Van Halen rocks Bankers Life
by Christian Doellner
Slideshow
When Van Halen last toured in 2007, there was no official concert DVD, Rolling Stone cover or comprehensive reunion interview with any major media source to promote the reunion tour. The low-key, stealth approach was remarkable, since the Van Halen/Roth tour was one of the most anticipated rock reunions of all time. With all the tight-lipped restraint surrounding the Van Halen camp, diehard fans couldn’t be blamed for feeling as though the rug might be pulled out from under them. Even though the reunion has appeared to “take," actually already resulting in a new album, it’s surreal seeing Diamond David Lee Roth (coming home to Indiana) and Eddie Van Halen sharing a stage together and...hugging.
David Lee Roth just might be the happiest man in show biz and the gratitude was practically dripping off of him Wednesday night at the Fieldhouse. There weren’t any splits off the drum riser like in days of yore, but what’s been lost aerodynamically has been replaced with a down-to-Earth, funky swerve. It’s a long way from taunting the Clash on stage with a bottle of Jack Daniels to DLR opening “Ice Cream Man” with a poignant narration about his sheepdogs. Roth’s shuck and jive mannerisms were jettisoned during a steely, self-aware rendition of “I’ll Wait” while audience members—who, in an unheard-of move, were allowed to bring cameras into the venue—rushed the aisles, phone cams held high in the air.
It would be the night’s running gag: Roth commenting, coyly, "This isn’t going to be on the Internet is it?” Eddie scissor-kicked and shredded his way throughout the night, at times joining Wolfgang at the mic. Alex played a tropically flavored drum solo that started off Copacabana-style, with horn stabs that morphed into a big band riff. The evening ending with a confetti explosion set to "Jump" with Roth dressed in a Moose Lodge fur hat waving an enormous checkered flag.
Van Halen performs "You Really Got Me" Thursday, February 23 in Indianapolis.
Set List
1. You Really Got Me
2. Runnin' 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's Drum Solo
12. Unchained
13. The Trouble With Never
14. Dance The Night Away
15. I'll Wait
16. Hot For Teacher
17. Women In Love
18. Girl Gone Bad
19. Beautiful Girls
20. Ice Cream Man
21. Panama
22. Eddie's Guitar Solo
23. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
24. Jump
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