Here’s what you missed last night: Van Halen played New York City’s tiny (capacity 250) Café Wha? to promote their new album, "A Different Kind of Truth" — their first since 1985 with David Lee Roth as singer — and upcoming arena tour. (The show was not officially announced; critics, industry folks, and Jimmy Fallon filled the room.) Reading Jon Pareles in the New York Times today, one gathers that the show was (predictably) amazing. There were “intergalactic siren noises,” “vocal yowls and guitar squiggles,” and “jungle cackles.” As a bonus, Roth left his shirt on, sparing everyone his 57-year-old chest. (“In fact, he was wearing overalls.”)
Rolling Stone took the superfan’s view, with Andy Greene noting that original bassist Michael Anthony's backing vocals were “sorely missed” (Anthony was replaced by Eddie Van Halen’s son, Wolfgang) and pointing out that “She’s the Woman,” the one track the band played from the new album, was actually recorded in 1976, and had parts repurposed for the song “Mean Street.” Still, you’re well advised to get your tickets for the arena jaunt (they go on sale January 10). “Before the start of a Van Halen tour you never know what Ed you're getting,” Greene writes. “The 2004 Van Hagar Ed was a drunken, shirtless mess. The 2007/08 reunion Ed was cleaned up and together, and that clearly is the case today.” There are no guarantees, of course, that someone’s shirt might not come off.