Van Halen's second show in Los Angeles (this past Saturday night) was unquestionably one of the very best of the tour. Some fans are saying it was even better than Vegas and the first L.A .show, on June 1st. Dave was funnier than ever. Ed, Al, and Wolf were amazing as usual. The crowd was wild and was extra loud all night, and even gave Alex Van Halen an extended ovation after … [Read more...]
Live Review, 6/3/12: Van Halen Finger-Taps Its Way to Glory at Oracle Arena
From SF Weekly: (Photos by Richard Haick) Van Halen Kool and the Gang Sunday, June 3, 2012 Oracle Arena Better than: Any of the still-touring Sunset Strip hair-farmers from the 1980s that Van Halen inspired. There aren't too many '70s-era hard-rock bands that can inspire the kind of unabashed hedonism -- a "bring me the skull of Sammy Hagar filled with tequila" … [Read more...]
Van Halen Triumphs in Oakland
From the Oakland Tribune Van Halen took the stage on Sunday at the Oracle Arena, where David Lee Roth and crew delivered a thoroughly energetic, cohesive and (gulp!) professional two-hour set. Hopefully, that will again be the case when Van Halen performs Tuesday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. The single most striking aspect about the concert was that the band members … [Read more...]
Van Halen Has A Blast At Staples Center
By GEORGE A. PAUL / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER Last month's news that Van Halen would be scrapping a chunk of tour dates this summer without explanation wasn’t too surprising. Controversy always seems to follow the band around. Media outlets cited anonymous sources who claimed the cause was internal strife, but it could simply be a matter of the three original members … [Read more...]
Van Halen at Staples Center: Concert Review
From HollywoodReporter.com: The (mostly) reunited band pleases the hometown crowd with classic songs and vintage David Lee Roth antics. Five years into its reunion with frontman David Lee Roth, the 2012 version of Van Halen can’t simply play off the novelty factor anymore. And despite vocal shortcomings and some dodgy set-list decisions, Friday’s homecoming concert at … [Read more...]
The Cradle Still Rocks (VHND’s L.A. Review)
By Scott Essman The PA system is about half the size of the early 1980s shows. The lighting rig is probably 25% of what it was. The stage setup has fewer platforms and ramps. But Van Halen has lost little of the spunk, energy, and enthusiasm for live performing in the 35 years since the band was first signed to Warner Bros. Records. And despite the fact that the … [Read more...]
Van Halen Rocked and Ruled Vegas
In what many fans are calling one of the best concerts of the current tour, Van Halen pulled out all the stops at the sold out MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday night (May 27th). From all accounts, Eddie, Alex, and Wolfgang Van Halen were an unstoppable musical powerhouse, playing like the virtuosos they are. Eddie matched up to his living-legend status on the … [Read more...]
Van Halen Unleashes “And The Cradle Will Rock” in St. Paul & Kansas City
Review of St Paul Van Halen show Saturday night from StarTribune.com: With High Kick And More, Van Halen Was Band Of Old All eyes in Van Halenville were on St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center on Saturday night. Eddie Van Halen and his namesake band -- once again featuring original singer David Lee Roth -- slinked into town under a cloud of speculation and rumors of stormy … [Read more...]
Old-School Throwdown in Calgary
From Calgary Sun: Maybe you can turn back the hands of time to 1984 — if only for a couple of hours. Although Sammy Hagar is a good singer, so-so songwriter, solid frontman and expert tequila maker, Van Halen was never really Van Halen without David Lee Roth. It’s true. At 57 years of age, the clown prince of rock ’n’ roll hijinx, shenanigans and tomfoolery was … [Read more...]
Van Halen: A Howlin’ Escape
From The News Tribune: By Sean Robinson; Staff Writer The year was 1982. I was 18, and a couple of younger guys had asked me to sing in their band. Their idea of a lead singer was Roth, the bad-ass blond howler from Van Halen. I loved Van Halen, but I could not scream like David Lee Roth. I tried – it felt like swallowing an exploding cigar. About the same time … [Read more...]
Van Halen Review: Hot For Tulsa
From Tulsa World: Thirty years on, Van Halen proves it can still put on a show. By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer "Diamond" David Lee Roth's trademark caterwaul may not carry the same range it did 30 years ago, but who cares? It came close. Tuesday night's Van Halen tour stop at Tulsa's BOK Center proved it. Van Halen was back. Fans came to hear the original, … [Read more...]
Tampa Van Halen Concert Reviews
From Tampa Bay Online: Change is good as Roth, Van Halen rock Forum crowd We'll forgive David Lee Roth if those kicks don't reach quite as high as they used to, or if the jumps we remember from those 1980s music videos have since been replaced by a few funky dance moves. At 57, the lead singer for Van Halen just looks like he's glad to be here, and judging by the … [Read more...]