interesting DLR LIVE review from Nov 8

[noise next door]

David Lee Roth Live
Edmonton Events Centre
November 8, 2006

By FISH GRIWKOWSKY - Edmonton Sun


EDMONTON - “There will come a day when youth will pass away ... what will they say about me?”

Well, as if that isn’t the most obvious question for Diamond David Lee Roth, which is a dumb shame.

It’s a poor reflection on our society that so little respect is currently thrown the superior Van Halen front man who more than, as he put it, “reasonably entertained” us at the Edmonton Events Centre in West Edmonton Mall on Tuesday night.

Believe me, I know how this works – these days we’re especially attuned to sarcastically mock the things we loved so much in our youth.

It makes us seem clever and impenetrable to roll our eyes at spandex leaping and an enormous cloud of crimped hair, somehow rationalizing monotonous and invisible outfits worn into suburban nothingness.

But once again, it’s a reality TV-influenced instance of concentrating on the blazingly superficial over the actual soul of a thing.



Because if you liked Van Halen’s cocky but more importantly wicked, party-generation vibrations, then you were a fool to miss it the other night. The promises of Roth’s metal youth were kept.

Riding an absolutely priceless list of globally familiar hits, the 51-year-old singer emerged with less pow than his last visit in a flamboyant yet dignified three-piece suit that referenced several rainbows: stripes, polka-dots and vinyl pants all saying, “HEYYY!”

Instantly, it was clear he could access any of the former notes, his left thumb still hitchhiking whenever he stretched his voice to the edge.

In front of a comparatively generic but good-natured band, the crowd was DLR’s with the opening drum roll of Hot for Teacher as we all adjusted to the passage of time on his face, which was ever that of a strange-looking old man.

The average age of the semi-packed venue was both 19 and 35 with little in the middle. Oh, plus lots of strippers.

Besides the affirmation of ongoing high kicks above his head, what I most loved about Roth’s show was his Shatner-ish ease with his own story, along with a Steve Martin smile.

Sure, he said the dreaded “funky” a few times, a date-stamping word which should be obliterated from all human use except to describe funk, but his stories were great.

He cited being a shock jock radio DJ, called a happy woman in the front row a “slut” to her pleasure, explained that Panama was written in tribute to a recently sexed girl who’d put her pants on backwards as she fled police attention.

Then he took it all the way back to the beginning.

“Back in 1971 I was a night janitor,” he explained with a grin that never left his face all night, “and the DJ put on the Rolling Stones’ Brown Sugar 10 times in a row. And I thought, someday they’re gonna play my f---ing songs like that.” And indeed they did.

Just Like Paradise, Runnin’ with the Devil, You Really Got Me, California Girls, Jamie’s Crying, Just a Gigolo, Yankee Rose and the monolithic Jump as an encore, we collectively rocked hardest to Unchained throbbing and the viciously unromantic lyrics of Ain’t Talking ’Bout Love.

But in my new favourite venue, I’ll call it, Ed’s – which laughs at the Romper Room decor, totally paranoid security, bad-service, ripoff ghost of Red’s – Roth channelled some serious rock ’n’ roll with the Louis Prima slash Frank Sinatra dignity he was raised on.

After, of course, making convincing motorcycle noises into the mike, his eyes mad with dreams of speed and the charcoal-mellowed JD magnum he gerbil-slurped all night.

Sure, life went on without his ilk – but it’s never been quite as fun since, man.

LINK:

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/R/...9/2289302.html

[Ryder5150]

David Lee Roth Live
Edmonton Events Centre
November 8, 2006

By FISH GRIWKOWSKY - Edmonton Sun


EDMONTON - “There will come a day when youth will pass away ... what will they say about me?”

Well, as if that isn’t the most obvious question for Diamond David Lee Roth, which is a dumb shame.

It’s a poor reflection on our society that so little respect is currently thrown the superior Van Halen front man who more than, as he put it, “reasonably entertained” us at the Edmonton Events Centre in West Edmonton Mall on Tuesday night.

Believe me, I know how this works – these days we’re especially attuned to sarcastically mock the things we loved so much in our youth.

It makes us seem clever and impenetrable to roll our eyes at spandex leaping and an enormous cloud of crimped hair, somehow rationalizing monotonous and invisible outfits worn into suburban nothingness.

But once again, it’s a reality TV-influenced instance of concentrating on the blazingly superficial over the actual soul of a thing.



Because if you liked Van Halen’s cocky but more importantly wicked, party-generation vibrations, then you were a fool to miss it the other night. The promises of Roth’s metal youth were kept.

Riding an absolutely priceless list of globally familiar hits, the 51-year-old singer emerged with less pow than his last visit in a flamboyant yet dignified three-piece suit that referenced several rainbows: stripes, polka-dots and vinyl pants all saying, “HEYYY!”

Instantly, it was clear he could access any of the former notes, his left thumb still hitchhiking whenever he stretched his voice to the edge.

In front of a comparatively generic but good-natured band, the crowd was DLR’s with the opening drum roll of Hot for Teacher as we all adjusted to the passage of time on his face, which was ever that of a strange-looking old man.

The average age of the semi-packed venue was both 19 and 35 with little in the middle. Oh, plus lots of strippers.

Besides the affirmation of ongoing high kicks above his head, what I most loved about Roth’s show was his Shatner-ish ease with his own story, along with a Steve Martin smile.

Sure, he said the dreaded “funky” a few times, a date-stamping word which should be obliterated from all human use except to describe funk, but his stories were great.

He cited being a shock jock radio DJ, called a happy woman in the front row a “slut” to her pleasure, explained that Panama was written in tribute to a recently sexed girl who’d put her pants on backwards as she fled police attention.

Then he took it all the way back to the beginning.

“Back in 1971 I was a night janitor,” he explained with a grin that never left his face all night, “and the DJ put on the Rolling Stones’ Brown Sugar 10 times in a row. And I thought, someday they’re gonna play my f---ing songs like that.” And indeed they did.

Just Like Paradise, Runnin’ with the Devil, You Really Got Me, California Girls, Jamie’s Crying, Just a Gigolo, Yankee Rose and the monolithic Jump as an encore, we collectively rocked hardest to Unchained throbbing and the viciously unromantic lyrics of Ain’t Talking ’Bout Love.

But in my new favourite venue, I’ll call it, Ed’s – which laughs at the Romper Room decor, totally paranoid security, bad-service, ripoff ghost of Red’s – Roth channelled some serious rock ’n’ roll with the Louis Prima slash Frank Sinatra dignity he was raised on.

After, of course, making convincing motorcycle noises into the mike, his eyes mad with dreams of speed and the charcoal-mellowed JD magnum he gerbil-slurped all night.

Sure, life went on without his ilk – but it’s never been quite as fun since, man.

LINK:

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/R/...9/2289302.html

I was at this show and it was amazing. Dave was in terrific condition and looked great for his age, I also like dave's new look. He should have had this look years ago even before the Sam and Dave tour.

[James in New York]

Cool!

[diamondsgirl]

I like the word "funky".

Nice review for the most part (except where he said Dave was an odd looking old man).

and the story about the girl whose pants were on backwards was not "Panama" but "Dance the Night Away".

Hmmm...someone wasn't paying attention, but what can you expect from someone named "Fish".

[diamondsgirl]

I was at this show and it was amazing. Dave was in terrific condition and looked great for his age, I also like dave's new look. He should have had this look years ago even before the Sam and Dave tour.

glad you had a good time! I heard the announcer made a comment about this being the last time you will see Dave at a small club or something like that.

[Ryder5150]

glad you had a good time! I heard the announcer made a comment about this being the last time you will see Dave at a small club or something like that.

You got that right. Rob Berg and Darlene Check two Dj's from 97.3 got to go back stage and interview Dave during his 10 minute break. On the radio the next day the two Dj's said they asked Dave about the recent Van Halen reunion rumours and Dave said with a huge smile no comment. Reading between the lines I would say Dave must be back in.

[EAS]

You got that right. Rob Berg and Darlene Check two Dj's from 97.3 got to go back stage and interview Dave during his 10 minute break. On the radio the next day the two Dj's said they asked Dave about the recent Van Halen reunion rumours and Dave said with a huge smile no comment. Reading between the lines I would say Dave must be back in.

Interesting. I'm lovin' all of the buzz on this. Mike or not, I'm there.

[Ryder5150]

Interesting. I'm lovin' all of the buzz on this. Mike or not, I'm there.

Me to. I have waited my whole life to see the original front man with Van Halen.

[farmboyEd]

I was at this show too. Right up front on the rail... Dave was awesome, and MUCH better than when he was here about 3 years ago.

I wasn't sure if I was going to go to this for $50 a ticket, especially when I read about others seeing him for $16 with admission to the state fair :-) After all, it was 'only Dave'. Then a bit later when he's singing SGMADoctor, or Everybody Wants Some, I figured out these were songs I'm NEVER going to hear the 'real' Van Halen play live, and I realized what I was seeing. I was loving it!

Ryder, nobody mentioned how 97.3 played "Just A Gigolo" for 4 HOURS STRAIGHT from 2:00 to 6:00PM to try and get Dave to come in and sign a guitar. The radio station is right in West Edmonton Mall where Dave was playing (and likely staying) that night, and the station presenting him was pissed Dave wouldn't even walk down for a quick chat. Half the listeners were telling the DJ 'You Suck', but the other half were saying 'You Rock!'

When the band played the intro to Gigolo, Dave stopped and looked out at us and laughed "You guys should know the words to this one!" He then went on to relate the radio story and started saying how commercial radio sucks and is in a bad place, but then along comes a guy like DJ Bergie, and pulls a GREAT move like this! Dave loved it!

I was in Ed's golden ring with my hand on top of his pedalboard last tour, and now right up on the rail to see Dave. All I need now is to see both of them onstage together again from that close! Although we should know better, let's hope!

[vistadelrey]

I have mixed emotions about the man who left van halen but yet I am ready for him to make it happen in 07. shoud i be optimistic? I dunno.