David takes a shot at Cafe Wha?

As promised, Van Halen (Eddie, Alex, Wolfie & David Lee Roth, but not Michael Anthony) played a super intimate show at Cafe Wha? in the West Village last night (1/5).

David said the last time he played a stage that low he had to get the car back before midnight. He said he was more nervous playing Cafe Wha?, where he can't hide, than any stadium ("no fake vocals at this show" he noted...). Part of that nervousness came from the fact that it was more than just a small, old, legendary venue where they chose to play a press-only show. It's also the club that David's uncle Manny Roth used to own, and Manny, now 92 years old, was in attendance. David mentioned he was 7 years old the first time he was there, but never got to play on that stage - "it was harder getting this gig than getting into the rock n' roll Hall of Fame," the rock star-turned EMT-turned rock star joked during one of his many monologues during the hour+ show. He talked about living on the LES, wanting to meet Lady Gaga, being an EMT in NYC, playing clubs in Southern California, and various other topics in between playing the hits (and one new song). Full setlist and some videos below.

Rolling Stone writes:

"It's like climbing into a rocket in here," David Lee Roth said as he stepped onto the matchbox-sized stage at New York's 250-capacity Cafe Wha? for Van Halen's first concert in four years. "It's a rocket that comes from way back into the past into what the future's going to look like. Welcome to Occupy Van Halen, ladies and gentlemen!"

With those words Eddie Van Halen kicked into the opening notes of "You Really Got Me" and the crowd -composed almost entirely of journalists and music industry insiders - went absolutely bonkers. Over the next hour, the group played a stunningly tight set of songs from their 1978 debut LP all the way through David Lee Roth's swan song, 1984. It was a show guaranteed to make any crowd go into a collective state of hysteria, but the happiest man in the house could have been Roth himself. Dressed in beige overalls and a Brian Johnson-style newsboy hat, the singer had an ear-to-ear grin on his face all night..

And it's a good thing they're getting along because they've just announced a pretty big tour that includes two NYC shows at Madison Square Garden. All of those dates and more information, also below...

Continue reading "Van Halen played Cafe Wha?, announce 2012 tour (including 2 nights @ MSG) -- setlist, video, pics & dates"

Van Halen, 1980 (CRED)

Continue reading "Van Halen (w/ David Lee Roth) RESCHEDULED Tour Dates"

Upset you missed Van Halen's recent NYC-area appearances with David Lee Roth? Now you have a second chance. They're returning to Madison Square Garden on March 17th, and to the Izod Center in NJ four days earlier. Tickets for both shows go on sale Monday December 3rd @ 10am. They're also playing Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on March 28th, and those tickets go on sale Saturday. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "VAN HALEN add NYC shows & other 2008 Tour Dates"

David Lee Roth & Eddie Van Halen @ Nassau Colliseum - Nov 8, 2007 (CRED)

They really pulled it off, and they do it again tonight @ Madison Square Garden. Nassau Colliseum setlist below....

Continue reading "Van Halen played Nassau Colliseum, @ MSG TONIGHT"