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VAN HALEN CONCERT REVIEW: VAN HALEN ROCKS AUBURN HILLS

Van Halen Bursts Into Classics and New Material With Reckless Abandon

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Van Halen Concert Review: Van Halen Rocks Auburn Hills

2/21/2012 - Van Halen rocked the foundation of the Palace of Auburn Hills with such force that it will never be the same. It's a wonder that the roof remains after being raised to the Heavens by 4 of the most talented men the music industry has seen since they last toured in 2008.

You Really Got Me
Runnin' With the Devil
She's The Woman
Romeo Delight
Tattoo
Everybody Wants Some!!
Somebody Get Me A Doctor
China Town
Mean Street
Oh, Pretty Woman
Drum Solo
Unchained
The Trouble with Never
Dance The Night Away
I'll Wait
Hot For Teacher
Women In Love
Girl Gone Bad
Beautiful Girls
Ice Cream Man
Panama
Guitar Solo
Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Jump

The only snags at the Van Halen show in Auburn Hills, MI on Feb 20, 2012 were technical ones. David Lee Roth spelled it out best when he said " 'so the TV screen still isn't working after 2 songs. I guess we don't pay for this one!' " Apparently the tour rider being used in 2012 makes allowances for only so much failure in that area. Apparently it's expected to happen but apparently expected to be resolved immediately when the jumbo tron TV behind the band goes out which it did for the first 5 or 6 songs and intermittently throughout the evening. Also lighting needed to be adjusted one time when Dave saw a blue hue coming through the screen obscuring his image during one song. Whether this tour rider contains a "brown M&M clause" is undetermined.

The audience certainly was hottest for the hits. "Girl Gone Bad" was played for the first time live since 1984. Parts of this song and pieces have been played even as late as 2004 on the last tour with Chickenfoot front man Sammy Hagar, however the whole song, with vocals, SANS Michael Anthony had never been played live in this new, 4.0 version of Van Halen.

This concert goer wanted to see more than four songs from the new album. I had read the set list from the opening show. This being the second show of the tour I hoped for greater variation from the Louisville, KY set list. I was hoping the band would play everybody's not-so-secret favorite from "A Different Kind Of Truth", "Stay Frosty", and my personal other favorites, "Honeybabysweetiedoll" and "Big River".

As it was they did play the new / old "Tattoo" and "She's The Woman" as well as China Town" and "The Trouble With Never". The latter was the only song the crowd seemed not 110 percent into. The songs that seemed to generate the greatest crowd response were the opening "You Really Got Me" and "Runnin' With The Devil," "Somebody Get Me A Doctor," "Dance The Night Away," "Beautiful Girls," "Panama" and "Jump."

Wolfgang Van Halen was the most impressive in the strides he has made. He does not stand still and play like he's afraid to make a mistake. It was understandable as a 16, 17 year old! Gee whiz! As a 21 year old he is more comfortable, at ease, having fun, and coming into his own in showmanship. His interaction with David Lee Roth is pretty humorous. They seem to rib each other all the time.

Any songs from the new album would be great to see live. I give the album 4 stars out of 4 and a 9.5 out of 10. Had the band played "Stay Frosty" they would have performed the song I think this album will mostly be remembered for in years to come. This song has to get airplay, needs released, and would make the point to anyone not aware: forget the soft stuff; Van Halen is BACK!

Music has its edge back, and it's not from U2 (albeit a great band) and it certainly isn't Justin Beiber or Hip Hop that could possibly save Music's bacon; but the meat of Van Halen that will fill and s-s-satis-f-f-fy the music lover's ear.