Without too much pomp or circumstance today's line up of Van Halen took to the stage led of course by the way-back-when original and inimitable singer Diamond Dave. His namesake obviously stemming from his fashion choices (or vice versa?) as he shone in a diamond studded jacket and matching diamond trimmed pants. These didn't stop him from sliding across his special dance floor or popping high kicks throughout the set, albeit not always making it look like the most natural of activities for this aging rocker. Forget the fashion and get on with the music!
They did 'hit the ground running' playing Unchained into Running' With the Devil right off the top to bring us all around early. These classic riffs stemming from Eddie's axe send waves of excitement, especially at arena rock decibel levels. They played a few deeper cuts through the night and even tossed in new single Tattoo that prompted Dave to stop twirling his mic stand and pull his pants down to reveal some unidentifiable tattoo on his hip/ass.
Breaking up the set were some classic covers, first Orbison's Pretty Woman was given the rock treatment then following a Caribbean-influenced drum solo from Mr. Van Halen, Alex, they did the Kinks' You Really Got Me. Eddie wasn't to be outdone by his brother and dropped a screeching solo on this tune with his signature-paint-job bearing guitar. Also in the current line up is Eddie's son, Wolfgang, doing a fine job keeping it in the family tending to bass duties and joining his father in great sounding backing vocals on many tunes like Beautiful Girls.
Despite all the well-documented drama from the band, Eddie and David Lee Roth seemed to be getting on just fine as they cracked smiles and shared laughs while performing Dance the Night Away. Alex reared his head for that recognizable Hot for Teacher drumming to which Dave pranced around the stage in a similarly studded Asian kimono cape of sorts before inexplicably taking five minutes alone on stage holding an acoustic guitar (only instrument he'd play all night) to show a video of his dogs rounding up livestock and then pandering for a cheer linking dog-lovers to VH. Huh?
The band thankfully returned after this to finish the set in style. At the end of an appreciated Panama Dave exited, leaving the fam jam that then cleared the way for Ed's solo. Hands-down the favorite part of the night and one of the best elements of any concert going, Eddie began working his wonders while seated on the steps on stage and proceeded to carry on for a whopping 8 minutes of mind-blowing guitar, working the whammy bar, picking up and down the neck, and twisting knob effects too. Astounding! The inclusion of the Eruption lick didn't go unnoticed either.
I didn't want the solo to end but it did anyway as the crew returned to scorch Ain't Talking 'Bout Love and say goodnight. Not even bothering to leave the stage they agreed to do one more, almost as obvious as Celebration (see below), and with a hundred kilos of confetti Jump certainly was a celebration.
Kool and the Gang
Everyone agrees it an odd marriage having Kool and the Gang opening for Van Halen. Besides perhaps a similar time of emergence they don't share much in common sonically. The support band did their best to win over the ACC crowd that were finding their seats during Ladies Night. A large contingency of them, including a brass section, brought us Get On Down. It wasn't exactly rocket science to figure they'd wrap with Celebration - the only question besides 'is that the original Kool?' was whether he and his Gang were recycling the choreographed dance moves that originally accompanied these songs in the days of funk and disco.
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