 |
| Photo by Armando Brown |
A version of my review originally ran at soundcheck.ocregister.com
Last month's news that Van Halen would be scrapping a chunk of tour dates this summer without explanation wasn’t too
surprising. Controversy always seems to follow the band around.
Media outlets cited anonymous sources who claimed
the cause was internal strife. It could have simply been a matter of the three original
members (all pushing 60) over-extending themselves with a mammoth North
American jaunt that started in February. Still, that’s a mighty financial loss for a
concert run that was reportedly selling well across the board.
Whatever the reason, there were no obvious signs of tension
or sluggishness among the Van Halen clan on Friday night at a packed Staples Center in Los Angeles. Lead singer David Lee Roth
skimped over lyrics at times, but he also did that earlier this year when I
caught the Forum dress rehearsal.
“Unchained” served as the launch for the veteran Pasadena hard rock
band’s highly satisfying hometown gig. Drummer Alex Van Halen initially
emerged in darkness and did a brief solo intro before the other guys joined in,
jam style. Roth spun around, did a little soft shoe and was happily right
by guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s side (where he would frequently return), scatting
along to the revered axeman’s licks.
The two-hour, 22-song set touched upon all Roth-era albums, with an
emphasis on 1978’s classic self-titled debut record. All four tracks culled
from A Different Kind of Truth – the first full-length Van Halen/Roth collaboration
in nearly 30 years – came across strongly live, especially the brawny rhythm
and searing guitar work of “Tattoo.”
Keeping with the same basic running order as elsewhere on
the tour, Van Halen included plenty of AOR radio staples, pop chart hits and
deep album cuts to satisfy both the diehard and casual fans in attendance. I
witnessed some people going through the air guitar motions whenever Eddie
engaged in another fast-fingered display of brilliance (“Hot for Teacher,” the
full steam ahead charge of “Panama”).
On the minus side, a muddy sound mix at Staples was one of the
worst in recent memory. Both Eddie and young bassist son Wolfgang’s backing
vocal harmonies often came to the rescue when Roth’s yelps could barely be
heard (“Dance the Night Away,” “Beautiful Girls,” Kinks cover “You Really Got
Me”).
Halfway through the concert, Roth alluded to graduation
ceremonies and jokingly anointed himself class president, valedictorian and pep
squad commissioner at “Van Halen High School.”
The latter title was definitely appropriate, since the fit
and trim singer danced around, engaged in a few trademark leg kicks and
demonstrated awesome martial arts-type moves using microphone stands (“Somebody
Get Me a Doctor,” standard closer “Jump”).
Randy as ever, Roth asked a gal filming his every move if
she wanted to make a sex tape and recalled a period in the band’s career when
he spent most offstage time naked in the company of sexy ladies.
Alex did the requisite rock show drum solo. Mercifully
brief, the tropical vibe (with programmed horns) was refreshing. Much later,
Eddie’s longer guitar solo was breathtaking. Intensely focused, he proved those
chops remain intact after all these years. Some trippy, late ‘60s visual
effects on the huge projection screen (Roth compared it to the size of an old
drive-thru movie theater) were a cool touch.
Another one came during Roth’s solo acoustic guitar segment
on the bluesy “Ice Cream Man.” With black and white home film footage
of his dog and sheep running around a field and hills, the vocalist narrated
and professed admiration for the animals. Then the band gave it a powerful
finish.
Concertgoers might’ve been puzzled to discover Kool
& the Gang was handling opening act duties. Van Halen actually
used to cover the group’s 1974 top 10 R&B chart hit “Hollywood Swinging”
during its club days on the Sunset Strip, so there is a long-standing VH affinity
for the soul/funk music.
In LA, Kool & the Gang’s 50-minute, nine-song opening
set was full of energy and got a welcome reception from the audience. Now featuring
original members Dennis Thomas (alto sax), George Brown (drums), Robert “Kool”
Bell” (bass) and brother Ronald “Khalis” Bell (tenor sax), the 11-piece had
trouble getting some call and response action with the crowd.
The current co-lead singers do an admirable job, but neither
can compare to soulful tenor James “JT” Taylor,
who was at the helm during the commercially successful 1979-89 pop-crossover
period. Standouts at Staples included the extended, groovy “Too Hot,”
rock-leaning “Misled,” the sax duel on “Get Down on It,” spirited “Jungle
Boogie” (with a rap interlude by Prince Hakim) and rousing “Celebration.”
Van Halen, Staples
Center, Los Angeles, June 1, 2012
Setlist: Unchained/Runnin’ with the Devil/She’s the
Woman/Romeo Delight/Tattoo/Everybody Wants Some/Somebody Get Me a Doctor/China
Town/Hear About it Later/(Oh) Pretty Woman/(drum solo)/You Really Got Me/The
Trouble with Never/Dance the Night Away/I’ll Wait/And the Cradle Will Rock/Hot
for Teacher/Women in Love/Beautiful Girls/Ice Cream Man/Panama/(guitar solo-incorporates
Eruption/Cathedral)/Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love/Jump
Next up: Staples Center, June 9; Honda Center, June 12. Tickets are $29.50-$149.50 plus fees, www.ticketmaster.com
No comments:
Post a Comment