Van Halen - A Different Kind of Truth

S.D. wrote:

I'll definitely check out the album once it's released, I really don't have any expectations either for or against at this point.

thats kinda how i feel. I will give it a listen as some other bands who have gotten back together have surprised me.

Van Halen has had a long list of priors for having "WTF" describe opening bands chosen for past tours. By the time they were headllining in 79' (at least in So Calif) we already realized it was better to stay in the lot and party till the openers were tearing down.

I think BTO opened for them on the 5150 tour...Kenny Wayne Shepard opened in 1998...I wanna say Dokken opened the Balance tour here in NC...

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

I think BTO opened for them on the 5150 tour...Kenny Wayne Shepard opened in 1998...I wanna say Dokken opened the Balance tour here in NC...

BTO also played with Van Halen at the Texas Jam in 1986

I will be picking this up and plan to catch the DC gig!

thejokeriv wrote:

I will be picking this up and plan to catch the DC gig!

I am going to try to catch the Tampa gig

manny wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Troublezone wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

I don't think it's a good omen that they're digging up music that 30 years old.

I disagree. Look at the last couple albums they did with new matarial (not very good imo). But they were excellent 30 years ago.

But it means this will likely be a one-off project. Unless the band can write new material this reunion won't last long or will become a nostalgia act.

I think the comeback album needs to be nostalgic. If they stay together, I'm sure they will add more updated/contemporary songs on the next one.

The way DLR and Van Halen brothers get along, I am surprised they even completed an album, so I wouldn't hold my breathe for a follow up anytime soon.

Well, they've actually been together again now for a few years, right? That's a pretty big achievement, I think, given their history.

III was a whole different vibe. I don't base any expectations for this from that album.

It's a bit sad but ultimately don't mind them going back and using old demos or ideas. If it comes out that all they did was re-record these songs and left every note unchanged, then that's pretty lame & lazy, but ultimately as long as the music is good -- who cares?

I'm sure every song has been worked over here and there but it's still a bit disappointing that Eddie didn't feel up to the task to create brand new music.

I wish VH success with their comeback. When bands like this re-enter the limelight it often inspires people to go back and listen to older music and re-discover the gems of the 70's and 80's. However, I think they are the second most overrated band of all time and I have no interest in the new record or tour whatsoever.

ry 6, 2012 7:30 AM ET

Review from Rolling Stone:

"It's like climbing into a rocket in here," David Lee Roth said as he stepped onto the matchbox-sized stage at New York's 250-capacity Cafe Wha? for Van Halen's first concert in four years. "It's a rocket that comes from way back into the past into what the future's going to look like. Welcome to Occupy Van Halen, ladies and gentlemen!"

With those words Eddie Van Halen kicked into the opening notes of "You Really Got Me" and the crowd –composed almost entirely of journalists and music industry insiders – went absolutely bonkers. Over the next hour, the group played a stunningly tight set of songs from their 1978 debut LP all the way through David Lee Roth's swan song, 1984. It was a show guaranteed to make any crowd go into a collective state of hysteria, but the happiest man in the house could have been Roth himself. Dressed in beige overalls and a Brian Johnson-style newsboy hat, the singer had an ear-to-ear grin on his face all night, especially when he looked over at his 92-year-old uncle Manny – the founder of Cafe Wha? – who was seated in the corner. "Last time I stood on a stage this low I had to have the car back by midnight," Roth joked early in the night. "This is one of our best nights ever."

I stood a good five feet in front of Eddie Van Halen (dressed in ripped jeans and a black t-shirt) and the man played absolutely flawlessly. It was a beautiful sight. Before the start of a Van Halen tour you never know what Ed you're getting. The 2004 Van Hagar Ed was a drunken, shirtless mess. The 2007/08 reunion Ed was cleaned up and together, and that clearly is the case today. While Roth ordered drinks from the stage and took some shots, Ed restricted himself to bottled water and a couple of Red Bulls.

About half a second after the end of "You Really Got Me," Wolfgang Van Halen played the opening notes of "Running With The Devil." By that point the crazy reality that we were seeing Van Halen in a tiny, sweaty basement club began to kick in. These songs (not to mention the performers) were programmed to rock massive baskeball arenas. Seeing that all that energy crammed into a basement club was surreal. It's a shame so few fans outside of the press were able to witness it.

It was clear that Dave's voice isn't quite as strong as it was back in the day, but he more than compensated for that with incredible energy and charisma. It must be said, however, that original bassist Michael Anthony's backing vocals were sorely missed. They need them now more than ever, and as talented a bassist as Wolfgang clearly is (especially for a 20-year-old), it was a real lame move to push Anthony out of the band.

After just two songs, Dave began a long spoken interlude that clearly tested the patience of the Van Halen men. "I could see your naked, steaming eyes," Roth said. "I see a lot of familiar faces. A lot of folks from the media. A lot of folks from the record company. A lot of folks that we grew up with here. How many of you people know Lady Gaga? I was watching her on New Year's Eve with Mayor Bloomberg and it's kind of an interesting story . . ." This went on for a few long minutes, but then Dave screamed out "Somebody Get Me a Doctor!" and all was forgiven.

The return of Roth to the band means that the group's entire history with Sammy Hagar (not to mention Gary Cherone) has essentially been erased. That still leaves them with plenty of great material, and the setlist for the show seemed like the playlist for a classic rock radio station. They also played "Everybody Wants Some!!," "Dance The Night Away," "Hot For Teacher," "Ice Cream Man," "Panama," "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" and "Jump." The only song from their upcoming LP was "She's The Woman," but there's a good reason that it sounded so much like a classic Van Halen song: It's a demo from 1976 that's been circulating in the fan community for years. Parts of it were eventually used on "Mean Street." They have since fleshed out the track, but its inclusion on the new album seems to bolster Sammy Hagar's contention that parts of the disc are recycled old bits – not that it really matters. A good song is a good song and they should use the best material they have available to them.

Midway through a blazing "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" Roth explained to the crowd that it was impossible to leave the stage for an encore, so we were instructed to pretend that they left and came back. The finale of "Jump" didn't quite take off – partially due to the fact that the piped-in keyboards were largely inaudible –but it hardly mattered. Van Halen had braved a crowd that seemingly contained every music journalist in the city, and proved to all of them they still have the goods. They have yet to grant a single interview, but it's clearly all part of a strategy to build buzz around the new disc and tour – though they didn't play their upcoming single "Tattoo."

A setlist taped next to Alex's drum kit said that "Beautiful Girls" and "Unchained" were supposed to wrap up the show, but after "Jump" the band was ushered out a back door and driven away. A new single and video are going to be released soon, and their tour is going on sale January 10th.

The last 14 years have been rough for Van Halen fans. The last three tours featured three different singers, and for most of that time the band was completely inactive. Let's hope this club show is the dawn of a better, more productive era for the band. It sure seems like that's the case.

I'm excited. Really looking forward to hearing the new new and the new old material. I am concerned about that absence of Michael Anthony. His background vocals are a signature of the Van Halen sound. I hope I don't miss him too much.

Eddie hardly played "absolutely flawlessly."

Eyesore wrote:

Eddie hardly played "absolutely flawlessly."

And you're basing that opinion on what exactly? One crappy cell phone recording of a brand new song that's never been played live? Gimme a break.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

Eddie hardly played "absolutely flawlessly."

And you're basing that opinion on what exactly? One crappy cell phone recording of a brand new song that's never been played live? Gimme a break.

There are numerous videos, you dingleberry! I'm not saying he sucked; he simply wasn't flawless. He's sloppy these days.

Can't really tell anything from this. Though that beefy modern production isn't so appealing. Yeah, your son is in the band, Eddie, but let's not shove it down our throats. Ight?

Hopefully it sounds better on album than YouTube.

Dave still sounds decent...

On the note about what Sammy Hagar must be thinking right now, I don't really think he is too worried. Chickenfoot has been doing really well for Sammy and Michael and while I think both of them are curious (as they stated) what Van Halen will be doing next, I don't think that this new album will take away any of the current popularity that Sammy, Michael, and Chickenfoot as a whole are currently enjoying.

Save for the rather too tongue in cheek band name (though there are far worse examples), I think Chickenfoot is definitely on par with Sammy's own earlier solo albums and with some Van Halen albums during his tenure (F.U.C.K. comes to mind as does a bit of Balance).

For one, I am excited at the possibility of seeing Van Halen with the semi-original line-up. I am a big DLR fan, I have enjoyed almost everything he has done with Van Halen and as a solo artist. I also really like him as a showman, I think he embodies the spirit of a good-time rock n roller and while on stage can make his ego work very well for the chemistry of the band he's fronting.

However, I think without Michael Anthony this reunion of sorts will never really live up to Van Halen's name. Michael Anthony was as instrumental to the band's sound as the other three members, as Ed himself really. Michael's bass playing and back-up vocals gave this band the identity it needed to connect with the general fanbase - and not just with guitar geeks - it gave Van Halen the summertime spirit, the feeling that you're out somewhere on a beach, on an island filled with beautiful women and you're free and without a worry in the world - that is my Van Halen.

I just cannot picture Van Halen without that vital element in the band. You may as well have a different band sounding like a tribute to Van Halen.

Remember back when you made short posts? Yeah, that was nice.

I'm sorry I have a tendency to write a lot, I will try to keep my posts shorter.

Alex Dee Rokket wrote:

I'm sorry I have a tendency to write a lot, I will try to keep my posts shorter.

I like your well thought out posts Alex.

Screw Eyesore; he can stick to these :

Alex Dee Rokket wrote:

I'm sorry I have a tendency to write a lot, I will try to keep my posts shorter.

dont worry about eyesore - he has a short attention span...

tohostudios wrote:

exact33 wrote:

Alex Dee Rokket wrote:

I'm sorry I have a tendency to write a lot, I will try to keep my posts shorter.

dont worry about eyesore - he has a short attention span...

The short clip sounds good! Can't really hear the bass guitar though...

I liked the short sample and DLR sounds incredible