Review by JSB - jsb@aol.com

Went to see Diamond Dave last night at the Cajun House in Scottsdale Arizona. Man, what a good time. I must say thought that the sound mix wasn't all that great, it seemed that the guy behind the board just couldn't leave it alone and kept adjusting. One minute it was way loud and the next it would get really trebled out. Anyway, I didn't really mind it though. As far as the show everybody went nuts when Dave and the boys finally came out. The show was scheduled to stard at around 8:00 but they didn't take the stage until around 9:20. Oh well, I was just glad that Dave and the band were there seeing as how the original date was cancelled.

Dave put on an awesome show, he had the crowd going big time. I was amazed as to how good of shape he is still and his ability to still do all the theatrical stuff. It was definately Diamond Dave in the raw. They pretty much played the same set list that they've been playing at all the other shows listed on this site.

Dave said some pretty funny shit like when someone through a pair of panties to him he said, "Looks like Valerie Bertinelli is here tonight!" I thought is was funny but it really wasn't necessary. Of course he did the "Look at all the people here tonight" plus the thing he did with the bottle of Jack Daniels (acted like he was masterbating while dumping the bottle on some chick in the front row.)

The band was great. The backing vocals sounded really good as well as the musicianship. Of course, being a guitar player, all my attention was basically focused on Bart Walsh. I have to say that he does a damn good job of doing all the old Halen tunes plus he did a great cover of Steve Vai's licks on Yankee Rose and Tobacco Road. I didn't really think he was trying to be Eddie with all the posing and smiling, he just seemed to be having a frickin' blast being up there. Hell, I would too. If I were playing for Dave on a tour that was specifically meant to perform classic Van Halen then I would do my best Eddie impersonation too. Other than that I thought Bart really did a good job. As far as him doing Eruption I thought it was pretty cool. It wasn't like he was doing it to show everyone, "Hey look at me I'm doing Eruption". It was more like they were just setting it up for the beginning of You Really Got Me. More like they were trying to just play it like the album sounded. At first I was like, ok, now your going a little too far but after he played it I was like, ah, that was cool. Enough about Bart.

Dave was great to say the least. You just don't see that kind of show any more with the new bands which is something that I really miss. At this point though, I can't really see Dave ever getting back with Halen. I don't know why, it's just a feeling I got during the show. I mean it was great to see Dave doing all the old stuff but for some reason I got this feeling that the probability of him ever getting back with Ed, Alex and Mike is very very slim. I wish it would happen but who knows.

If you have the chance, go see Dave and boys, you won't regret it. Hope to see Dave and the band back in Arizona again soon. Especially with the new album being produced by Ted Templeman.

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
Everybody Wants Some
Yankee Rose
Tobacco Road
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Jump

DLR Solo: 02
Van Halen: 16

Total: 18

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