What is it about the past that draws us in? The obvious answer is the comfort of being somewhere we’ve been before. It gives us a sense of comfort … perhaps even a sense of control. We feel like we know the rules, we know the game, and, accordingly, we are in control of the outcomes. The power of nostalgia is clearly exhibited by the progression of a child through school. Every step up through school leaves the child looking to the past and what was. Of course, the irony is that just about the time that the child “masters” a school level (elementary, Jr. High or High School) they are moved on to the next. (Of course, by the time you master college you move into the real world, and then everything appears as an idealistic memory of how great it was). Conversely, you live life, have kids, achieve professional competency, retire … and then you get old and want to move “back home.” Life really has a way of book ending things, but that search for home is really a search for the past, and for a comfort level which is, more than anything, a trick of our imagination.
And that, via digression, brings me to Van Halen. The consummate 1980s rock band is back on tour again, and they are once again touring with David Lee Roth as their front man. Diamond Dave, the consummate 1980s rock star is back on the road. As I caught wind of the impending tour I quickly looked at the tour dates, saw a February 24th date at the United Center, and booked tickets for The Wiese and I to go see the boys. The nostalgia train was moving out of the station, and I quickly: A) rediscovered my old Van Halen albums, B) Listened to them repeatedly, and C) purchased the new album (the theoretical reason for the tour), then forced myself to like it by playing nothing else for a few weeks. (By the way, it worked: I love the new Van Halen album. Although I suspect this is in no small part due to the fact that at least half the album is just reworked songs from the 1970s which were never put on an album before, which, in turn, made the music sound more like what I was already familiar with).
Van Halen is in an interesting stage of rock stardom now. They’ve been through the stereotypical break up; the group has always been about Eddie (on guitar) and Alex (on the drums), but their history with their front men have in many ways defined the group. They seem strangely perfect to talk about lost love, or the struggles of love, since the break up of the group and David Lee Roth seemed straight out of a high school romance playbook. Guy (Eddie and Alex) is with girl (David Lee). Guy and girl split (Diamond Dave and the Van Halen’s plus Michael Anthony splitting). Guy gets a new girl and is equally popular, but somehow different (Alex, Eddie and Michael teaming with Sammy Hagar to create Van Hagar… I mean, Van Halen). Before you know it, it’s a well established relationship with everyone on the outside figuring it’ll last forever. But it doesn’t (Hagar leaves), and the first girl is still around (the recording of the greatest hits), and before you know it the guy is comparing his first and second love (Diamond Dave and Hagar), then goes slumming for awhile (I can’t even tell you who, but they had another front man). Eventually a part of the guy changes fundamentally as his innocence is lost (Michael Anthony is no longer with the band). But then, when you least expect it, the guy gets back with the girl who started it all (Diamond Dave teaming up with Eddie, Alex, and new bass player Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie’s son, for a new album). On the outside you are looking to see if this is real. Do they still have feelings for one another? Can they make it work? Who has aged the worst from the whole experience?
In the case of the improbable, yet totally expected reunion between the Van Halen’s and Diamond Dave these are somewhat difficult questions to answer. The show clearly demonstrated that the group was happy to play together again, but the tension was still evident. David Lee Roth still does his thing and seems hell-bent on taking the attention. Eddie still allows himself to fade into the background more than he should (he is, after all, one of the top five guitarists of his generation). Alex is still removed from everything, although underrated as a drummer. The interesting addition that makes it all work is Eddie’s son, Wolfgang. Just when you doubt that there is devotion in what they are doing, and you start thinking it’s 100% about the money, you see Wolfgang and Eddie come side by side and jam together, or hear them hit the harmony together perfect. That’s when you see that it might mean more to the group. There was also one semi-genuine hug between Eddie and Dave, fleeting, but strong enough to hint something might be there.
As far as if they can make it work, there is little doubt that Eddie realizes now, after his struggles with addictions, that time is fleeting. The opportunity to play with your son and brother in front of stadiums packed full with fans is a unique chance to create memories most can’t dream of. Dave just brings you back to the first part of the band’s evolution, and his antics (yelling at the sound guy, telling the crowd he doesn’t give a ****, and generally playing the part of pompous rock star as well as anyone ever has) seem at home, but still draw from the whole product. One thing is for sure: Diamond Dave has aged the worst out of the whole experience. Eddie and Alex were still spot on; Dave, not so much. He may still be a draw, but the three Van Halen’s looked like they still belonged on the pinnacle of rock music; Dave made you wonder if time had passed him by.
All said, the band did deliver for the crowd. I have to say that I am 100% satisfied, yet I also don’t think I’d feel the need to see them again. Going to a show for Van Halen reminded me a lot of seeing the Goo Goo Dolls: I’m glad I did it once, but there isn’t a force pulling me back over and over again. Billy Joel I would see any chance I got. My love for Dave Matthews Band is well defined in this space, and I’m already giddy with excitement of the seven (hopefully more) shows I plan on going to this summer. Van Halen was much better than my experience seeing Bob Dylan (I’m still not convinced he isn’t dead and they aren’t just touring his body Weekend at Bernie’s style), but even my strong nostalgia for their music, taking me back to my early youth, couldn’t overcome reality. You see, Billy Joel loves the music more, and is has a much greater ability to connect with the crowd in a way that makes a 25,000 seat stadium feel like a small bar. Dave Matthews Band love playing together in a way that Van Halen probably never has and never will. In turn, the crowd reflects that love back, amplifying the experience. Van Halen was well worth the money, but also something that doesn’t need to be repeated. In other words, it’s like most of the memories we carry with us and reminisce on longingly.
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