Classic Rock

Headliner: Van Halen 09.28.2015

September 28, 2015

2018

F41A5403 - Van Halen 092815 - s — Van Halen in concert at the Ak Chin Pavilion in Phoenix, AZ on September 28, 2015.

By Greg Cohen

Van Halen, touring in support of its April 2015 live album Tokyo Dome Live in Concert, performed at the Ak Chin Pavilion on September 28, 2015. Performing outdoors on an evening when it was still close to 100° at showtime, Van Halen demonstrated once again why they are legends. The band brought out fans wearing their best ’80s leggings, leather miniskirts and big hair. It also brought out a multi-generational contingent – mostly dads wanting to show their teenage boys how the dads rocked when they were teens.

While lead singer David Lee Roth remains in great shape physically, his voice hasn’t fared quite as well. He talked through much of the lyrics as much as he sang them and didn’t have quite the range he needed when he did sing. He was also out of synch with the band at times – his lyrics seemingly following the music instead of accompanying it. It’s clear that Roth can’t do everything he did in 1984 but, to be completely honest, who among us can say that we can either.

Guitar master Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen and Eddie’s son Wolfgang Van Halen on bass, however, remained tight, on key and fully engaged. Eddie Van Halen smiled broadly throughout the show and appeared genuinely happy to be playing on stage. The Van Halens clearly played the straight foil to Roth’s crazy antics, as always, and they didn’t seem to allow Roth’s vocal issues to diminish their performance whatsoever.

While it’s unfortunate that Roth no longer has the voice he once did, his antics carried much of his performance. Roth reminded me of the crazy uncle that only comes over on the holidays, has a little too much to drink, and inevitably says the craziest damned thing that makes the evening something the family will talk about forever so you hang-out just waiting for him to go there. And the nice part is with Roth you’re never disappointed and that’s clearly by design, not accidental. We watch him expecting the clown prince of rock and Roth delivers. Roth’s antics and showmanship may not fully make up for his diminished vocals, but they continued to make for a fun show that delivers exactly the type of nostalgic concert you go to a Van Halen concert in 2015 to see. (set list after the photos)