Review by David Ernspiker - hipguitar@vanhalen.com

As I sat in my wheelchair against the barricade right in front of the stage I felt disturbed by the selction of music the DJ was playing. Limp Bizkit, Korn, Metallica, Kid Rock...."Oh God ...Is this what Rock has become" I felt a strange nervousness. Were the reports from the VH camp correct? Had Dave become a shadow of his former self?? I hope not.

Rock "n" Roll is on the line here. There's an entire generation of kids that think Kid Rock is Rock. Well...I'm here to tell ya DAVE IS THE ATOMIC PUNK..HE STILL STILL RULES THE STREETS. He hit the stage with Hot For Teacher, slid into Panama, then Little Guitars. "YYEESSS!!!" This is Serious On-The-Level, Above-The-Board, Pedal-To-The-Metal Rock 'N' Roll MAN!! Don't let anyone fool ya. DAVE KICKED MAXIMUM ASS. I could no longer stay confined to my wheelchair.

As I stood for the rest of the show on my One Leg. With a fist in the air. And babes all around me. Man...It's good to be alive and know how to Rock.

First, a brief description of the venue. O'Malley's is actually a smaller section of a larger bar called Coyote's. Now, Coyote's is for the most part a COUNTRY bar. One of the first things I noticed when walking in...instead of a mirror ball, they had a saddle hanging from the ceiling covered with little mirrors. The barmaids were decked out in red cowboy hats, vests, and cutoff shorts (let's say "Little Texas"!). It reminded me VERY much of the bar in the Blues Brothers where Jake & Elwood broke into "Stand By Your Man." That said...it's on to the show.

What can I report that hasn't already been said in previous reviews? Dave played the crowd to a tee. Rock chicks were everywhere. It WASN'T iced tea in the Jack Daniels bottle during "Mean Streets." DRUNK rock chicks were everywhere. The kicks were there, the singing was there, the baton twirling was there. Drunk rock chicks packed the crowd in tighter and tighter. Dave had a whole slew of one liners and pick up lines. Drunk rock chicks with pierced tongues are a GOOD thing.

Bart Walsh couldn't pull off the "talking" guitar intro to "Yankee Rose." Drunk rock chicks with pierced tongues and boob jobs are a better thing. Dave's rap during "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" didn't contain a single reference to Hagar, Cherone, or Van Halen. A split off the drum riser. Show's over.

Drunk rock chicks with pierced tongues and boob jobs pose for pictures. Drunk rock chicks with pierced tongues and boob jobs perform acts that are considered illegal in some localities. Oh yeah, Dave rocked out during the show ;) A good time was had by all.

I missed about three or four songs at the beginning of the show...but Diamond Dave played on for an hour after I showed up.

I walked in when he was firing up "You Really Got Me". The sound was awesome...loud but clean. The guitarist Dave lured away from the Atomic Punks nailed every VH lick note for note. Very accurate.

As for Dave, he was in prime form...rapping with the crowd, flirting with the female members of the audience. (Classic line from the show: "Hey baby, do you believe in love at first sight? Or do I need to walk by here twice? - Because I stopped doing this shit for the money a long time ago!)

You can forget about the rumors of Dave not being in shape. He was more energetic this show than he was when I first saw him in '86 and then again in '94. Great vocals and stage aerobics. Terrific repoire with the fans. Very high-energy.

The only thing that kinda' put a negative vibe on the evening was the venue. I was bummed that the best Diamond Dave could do is draw about 200 people to your average run of the mill bar. It's sad to see perhaps the best rock and roll frontman in the world not even sell out a club date.

Plus, It was sad to see the average age of the crowd to be late thirties - early fourties. I know this band has been around for more than 20 years, but I felt really old when I saw this geriatric crowd basically sit through this show. It makes me wonder, if Classic Van Halen does get back together, will they have an impact? I hate to say it, but most kids these days have no idea who Dave Roth is, or have any knowledge of Van Halen's early library. The relevance is gone.

Anyway, I highly suggest seeing Dave live on his final few dates. It's well worth it.

Drove to Louisville from Richmond and was not disappointed. David sounded great and had all the crotch grabbing and sexual exploits he's always had. Only did two of his songs with the rest being VH. If you like old VH then this is a must see show!

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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