Van Hell Yeah

So I just got back from the Van Halen concert at the UC, and it was pretty awesome. How could it not be? Diamond Dave, Eddie and Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anth -- er, I mean, and Wolfgang Van Halen. Joining me were Gregerson, Chenandler Bong, and Sean "Never Been Any" Riesenbeck. Props to Ryan "I Don't Need a Fuckin'" Riesenbeck for providing Sean with up-to-the-minute updates on the Indians/Red Sox and South Florida/Rutgers games, and for requesting that I give him a shout-out on GMYH.

But back to the show. Van Halen always brings back good memories of my youth in Houston. Whenever I hear "Panama," I fondly remember rocking out to 1984 at Sean Fitzgerald's house on Kennet Valley Road. Tonight's show reminded me what it was like to be a child, even if the members of VH didn't so much. Dave's scissor kicks were not as high as they used to be, and he couldn't quite hit the same high notes that he used to, often substituting a long "a" for what used to be a long "e" (i.e., "baby pleeeese" turned into "baby plaaayyyse"). And he's looking more and more like like Chelcie Ross everyday. He did not curse Jobu, however. Eddie played the whole show with his shirt off. I hope I look that good when I'm 70. Speaking of which, older brother Alex looks like a walking soul. He makes Charlie Watts look like a fetus. And then there's Wolfgang. Luckily he did not take his shirt off. He reminds me a lot of myself when I was 16, aside from the chubbiness, the emaciated father, and the position as bassist in one of the greatest rock and roll bands of all-time.

Don't get me wrong, it was a solid show. They played a ton off the first 3 albums (including "Romeo Delight," my favorite Van Halen song), a few from Fair Warning and Diver Down, and of course the 3 big hits from 1984. I highly suggest seeing them when they come through your neck of the woods. After all, it may be another 23 years before Diamond Dave tours again with the band. By that time, of course, they will all be dead, save for Alex, since he is obviously a cyborg.