Van Halen with Ky-Mani Marley
7:30 p.m. Nov. 25
Cox Arena

In my teens, I think I owned the LP, cassette and CD versions of the 1978 self-titled debut by Pasadena's Van Halen. Now I own it digitally. I guess you could say I've done my part to help the seminal rock disc go 10 times platinum.

So when I heard David Lee Roth was finally reuniting with Eddie and Alex, I had a lot of questions: Could Van Halen maintain the technical superiority that set them apart from the high tide of heavy metal bands in the early '80s? Does Roth still have the pipes to hit the high notes? Can Eddie's 16-year-old son Wolfgang man-up and fill the bass duties of one the best arena rock bands of the past 30 years or so? And, most importantly, how long before the joy ride explodes into a fiery crash?

Here are my answers: Yes. Yes, but I thought that vein in his neck was going to burst. Yes, but Michael Anthony didn't really set the bar that high. And finally: Your guess is as good as mine.

And, furthermore, who booked Ky-Mani Marley to open the show? Don't get me wrong. I like Ky-Mani. But opening for Van Halen? Couldn't they get Velvet Revolver or another band vaguely close to VH's style of music?

Here are a few thoughts that didn't make it into my review for the Union- Tribune:

# I didn't get a chance to review Ky-Mani's show in the article, which featured a few songs from his dad: "No Woman, No Cry," "Roots, Rock, Reggae" and "I Shot the Sheriff." The arena was nearly empty when Ky-Mani took the stage, but the 31-year-old singer's raspy vocals and dynamic stage presence deserved a greater audience. Despite his performance, he was maybe not the right fit for a Van Halen show.

# Where were the keyboards come from on "I'll Wait," "1984" and "Jump"? Probably some sort of DAT set-up, which is disappointing coming from Van Halen. It sounded like some of the background vocals may have been canned, as well. I don't have proof, just what I heard.

# Storytime with David Lee Roth before segueing into "Ice Cream Man" was a cool moment in the show. He talked about growing up in the suburbs and partying with his friend Stan, who was actually an ice cream man. Dave plays a pretty mean acoustic guitar.

# Surreal moment of the night: Blue and white confetti rained down during the final notes of "Jump" as Roth paraded around with a Navy officer's cap while holding a huge, inflatable microphone. Why? I don't know.

Set list from Sunday's show:

1. You Really Got Me
2. I'm the One
3. Runnin' With the Devil
4. Romeo Delight
5. Somebody Get Me a Doctor
6. Beautiful Girls
7. Dance the Night Away
8. Atomic Punk
9. Everybody Wants Some
10. So This Is Love?
11. Mean Street
12. Pretty Woman
13. Drum solo
14. Unchained
15. I'll Wait
16. And the Cradle Will Rock
17. Hot for Teacher
18. Little Dreamer
19. Little Guitars
20. Jamie's Cryin'
21. Ice Cream Man
22. Panama
23. Guitar solo
24. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love

Encore:

25. 1984
26. Jump

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