"The Last Tour Unless It Isn't" Rocks The Hard Rock Event Center August 3rd

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All Photos By Travis Failey Photography

It's Sunday night on a hot, sweltering night in Tampa and I'm heading to see David Lee Roth at the premier venue in town, the Events Center at the Hard Rock Casino. This place has the best lights and sound in Tampa, and as "You Can't Kill Rock and Roll" cranks on Ozzy's Boneyard, the irony isn't lost as VAN HALEN was introduced to the masses during their first US Tour, opening for BLACK SABBATH. The song hits you right in the feels and into your memory banks of times present, and of course, passed by.

Many DLR and VAN HALEN fans have been looking forward to this show since it was announced, with myself included. It's not very often that legends come to your backyard, and it's becoming obvious that we have to see them now, as we might not get another chance.

That's not the only reason you go and see Dave, you see him to witness one of the greatest showmen of our generation, and of course, see the lead singer of arguably the greatest US rock band play the songs of the jukebox of our youth. AEROSMITH may have an argument for that title.

On arrival, the casino was bustling with people going to the show and others gambling like madmen, while the cigarette smoke struggled to escape through the ventilation. Thankfully, the 1500-seat room is sectioned off, and without an opening act, the 8pm start was a nice change.

99 percent of the room was filled with mostly people 35 and up, with many men and women dressed to impress, and with Dave and his band taking the stage at a very prompt 8:15.

The opening notes of "Panama" ripped from guitarist Al Estrada's amp as drummer Francis Valentino pumped the quad bass drums from his huge drum kit, as Dave strode onto the stage. He greeted the fans, asking them "how they were doing out there", with a huge smile that was present throughout the set.

Donning all black leather pants, jacket, and vest with a red bandana around his neck, Dave screamed "Oh Yeah" and the show and "Panama" were in full swing. Backed by bassist Ryan Wheeler and his 4 backup singers in Andre Washington, Juneau Lake, Stevie Notes, and Kurt Lykes, the chorus was spot on.

Dave is a veteran and knows where his vocal limitations lie and his band helped and carried him at times, but it doesn't take away from the "show".

"Drop Dead Legs" and "I'm The One" were next in the 17-song set that included only VAN HALEN songs. The set was full of deep cuts, but some wanted a couple from Roth's monster solo release in Eat' Em & Smile.

The vocal harmonies were spot on all night and shined specifically on songs "I'll Wait", "Oh, Pretty Woman" and "Jamie's Cryin". Dave went up to the riser multiple times, where the backup singers were, and joined in as the five of them performed the harmonies that gave VAN HALEN their signature sound.

Dave and the band stretched out some songs Broadway style like "Dance The Night Away" with an extended chorus as the fans danced along with Dave. He talked and interacted with them in the front rows but that was mostly during the songs as there wasn't a lot of between-song chatter which was surprising.

He did ask the crowd though, multiple times "Who the show?" and the answer was "We the show" incorporating everyone in the venue. Once again, always the showman who knows how to engage with the fans.

Guitarist Al Estrada was fantastic all night and shined on "Mean Street" from the Fair Warning release. Many guitarists have tried, including Joe Satriani on Howard Stern and have struggled trying to emulate Eddie but Estrada nailed it. He was also brilliant on "Unchained" and "Atomic Punk" with Dave wailing through a chrome megaphone that he used multiple times. During "Punk" he incorporated "When you're a jet, you're a jet" from West Side Story and the crowd loved it.

Dave, always the jokester, cracked on his drummer in jest, also about the crowd not being a size five in years and even on himself, talking about how his hair had its own address back in the day. He quipped, "I was an honor student, yes, your honor, no, your honor." He even went into his version of a prayer in "We don't need no water, let the mother fucker burn." It was funny as hell and it worked.

Why? Because it's Dave, the ultimate showman. Who else do you know that has his bandmates hold a red microphone stand and do the limbo at 70 years old? I don't know any.

And all of you are wondering about how Dave sounded vocally. He sounded like Dave. All of us who have followed his career know that he has never been the best live vocalist, even in the early years of VH. But he knows what works for him, the band and how to present the songs the fans want to hear. If you're looking for vocal perfection, you're not getting it here but you know that walking in. If you are looking to be entertained, this is the definition of it.

This show was once again "a show". As "Everybody Wants Some" was concluding, one of the backup singers hopped up to the second set of keyboards to start the opening notes of "Jump". Of course, Dave wasn't spinning and jumping 8 feet in the air like in decades past, but the energy, exuberance and overall joy he presented to the crowd was infectious.

As the 9-piece band took their bows and with his jacket off and his tattoos ablaze, Dave looked like he's in great shape and who knows how long he stays out and continues to perform. He named this tour "The Last Tour Unless It Isn't" and with that play on words and what we just witnessed, I believe that as long as he can, Dave will continue to perform for himself and for us and "Dance The Night Away".

Setlist:

• "Panama"
• "Drop Dead Legs"
• "I'm The One"
• "I'll Wait"
• "You Really Got Me"
• "Runnin' With The Devil"
• "Romeo Delight"
• "Dance the Night Away"
• "Mean Street"
• "Atomic Punk"
• "Jamie's Cryin'"
• "Unchained"
• "Oh, Pretty Woman"
• "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love"
• "Hot For Teacher"
• "Everybody Wants Some!!"
• "Jump"