Regardless, I gave him the benefit of the doubt that night, a gift for his 53rd birthday.
Family Harmony
Speaking of harmonies, Wolfie and Dad covered them wonderfully, at times making me wonder if they were pre-recorded. But subtle intonation and volume issues convinced me otherwise.
I have to admit, despite my past complaints of Michael Anthony being the weakest link in the original VH, I really wish he was invited to this party. Not that Wolfie played poorly. He actually did better than I expected, revealing no clunkers to this astute musician's ears. But Mike would have brought much more fluidity and enthusiasm to an already great show, likely raising the level of excitement by at least another 20%.
Yet it is difficult to diminish the euphoria of witnessing the remaining legends doing their thing, aptly described by Dave as "three parts original and one part inevitable."
The Quiet Van Halen
If this were The Beatles, Alex Van Halen would be known as "the quiet one," his personality rarely revealed except for how he expresses it with a pair of drumsticks and a fortress of drums and cymbals around him. Driving this train with both precision and power, Alex reminded us that he wasn't the only noteworthy Van Halen on stage.
His obligatory drum solo was more entertaining than most. Average fans aren't able to clearly recognize the difficulty in rapid-fire 32nd notes spraying the drum kit, but his solo expressively showcased a variety of his talents, including his ability to even play a complex, funky rhythm along with a subtle background music track. How cool and refreshing for a hard rock concert.
EVH Reigns
Eddy. Edward. Ed. The indisputable Guitar God was worth the price of admission alone. His searing guitar solos can still inspire most of the six-stringers around the world. This is the man that changed the direction of rock guitar like only a handful of others. Halfway through his solo, my jaw agape, a warm wave washed through my body as I realized that, although I was born far too late to see Jimi perform, I got to see and hear Ed.
And Ed seemed every bit as excited to be performing for us! He grinned widely, trotting and splaying his signature split-leg jumps throughout the night like a 6-year old that just got released from an excessive time-out, trying to make up for all the fun he’d missed.
Even casual rock fans have heard the countless superlatives offered up to this guy, so assume that’s a given from me. But I'll try to be a little more specific.
Eddie Van Halen’s playing is reliably unfailing and precise, while appearing effortless as his feelings seem to bypass any cognitive process and wail notes that express them perfectly. Each passage and fill seems perfectly appropriate within the context of The Song, allowing not even a whim of second-guessing by any mortal. And of course, there’s his speed - a flurry of notes so quick that they’re sometimes indiscernible, yet still perfectly able to craft a vivid soundscape of passion and excitement.
Follow the Flow
Overall, the show flowed well as the quartet rifled off their biggest hits from the group's five albums with Dave – and a few slightly obscure chestnuts for the pleasure of some of their more well-versed fans -- "I'm the One," "Somebody Get Me a Doctor," "Atomic Punk," "Mean Street." I was quite pleased with the setlist, except for "Jump" being the only encore tune. Pre-recorded keyboard tracks allowed Ed to riff on guitar for their most successful single, but it was still the least rock/most pop song of the night, hardly what I'd choose to close such bombastic festivities.
Dave, of course, laid on his shtick between songs - sometimes cheesy (does he have to say, 'look at alllll the people' at every concert?!) but always entertaining or cool, even if all it did was bring me momentarily back to the fist-pumping days long ago when my brother and I cranked up the first VH album in the basement. And still, there they were a quarter-century later, kicking enough ass to make any of the current young rock stars bow and confess, "we’re not worthy!"
Needless to say, I consider myself lucky to attend this historic performance, well worth the $75 ticket and $35 t-shirt. Sure, maybe they'll actually continue to get along, record and tour in coming years. But as far as I’m concerned, after this concert, they don’t need to. There’s nothing left to prove.
