Review by Kevin McNamara - Kmcnamara@dezine.com

Well, I got to see if Diamond David Lee is back. I will preface this by saying that I first saw VH in 1979 at Convention Hall Asbury Park. I have seen all VH tours but the first one. I was pumped up to go to the show and hear all the VH Classics. I’m still a VH fan, and my favorite lineup was with David Lee.

I would guess maybe 1,000 people at the show, I was about 10 feet dead center from the stage. David opened with Hot for Teacher, he did a fine job singing that song and the crowd seemed excited. David was trying to be Dave, the honey sweet, shit sugar joke was used. The songs and the singing after the first song seemed to be missing something, like VH only missing a chromosome. Dave tried and gave a fine effort, but could not hold or carrier a note, he sang the songs like a Vegas singer would.

The band was marginal at best. They played the songs note for note with no feeling. The drummer was a hard hitter, but had no touch. Bart Walsh was what he is, a VH cover band player, he tried to play each song note for note and lack what I said above.. feeling. After Mean Street, I went to the bar with my friend, pretty much lost interest in the show. The crowd started off hot and cooled down quick, people I spoke with were not impressed.

I give Dave an A+ for the effort, he was in good shape, but his voice was shot and the one liners just ain't believable any more. Dave would have been better playing his solo stuff and a few VH songs and probably a different guitar player would have helped. Dave is not back. I wondering it was just a bad night for Dave.. the other reviews I have read were great or maybe it's like a decision at the end of boxing match and you wonder if the judges were watching the same fight as I was.

Well , I must say I was very impressed with Dave from this show. I had seen him with VH on the 1984 tour and twice during his solo career and this was by far the best singing I've heard him do live. He actually SANG the songs. not just scat around and yelp, he hit all the notes and sounded like he did on the recorded versions of the songs.

I was shocked that he was this good but he was! Now, the only down side was his guitar player Bart Walsh. I have always been a fan of VH tribute bands and was looking forward to hearing him play all of the classic Eddie riffs but he really stunk the join up. He played the intro to 'Mean Street" completely wrong, and was tapping the last part of "Eruption" on the wrong string...bottom line is Dave belongs with Eddie, not some dime store imitation.

I predict by this time next year, after the new Cherone album flops, that our dream reunion will be a reality.

Dave's Back!! The show rocked and Dave proved that the fire's still burning bright. The band was tight and I was especially impressed w/Bart's guitar playing...This guy cooks although he's not Ed!! Great backing vocals from bass player and drummer. Dave's voice was right on although I felt he rambled here & there between songs but none-the-less it was a show that all fans should not miss!!!

I was anxious to see if Dave's voice was okay. I didn't think his singing was that great on his last album and had obviously heard the stories about it not being up to par lately. I've seen him many, many times over his career, and regardless of his singing he always puts on a fun show. Tonight was no different.

The show was fun, but I couldn't help thinking the band just didn't seem to have that certain special feeling that Dave had with Van Halen and with his first solo band. It was nice to hear some of the more "obscure" tunes. Dave's voice was good, he had a lil' trouble on a few notes but he really sounded good. The crowd seemed to enjoy it.

Although some of Dave's monologues, which I always found funny, some went on a lil' too long. Many in the crowd were yelling "shut up and sing"...etc. Mainly during two of the songs he went too long. He sang a lil' from kid rock's cowboy song and commented that he thought it was good. That was kinda cool, Dave hasn't really thrown much praise at younger bands. But he made it funny saying he'd slept with a porn star years ago and she named her son...Kid Rock. It was pretty funny.

He also goofed on Mike Anthony's bass solo, when he rolls around, acts like he's got a machine gun. The thing about that I thought was odd was that Dave once claimed he came up with that for Mike to do. Who knows? Also I agree with someone earlier: leave Eruption alone. When steve Vai used to do a bit of it back in the day, it felt more like Dave's way of giving Ed the finger. Now it just reminds ya the guitarist is from a tribute band. Anyway, if he's in your town, go. You'll have fun.

Hot For Teacher
Panama
Little Guitars
Dance The Night Away Mean Street
Runnin' With The Devil
Eruption
You Really Got Me
So This Is Love?
(Oh) Pretty Woman
Little Dreamer
Atomic Punk
Ice Cream Man
Yankee Rose
Tobacco Road
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Jump

DLR Solo: 02
Van Halen: 15

Total: 17

N/A