Driving home from work one day last week, I was flipping around the radio dial when one of the classic rock deejays announced that Van Halen had cancelled or postponed over 30 shows on their tour. I panicked briefly, until the deejay said that the cancelled/postponed dates wouldn't take effect until July. I breathed a sigh of relief then, realizing that my concert at the Xcel Energy Center was still on!
I listened to a lot of the classic Van Halen hits in high school and college when I first started listening to rock n' roll, and as I've followed the band through the years, I realized that they are the epitome of the rock and roll soap opera. A friend of mine saw the band in Fargo about 8 years ago with Sammy Hagar on vocals, and while I do like some of the music the band made with Sammy, I still consider those albums the "Van Hagar" era of the band. I was thrilled to hear that "Diamond" David Lee Roth was back at the mike with Van Halen, and snapped up a concert ticket months ago.
I decided to head to St. Paul on Saturday afternoon, navigating my way around light-rail construction on University Avenue on my way to visit relatives. I saw my Aunt Maryann and cousin Libby briefly in March before rushing to a work event, so I made time for an extended visit with them before the show last weekend. It was the first good conversation I'd had with them since Maryann's husband, my dear Uncle Felix's funeral in January. It was great to share some great memories of a truly remarkable human being!
Shortly after 6 p.m., I made my way to a parking ramp by the Xcel Energy Center just as the doors began to open. I rode a quiet elevator up to the club level, picked out a concert T-shirt and put my feet up enjoying my dinner before the show was scheduled to begin. The opening act, pop/funk/R&B group Kool and the Gang began shortly before 7:30 p.m. The band's lineup has changed a lot since their heyday in the Eighties, as only two of the eleven performers onstage were still in the band from their original lineup. The group closed their set with their biggest hit, 1980's "Celebration" after an hour of inspired music.
As more people filtered in to the arena, the house lights went down again and Van Halen hit the ground running with their hit single "Unchained." I'd heard rumors that the show cancellations and postponements were due to infighting in the band, but I sure didn't see any animosity onstage, as David Lee Roth and guitarist Eddie Van Halen were grinning often throughout the show.
I was impressed by how well Eddie's son Wolfgang Van Halen filled original bassist Michael Anthony's shoes during the show. (Don't worry, Michael Anthony fans - Mike still has a gig playing bass in Sammy Hagar's band Chickenfoot.) Wolfgang roamed around the stage, deftly avoiding Roth's shimmying and signature jumping leg kicks, playing bass like a seasoned veteran.
One concertgoer I talked to during the show expressed distaste for the fact that Roth skipped some lyrics, talked over lyrics that were usually sung, and even improvised other lyrics. I noticed that, but I told her that was just what Roth always does. I was just happy to see him playing with the band in a highly energetic performance.
Towards the end of the set, Eddie Van Halen showed me why he and Slash are the two most impressive and proficient rock guitarists I've ever seen play live in person. Eddie played a thrilling solo incorporating elements of the instrumental songs "Eruption" and "Intruder" as the crowd stood mesmerized by his guitar playing. At one point Eddie even sat on the steps leading to Alex's drum riser deftly holding his axe with his left hand while tapping out notes in rock n' roll Morse code with his right hand.
After thrilling the crowd with hits like "Hot For Teacher," Beautiful Girls," "Ice Cream Man" started by Roth on acoustic guitar, "Panama" and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," the house lights went down for just mere momens before the band closed out two hours of music with their 1984 hit "Jump." As the stage became filled with confetti blown around it, I thought to myself, "wow! Now THAT was a great show!!"
I left the arena amongst a throng of happy people, the cool winds blowing me toward the parking ramp on my way home. I cranked up KQRS, thrilled that they were playing a block of Van Halen songs that I'd just heard live just minutes ago! I made it home through the thunder and rain in the early hours of Sunday morning with what I'd call a "Van Halen hangover!" If these guys resume their cancelled/postponed dates with the same enthusiasm and energy that I'd witnessed Saturday night, I'd definitely see them again if the tour came back to Minnesota again!
Van Halen set list
1. Unchained
2. Running With The Devil
3. She's The Woman
4. Romeo Delight
5. Tattoo
6. Everybody Wants Some
7. Somebody Get Me A Doctor
8. China Town
9. Hear About It Later
10. (Oh) Pretty Woman
11. Alex Van Halen drum solo
12. You Really Got Me
13. The Trouble With Never
14. And the Cradle Will Rock
15. Dance The Night Away
16. I'll Wait
17. Hot For Teacher
18. Woman In Love
19. Beautiful Girls
20. Ice Cream Man
21. Panama
22. Eddie Van Halen solo - including portions of the instrumentals "Eruption" and "Intruder"
23. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
24. Jump (Encore)
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