Really enjoyed the show last night with the Van Halen trio and Roth at the helm, even though Roth had some issues here and there. Expect a full review soon.

In the meantime, here’s the set list from last night.

Unchained
Runnin’ With the Devil
She’s the Woman
Romeo Delight
Tattoo
Everybody Wants Some
Somebody Get Me a Doctor
China Town
Hear About It Later
Pretty Woman
Drum Solo
You Really Got Me
The Trouble With Never
Dance the Night Away
I’ll Wait
Hot for Teacher
Women in Love
Outta Love Again
Beautiful Girls
Ice Cream Man
Panama
Ed Solo
Ain’t Talkin ‘Bout Love
Jump

Bout to get on the road to see Van Halen with David Lee Roth at the helm. This’ll be a first. I’ve seen Roth during the Sans Halen tour with Hagar, but this will be the first time seeing him with the Van Halen family. I dig the new album, A Different Kind of Truth, and hope they feature a bunch of those tracks mixed in with the classic tracks from the late 70′s to early 80′s.

Come to think of it, it’d even be cool if “Me Wise Magic” or “Can’t Get That Stuff No More” were thrown in there. Doubt it, but how cool would it be to hear those rare gems live?

I’m super-psyched. Hope it rocks. Expect a review of the concert soon.

Started listening to this at work this afternoon while I was coding — it’s a complete collection of all things Van Halen over the years on the Howard Stern show.

Heard a promo for this before it aired, and glad I’m finally getting to digest it all. Roth makes for a good interview and good information. I’m a little more than halfway through it. I’ve heard a few of the interviews, but most of it is new [to me], and I’m eating it up.

Howard Stern Presents “Van Halen – The Whole Truth” – Complete

So here’s a recent explanation by Van Halen’s David Lee Roth on the old 80′s contract rider about no brown M&M’s. Great story if you hadn’t heard it before.

I first heard this real story about the famous (and infamous) contract rider when Roth took over on the radio for Howard Stern when Stern jumped ship for satellite radio.

Brown M&Ms from Van Halen on Vimeo.

Man, can’t wait to see these guys in Greensboro! Solo sounds good. Hope Eddie keeps everything in check and can rock this 2012 tour from beginning to end.

So I said I wouldn’t go see Van Halen in concert again until they had something new recorded in the studio. Well that time is here.

We’ve heard a couple of tracks from the new album, but so far so good. “Tattoo,” the first single off the soon-to-be released album A Different Kind of Truth has really grown on me.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10am for the Greensboro, NC date. I’ll be sitting front and center at my iMac buying a pair of floor seats.

A co-worker seems psyched to see them in concert and witness Edward Van Halen in all his glory live. I’m psyched as well. While I sound like a broken record — I really wish the bass work and the high background vocals of Michael Anthony were present, I’ll get over it, and enjoy 3/4 of the original VH lineup.

Below is a article that riffs on the fact that a lot of people are hyped about the band, and how surprising that is with them having been in hibernation for so long.

Van Halen is Back On Top Again

Here it is — the first single from Van Halen’s 2012 album. I dig the song, especially the guitar and bass work, but the video is crap — it’s that black and white video that’s been circulating in part on YouTube and on van-halen.com for the last couple weeks. As others have pointed out, the video and audio don’t even sync. Why? Is that supposed to be artsy fartsy?

I’m still hopeful for the new album and have pre-ordered it.

It’s nice to be able to write about new Van Halen stuff that isn’t a pair of flip flops or some other merchandise. New music is coming!

Van Halen – Tattoo from Van Halen on Vimeo.

Van Halen’s “TATTOO” Song & Video Released!

Every guitarist should be a regular reader of woodytone.com. Great “inside baseball” type stuff regarding music and guitars especially. It’s got a bunch of gear-related stuff.

Love this new article about the recent Van Halen Cafe Wa appearance in New York City.

After you read the article, surf over to YouTube. There’s plenty of footage from the concert. They sound pretty good IMHO.

Breaking Down the Van Halen NYC Debut

OK, April 21, 2012: Greensboro, NC. Who’s going with me?

Tickets go on sale for earlier dates on January 10th, so thinking the later dates should be mid-month.

Van Halen Tour Schedule 2012

OK, I’m getting slightly excited and anxious for early February 2012′s new album release. Sadly, we won’t get to hear the first single till just a few days before the whole album is released.

Anyway, the article below from the Van Halen News Desk drops the bomb that Van Halen has not only been filming the video for the first single (where do videos play now, other than YouTube, BTW?), but they’ve also been rehearsing hardcore for the 2012 tour.

Yeah, I’m a bit psyched.

Van Halen Rehearsals!