David Lee Roth, Full Show - M3 Rock Festival

David Lee Roth headlined M3 Rock Festival May 3. A video with the entire performance is below. Roth didn't do any of his solo work and that seems odd to me - it was all Van Halen, all the time. Still, Dave and his backing band sound great here! So many of those classic Van Halen harmonies.

The comments on the YouTube clip are pretty great. Just about everyone was expecting a disaster and instead they got an epic performance. It's pretty clear Dave has been putting in the work and training for his live gigs this summer. Is a tour happening? Inquiring minds want to know.

Comments

[Jeff]

The ultimate lounge lizard. Wasn't bad if you went in expecting what you got. I find it amusing it takes 4 guys to replicate one Michael Anthony on backup vocals and harmony, The band itself actually sounded very good.

[Kixchix]

My sentiments as well Jeff. Michael Anthony and his legacy will only grow. Last summer Sammy’s tour was essentially the Michael Anthony backing vocals show. He is the man.

DLR? I won’t be seeing him. Great that his body has recovered a bit, got hair plugs and a good supporting cast. I could not sit through it.

[fletch]

No, bl. I'm not mb or him. But, thank you for rockin'

[Him]

As a fanboy (you all know that), I kinda' split the difference between the Jeff and Kixchix comments. I went in very, very wary. I came out surprised. Yes, it takes a village to make him sound good these days. But he did choose well this time, with both the boisterous backing singers and his more recent backing band. And he stayed, for the most part, in the vocal lane he can handle (which has always been, for the most part, sing-talk-scatting, while making quirky asides and odd yelps and smiling for a touch too long . . . go back and watch the classic videos). And, plugs or not, DLR will always be DLR. If wrinkles make you giggle, and a failing voice that never was that great without great people around him make you snicker, well, you do you. All I will say is this: thank goodness you don't own a mirror or a microphone, and that no one goes back and nitpicks your previous albums and performances these days. Then again, I think that "Him Comes Alive" still holds up (hard to find, as it is a Dutch import that was a limited run of no copies).

The Fletch comment? Well, um, yes, that is, well, Fletch. But I am glad that him and his buddy (Hackett?) are going to see him and that he to got to see the other guy too. Meet and greets? You are dreaming, Fletch. Then again, I think you do that a lot. And who doesn't admire a dreamer?

Thing is, the tour (since I am not going to post twice) is strategically spaced out. It give him some time to rest, which is an on the road version of his aborted residency (to which I had tickets). And I might still attend one of these shows. But, as Jeff noted and I emphasized earlier, if you don't go in with honest expectations, you are criticizing your own standards. Even us fanboys are somewhat realistic about what our idols can and can't do.

I still thank the heavens that this man is here to do whatever the hell he wants to do. We've lost too many amazing talents (singers, showmen, guitarists, bass players, drummers, etc.). And, when we lose DLR, we will lose another.

[fletch]

Him: I met a couple who know about this site at M3. They asked me what handle I use on this site. I said I was Mb, then I said I was joking and that I was Him. We hung out in the parking lot, tailgating and listening to Van Halen.

[fletch]

Him: I met a couple who know about this site at M3. They asked me what handle I use on this site. I said I was Mb, then I said I was joking and that I was Him. We hung out in the parking lot, tailgating and listening to Van Halen, and swapping stories.

[Him]

Hope it was a nice hang, Fletch. Glad you had a good time.

Besides, Him is an every-man sort of persona. Thing is, I am just Him here. Elsewhere, others are.

[fletch]

A most enjoyable time, Mb...I mean him.

The chick was more into Godsmack and Metallica, bit the interaction and compromising was notable.

I kid. Had a great time. I hope they did, too.

[Him]

Touche, Fletch. Touche.

But, to be fair, Metalboy! and I, though we agree on many/most things, are nowhere near the same. And I say that as a point of pride. We also, so far as I know, post--and only post--under our assumed names. Never a need to post otherwise (save when I did the 'AIHim' thing for one post). You get it, Fletch? Right?

But, again, glad to hear you had a good time.