Van Halen Tampa Show Review

Where Have The Good Times Gone? Right Here, Van Halen Shows Crowd
By CURTIS ROSS The Tampa Tribune
Published: Feb 19, 2008

TAMPA - Kids - mere kids, I tell you - were bombing down the Forum's lobby Monday night, whooping "Van Halen!" at the top of their lungs like it was 1978 or something.
These kids - babies, really - were nowhere even near conception when some in the crowd of 16,853 were wearing the oxide off cassettes of "Van Halen" and "Van Halen II."
They should thank classic rock radio or dad's record collection for hipping them to one of the finest over-the-top rock acts ever.
But they - and those of us who never got any closer to Van Halen than blasting the tapes in our cars - mostly should thank Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth for putting aside veritable rivers of bad blood and finally touring together for the first time since 1984.
Whatever their personal differences, guitarist extraordinaire Van Halen and showman's showman Roth looked genuinely pleased to be sharing the stage again; almost as glad as the crowd was to see them there.
The band - including drummer Alex Van Halen and Eddie's son, Wolfgang, on bass, replacing the departed Michael Anthony - ripped through most of the high points from the six albums the original foursome recorded between 1978 and 1984.
Roth and Eddie Van Halen, both 53, were in fighting trim, both displaying torsos that would do a man half their age proud. Roth even executed a few high kicks with apparent ease.
Still an amazing guitarist, Van Halen's playing combined speed and technique with inventiveness and a wicked sense of humor.
He demonstrated that on "Everybody Wants Some!!" when he and Roth engaged in a duel imitating the sound of a car engine, with Roth, for once, conceding defeat.
Of course Roth isn't known for modesty, and he preened and pranced like a man born to the stage, vaudeville or rock. In his spangled coat and top hat, he strutted like a raunched-out Yankee Doodle Dandy.
Wolfgang, just 16, kept his head down and played mostly, but he sounded just fine both on bass and handling the backing vocals.
Highlights depend on your favorite Van Halen song - if they played it, it probably sounded great, but from my seat, "Atomic Punk," "I'm the One" and "Romeo Delight" were tops.
Reporter Curtis Ross can be reached at (813) 259-7568 or cross@tampatrib.com.

WEST PALM BEACH AMPHITHEATRE GETS A NEW NAME!

LIVE NATION ANNOUNCES THAT CRUZAN WILL BE NEW NAME IN TITLE SPONSOR OF WEST PALM BEACH AMPHITHEATRE


West Palm Beach, FL (February 1, 2008) Live Nation, the world’s largest and live music company, and The Absolut Spirits Company, Inc. are pleased to announce a long term sponsorship deal that changes the name of southern Florida’s premier outdoor music venue.

Formerly known as Sound Advice Amphitheatre, the venue will now be called Cruzan Amphitheatre. The initial agreement is for five years. Located on the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach, the Cruzan Amphitheatre has been a groundbreaking leader in the region’s music scene. It has a capacity of 19,000 and holds an average of more than 30 live events each year.

“As the rum of the islands, Cruzan has always been associated with easy living and entertainment,” says James Schleifer, Vice President of Trade Strategy, The Absolut Spirits Company. “Our relationship with Live Nation allows us to celebrate our musical heritage, while giving music aficionados a taste of our exciting rum portfolio. Nothing says fun in the sun like a delicious mojito or voodoo rum punch.”

“It is with great pride that we announce our strategic partnership with Cruzan,” said Neil Jacobsen, President of Live Nation Florida. “We are thrilled to join forces with Cruzan to bring the biggest names in live entertainment to the people of South Florida. Cruzan shares our vision of celebrating the South Florida lifestyle through the power of live music.”

Since its opening in 1996, the Cruzan Amphitheatre has entertained over 3.6 million music fans with more than 400 major concerts and festivals, and has hosted such superstar acts as Aerosmith, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, Dave Matthews Band, Tim McGraw, Rod Stewart, Sting, and Tina Turner.