Liberty: Han Valen

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. I recently saw Van Halen in concert. I wasn't really anticipating it as I had earlier mentioned, until a few hours before the show when it hit me that I was seeing VAN HALEN. There has always been something different about Van Halen. I've always been from the Rush and Led Zeppelin side of the hard rock house house, and yeah of course I loved my metal too. Van Halen though wasn't as bluesy as Zep, surely not as progressive as Rush, but more polished than AC/DC, and way more fun than Aerosmith. They did though have some kind of punk infused soul crossover that always attracted me.

Some of my music snob friends do not like Van Halen, and I'm not completely sure why. I think it has to do with the actual music or its lack of complexity. Yet of course they'll love contrived bans like Green Day or Nirvana, but blow off Van Halen. To each their own I guess.

They did put on a good show. I was impressed. It was not very long, but technically it was sound for a band mostly in their late 50s. Well let's see, Eddie Van Halen is a guitar God. It doesn't matter what kind of music you like, he is the man. Arguably up there with Page, Paul, Hendrix, Beck, and Clapton for sure. He's innovative and a freak. Nothing has changed. He's just that good, you expect no less. Eddie van Halen is the Red Wings of rock and roll. His fans just know he is the man, and expect it. Nothing he does really blows any one away anymore, since he's already done that. No matter what he does from here on end, it's just greatness on cruise control. Sad but true.

Alex was perfect. I know many who don't consider him with the likes of Peart or Bonham; but true musicians rank him up there with Ringo, and Charlie Watts as excellent beat drivers. I enjoyed his work and always have. I spent a great deal of time trying to gauge Wolfie on bass. They really laid the bass down heavy, and he was very good. The bigger deal was trying to figure out how he could handle the backing vocals, which to me is the second more important instrument of Van Halen. He was excellent.

Diamond David Lee Roth. I have to tell you, I could never understand him. I never liked him in the early years. He was this flamboyant showman, and that wasn't rock and roll to me. I never cared for those aspects of Elton John, nor David Bowie, let alone Freddie Mercury. To me it was about the music, I didn't care about the high leg kicks or funky outfits. That was chick stuff. So I never thought he was cool, or even a good singer. I was happy with Sammy Hagar at the helm. Years later listening to him sing I have a new appreciation for his voice, and the notes he could reach. Apparently in the music world he is considered a very good singer because of the octaves he can hold (that's Greek to me, but I hear that's important). In concert he was a showman again. Not too flashy, but a bit over the top at times. Overall I liked it. I liked it, because it's just pure marketing genius. That's what Van Halen is, genius. He (DLR) is an interesting character. Still blows my mind he was an EMT in NYC not too long ago. Kinda makes him human, almost.

Whether you like Van Halen or not, you have to admit they got it right. Sorta like Oprah. You may not like her, but damn you gotta respect that gig. The thing about Van Halen; while I like most of their music, there is some stuff I find horrible. I can't say that about Rush or Zeppelin. So they will always be a notch lower in my book, which isn't too bad still. They have a place in my collection. Sometimes I just need to kick out some anthem rock and jam the air guitar and get my testosterone laden audio filled injection to my heart. I like to rock, and Van Halen surely does that for me.

I dig Van Halen, I like their music. I just don't like the band members. I think they are trapped in the genius of Eddie, and the limitations of that forever. I can never understand how the brothers didn't take the world by the cahones and run with it. I don't think they really ever understood the potential they had to rule with Sammy or Dave and Michael Anthony. Essentially they are a garage band on steroids that you'd see at some frat party. I don't think that's a bad thing either I just don't and never have expected more. When a band takes years off between albums, how can you take them seriously? They don't take themselves seriously how can we?

By the way, their new album is pretty darn good. That's if you like soul induced heavy rock, like I do. Here is a clip I took with my significant other (My Droid X) of Eddie jamming away:


http://youtu.be/4K-DTvSKmFM