Essential Live Albums

[wease]

Never did catch the VH bug. Eddie is obviously amazing, but I don't find much to like about the songs themselves. Roth is a chore.

This live album is with Sammy.

[Ello Sailor]

Really showed my ass back there.

[Happy Trees]

Roth is a chore.

Nonsense!

Bowzie bowzie bop ziddie bop!!!!

[liebzz]

Hurry up and listen to Portishead Roseland NYC

Added to the list.

[liebzz]

Yeah, on the Van Halen front, I do really love the Roth era. Their debut album is outstanding. And they really were on the money through 1984.

The Sammy Hagar era is more of a mixed bag. Wherein during the DLR era they were pushing rock music in fun and new directions, the Hagar era seemed at times like a square peg in a round hole or really following the crowd, reaching for ballads that were just not organic to the players in the band - but when they pushed the pace, they were still great. The whole trying to jump on the next thing happening trend really fell apart on Balance and then of course III was a train wreck. Despite being a retread of existing ideas from the 70s, their last album with David Lee Roth was really enjoyable.

[Ello Sailor]

Hurry up and listen to Portishead Roseland NYC

Added to the list.

It was already on the list!

[Jorge]

I've really learned to respect and appreciate the ridiculousness of Van Halen

[Higgs]

Yeah, on the Van Halen front, I do really love the Roth era. Their debut album is outstanding. And they really were on the money through 1984.

The Sammy Hagar era is more of a mixed bag. Wherein during the DLR era they were pushing rock music in fun and new directions, the Hagar era seemed at times like a square peg in a round hole or really following the crowd, reaching for ballads that were just not organic to the players in the band - but when they pushed the pace, they were still great. The whole trying to jump on the next thing happening trend really fell apart on Balance and then of course III was a train wreck. Despite being a retread of existing ideas from the 70s, their last album with David Lee Roth was really enjoyable.

I am doing a "Daily Banger" Messenger group as my son travels through Europe, trying to pick artists with an association with wherever he is. And of course the songs have to bang (duh). Whilst he was in Amsterdam I snuck in Van Halen's Hot For Teacher, as they are obviously a Dutch band.

[VinylGuy]

Yeah Van Halen was never big here and I really didn’t cared as a kid, it’s one of those bands that remain kind of a mystery to me..

[liebzz]

Yeah Van Halen was never big here and I really didn’t cared as a kid, it’s one of those bands that remain kind of a mystery to me..

David Lee Roth’s face is permanently affixed in such a manner that he looks like he is about to tell a joke. If you listen to Van Halen from ‘78-‘84, that’s symbolic of the charm of this band. Everything after that is basically them trying to be a “serious” band.

[wease]

Yeah, on the Van Halen front, I do really love the Roth era. Their debut album is outstanding. And they really were on the money through 1984.

The Sammy Hagar era is more of a mixed bag. Wherein during the DLR era they were pushing rock music in fun and new directions, the Hagar era seemed at times like a square peg in a round hole or really following the crowd, reaching for ballads that were just not organic to the players in the band - but when they pushed the pace, they were still great. The whole trying to jump on the next thing happening trend really fell apart on Balance and then of course III was a train wreck. Despite being a retread of existing ideas from the 70s, their last album with David Lee Roth was really enjoyable.

I am doing a "Daily Banger" Messenger group as my son travels through Europe, trying to pick artists with an association with wherever he is. And of course the songs have to bang (duh). Whilst he was in Amsterdam I snuck in Van Halen's Hot For Teacher, as they are obviously a Dutch band.

And they have a song called Amsterdam.

[liebzz]

Yeah, on the Van Halen front, I do really love the Roth era. Their debut album is outstanding. And they really were on the money through 1984.

The Sammy Hagar era is more of a mixed bag. Wherein during the DLR era they were pushing rock music in fun and new directions, the Hagar era seemed at times like a square peg in a round hole or really following the crowd, reaching for ballads that were just not organic to the players in the band - but when they pushed the pace, they were still great. The whole trying to jump on the next thing happening trend really fell apart on Balance and then of course III was a train wreck. Despite being a retread of existing ideas from the 70s, their last album with David Lee Roth was really enjoyable.

I am doing a "Daily Banger" Messenger group as my son travels through Europe, trying to pick artists with an association with wherever he is. And of course the songs have to bang (duh). Whilst he was in Amsterdam I snuck in Van Halen's Hot For Teacher, as they are obviously a Dutch band.

And they have a song called Amsterdam.

And Hot For Teacher is a banger - had that song stuck in my head yesterday even though it’s not on the live album I am in the midst of.

[wease]

Yeah, on the Van Halen front, I do really love the Roth era. Their debut album is outstanding. And they really were on the money through 1984.

The Sammy Hagar era is more of a mixed bag. Wherein during the DLR era they were pushing rock music in fun and new directions, the Hagar era seemed at times like a square peg in a round hole or really following the crowd, reaching for ballads that were just not organic to the players in the band - but when they pushed the pace, they were still great. The whole trying to jump on the next thing happening trend really fell apart on Balance and then of course III was a train wreck. Despite being a retread of existing ideas from the 70s, their last album with David Lee Roth was really enjoyable.

I agree to a certain extent. FUCK was fantastic. Great riffs that are on par with any of the Roth material. I think by the time Dave left, Ed felt constrained because, Jump and Cradle notwithstanding, Dave didn’t like or wouldn’t go for keyboard tunes. Sam comes in and doesn’t give a shit and so you have 2 albums full of keyboard tracks. Some I like, some I don’t. I also think they purposefully distanced themselves from the Dave-type riff-heavy songwriting as a way of distancing themselves from Roth. Maybe it worked. 5150 was the first number one album for any of them.

That era did leak with FUCK and Balance didn’t really work as a “sequel” to it. The songs weren’t as strong and the production was just about as slick as you could get. I’ve never owned nor listened to III. I’ve heard a track or 2 here and there but never the whole album. As for that last Dave album, it was a surprise to hear him actually sing. He went back to the clown banter and half-singing on their live album with him, tho. I hope that one is on your list.

[wease]

Yeah, on the Van Halen front, I do really love the Roth era. Their debut album is outstanding. And they really were on the money through 1984.

The Sammy Hagar era is more of a mixed bag. Wherein during the DLR era they were pushing rock music in fun and new directions, the Hagar era seemed at times like a square peg in a round hole or really following the crowd, reaching for ballads that were just not organic to the players in the band - but when they pushed the pace, they were still great. The whole trying to jump on the next thing happening trend really fell apart on Balance and then of course III was a train wreck. Despite being a retread of existing ideas from the 70s, their last album with David Lee Roth was really enjoyable.

I am doing a "Daily Banger" Messenger group as my son travels through Europe, trying to pick artists with an association with wherever he is. And of course the songs have to bang (duh). Whilst he was in Amsterdam I snuck in Van Halen's Hot For Teacher, as they are obviously a Dutch band.

And they have a song called Amsterdam.

And Hot For Teacher is a banger - had that song stuck in my head yesterday even though it’s not on the live album I am in the midst of.

It was on the radio when I had the youngest in the car yesterday. She sang right along with the chorus.

[Higgs]

Yeah, on the Van Halen front, I do really love the Roth era. Their debut album is outstanding. And they really were on the money through 1984.

The Sammy Hagar era is more of a mixed bag. Wherein during the DLR era they were pushing rock music in fun and new directions, the Hagar era seemed at times like a square peg in a round hole or really following the crowd, reaching for ballads that were just not organic to the players in the band - but when they pushed the pace, they were still great. The whole trying to jump on the next thing happening trend really fell apart on Balance and then of course III was a train wreck. Despite being a retread of existing ideas from the 70s, their last album with David Lee Roth was really enjoyable.

I am doing a "Daily Banger" Messenger group as my son travels through Europe, trying to pick artists with an association with wherever he is. And of course the songs have to bang (duh). Whilst he was in Amsterdam I snuck in Van Halen's Hot For Teacher, as they are obviously a Dutch band.

And they have a song called Amsterdam.

But it ain't Hot for Teacher. Daily Bangers be serious bidness.

[liebzz]

Van Halen - Live: Right Here, Right Now

Much of the discussion we’re having here now reflects back on this release. Somewhere around 1988, a 10 year old me was given the chance to pick out my first CD, and I picked 1984. I can still see the conflicted look on my mother’s face giving me the freedom to choose a CD, but questioning her and my judgment with the result being one where a cherub is smoking a cigarette on the cover.

David Lee Roth completely controlled my taste in Van Halen at that age, even if Sammy was already a steady presence in the band. When I later in my teenage years reached back, I exclusive went for DLR era stuff, with the exception of For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge in 1991, and then this first live album. Van Halen were back! (A double entendres about pound cake featuring Eddie Van Halen playing guitar with a power drill…makes perfect sense!). This live album at the time felt like confirmation of their lordship - big solos, Roth era tunes sneaking through, over the top stories about girls and liquor. Of course now, 30 years later, it’s maybe a little too ridiculous. And yet the best parts of this release are that. The love songs that pepper in throughout didn’t age well - the sage advice they provided to 15 year old me is laughable at best now. But when they play their part as the party band with a bonkers level guitarist, they are right on point here. And if you are going for a winner here, it’s got to be maybe one of the most over the top guitar solos ever put to an official live recording in 316 (with the closing being a wanked out Eruption).

The Essential Performance: 316

Up Next: the death of the synthesizer (Nirvana - Live at the Paramount)

[wease]

Yeah, on the Van Halen front, I do really love the Roth era. Their debut album is outstanding. And they really were on the money through 1984.

The Sammy Hagar era is more of a mixed bag. Wherein during the DLR era they were pushing rock music in fun and new directions, the Hagar era seemed at times like a square peg in a round hole or really following the crowd, reaching for ballads that were just not organic to the players in the band - but when they pushed the pace, they were still great. The whole trying to jump on the next thing happening trend really fell apart on Balance and then of course III was a train wreck. Despite being a retread of existing ideas from the 70s, their last album with David Lee Roth was really enjoyable.

I am doing a "Daily Banger" Messenger group as my son travels through Europe, trying to pick artists with an association with wherever he is. And of course the songs have to bang (duh). Whilst he was in Amsterdam I snuck in Van Halen's Hot For Teacher, as they are obviously a Dutch band.

And they have a song called Amsterdam.

But it ain't Hot for Teacher. Daily Bangers be serious bidness.

True, true

[Happy Trees]

David Lee Roth’s face is permanently affixed in such a manner that he looks like he is about to tell a joke. If you listen to Van Halen from ‘78-‘84, that’s symbolic of the charm of this band. Everything after that is basically them trying to be a “serious” band.

100% right on the money.

Anyone who tries to approach Roth-era VH as anything other than mindless fun is going to be confused.

DLR is one of the only rock stars I can think of who can get away with being a complete asshole. Because as soon as you see the look on his face, it doesn't matter anymore.

I also remember when this video came out, it was always a pisser:

[dad]

David Lee Roth’s face is permanently affixed in such a manner that he looks like he is about to tell a joke. If you listen to Van Halen from ‘78-‘84, that’s symbolic of the charm of this band. Everything after that is basically them trying to be a “serious” band.

100% right on the money.

Anyone who tries to approach Roth-era VH as anything other than mindless fun is going to be confused.

DLR is one of the only rock stars I can think of who can get away with being a complete asshole. Because as soon as you see the look on his face, it doesn't matter anymore.

I also remember when this video came out, it was always a pisser:

one of the best performers to do it, honestly.

[McParadigm]

Yankee Rose is such a kick ass opener to a post-band breakup solo album.