MY CRADLE IS ROCKING!
This was the blackberry message I received from my friend Craig Titley (Ace to you and me) on Friday night. He promised that a full review would come by email on Saturday and, sure enough, he was right on schedule. Here is his review....
Ow, my ears!
Last night at the Staples Center in downtown L.A., the brothers + son/nephew Van Halen along with their old school Pasadena neighborhood chum Diamond Dave put on great, energetic show with lots of Diamond Dave and Eddie hugs, plus lots of fatherly ruffling of the hair between Eddie and Wolfgang (who did a great job impersonating Michael Anthony all night. Strange how 50 year olds Eddie and Dave had zero body fat and six pack abs but poor young Wolfgang looks like he swallowed Sammy Hagar). Eddie was shirtless all night, stayed center stage right in front of the drum kit, attached to his amps with an old school cord. He ventured out on occasion to jump around and do some trademark spilt kicks, but mostly concentrated on giving fans a tight clean sound. And they were tight. (Except for one moment when Dave forgot the lyrics during Pretty Woman -- who can blame him? -- but had some fun with his forgetfulness nevertheless.)
Dave was a master showman, and at the top of his game. And since his old game used to include being wasted and falling off the stage I would say he was actually miles above his game and a total pro. Although his vintage level 10 energy was dialed down a bit -- but only to 9 -- he proved why he is such an iconic front man. FYI: I counted 9 jumping kicks and 5 different colored top hats. Even though the stage had one of those U2 loops that allowed them to walk out into the crowd, Dave only did it twice (once for the duration of I'll Wait and a couple of quick trips out and back during solos to wave to the crowd; Wolfgang went out once; Eddie nada). I get the impression they were scared of it a little bit and not quite sure how to take advantage of it.
As for the set list, they left no stone unturned. In exactly 2 hours they played everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. And played it well. Dave's voice was, well, Dave's voice but every bit as good as it was way back when. Although with his short hair and big smile and Showbiz moves he reminded me a little of Steve Martin (wish I hadn't just watched "The Jerk" two days ago because it really struck me how similar the two look now).
The show began with the band launching into "You Really Got Me" and then they just firing songs at you relentlessly with no lag in energy or skill. It was like being hit with a mack truck of sound and classics. Dave announced right after "I'm the One" that they were giving a "Van Halen History Tour" tonight and, for the most part, that was what the show was. They started with tunes from the first album, moved onto VH2, Women and Children, etc, saving a few key tracks from each for the final lap. The crowd was on its feet for the entire 2 hour show and sang along to almost everything. For the most part the crowd looked like the folks you'd see at your twenty year class reunion. Most of them dressed age-appropriate, but a few tried pathetically to squeeze into some old tight jeans and wore unlaced high-top Nikes and head bands. However, It was inspiring to see so many people bringing their kids to get their first taste of Eddie and the boys. Talk about a history lesson! And a guitar lesson -- when Eddie played his solo, every camera was focused in so that the entire stadium could watch a close-up of his fast-moving fingers on the giant screen behind the stage. His secret: he's just freakin' good, even with his wrinkly old man hands and stubby fingers (okay, so close-up isn't always flattering).
At the end of the evening, a great time was had by all -- fans and the band. They genuinely seemed to be having the time of their lives. I think the Eddie/Dave hugs were real.
(They only person in the entire sold out crowd who didn't look happy was an old dude with frizzy Sammy Hagar hair and, yes, red leather pants. Perhaps he didn't get the memo that this was Diamond Dave's tour with the boys.)
Here's the set list --
01. You Really Got Me (from Van Halen, 1978)
02. I'm the One (from Van Halen, 1978)
03. Runnin' With the Devil (from Van Halen, 1978)
04. Romeo Delight (from Women and Children First, 1980)
05. Somebody Get Me a Doctor (from Van Halen II, 1979)
06. Beautiful Girls (from Van Halen II, 1979)
07. Dance the Night Away (from Van Halen II, 1979)
08. Atomic Punk (from Van Halen, 1978)
09. Everybody Wants Some (from Women and Children First, 1980)
10. So This Is Love? (from Fair Warning, 1981)
11. Mean Street (from Fair Warning, 1981)
12. Pretty Woman (from Diver Down, 1982)
13. Drum Solo
14. Unchained (from Fair Warning, 1981)
15. I'll Wait (from 1984, 1984)
16. And the Cradle Will Rock (from Women and Children First, 1980)
17. Hot for Teacher (from 1984, 1984)
18. Little Dreamer (from Van Halen, 1978)
19. Little Guitars (from Diver Down, 1982)
20. Jamie's Cryin' (from Van Halen, 1978)
21. Ice Cream Man (from Van Halen, 1978)
22. Panama (from 1984, 1984)
23. Guitar Solo (incl. "Women in Love" intro, "Cathedral", "Eruption")
24. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love (from Van Halen, 1978)
Encore
25. 1984 (from 1984, 1984)
26. Jump (from 1984, 1984)
Paul's Note -
Craig holds a special place in my list of really great people. You should know that he ran my bike up the flagpole of the Mattoon Junior High School when I was in the 7th grade and now he is the Godfather of my 18 year old son. We were rock and roll bandmates, movie buffs and always dreamed about becoming famous. Now Craig is a famous Hollywood screeenwriter. He is incredibly creative, works diligently and has positioned himself splendidly for further success in his field. He also married a great woman which might possibly be the smartest move he's ever made.
Thanks my friend!
