Photos + Review by David Molnar – At the historic Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Connecticut, David Lee Roth proved that “Diamond Dave” still knows how to command a stage. Opening the night with the Van Halen classic “Panama,” Roth burst into view wearing black pants and an embroidered red-and-black vest with ornate scroll work that left his tattoo-covered arms fully exposed. Strutting and swaggering across the large stage, he danced with his microphone stand or sang into a large silver megaphone, flashing his trademark wide-open grin as the crowd roared its approval. At 71-years-old, Roth is no longer the frontman of his athletic 1980s prime, but he remains remarkably flexible, flamboyant and charismatic. Every few songs he checked in with the audience by shouting, “How are we doing!” as the crowd, largely made up of baby boomers, cheered back with excitement.
Backed by a 10-piece ensemble that included five backup singers to bolster the harmonies and lyrics, Roth delivered a set heavily focused on the Van Halen hits and solo-era favorites that made him a rock icon. Guitarist Al Estrada, who previously performed in the Van Halen tribute act Eruption, anchored the band with faithful recreations of Eddie Van Halen’s memorable guitar parts. Roth led the crowd through “On Top of the World” and an extended version of “Dance the Night Away,” while also dusting off “You Really Got Me,” during which he surprised fans by stepping away from the microphone to play harmonica on the Kinks classic. Throughout the night he still managed to shriek, howl and squeal his way through one recognizable Van Halen hit after another.
Roth’s gift for storytelling was nearly as entertaining as the music itself. Between songs, and sometimes in the middle of the song, he reminisced about his high school days, his purple station wagon and old relationships. One of the evening’s funniest moments came when he recalled a vanity license plate. “Remember back in the day the license plate that read Mr. Right?” he asked the crowd. “Mine said Mr Wrong!” Midway through the concert, he slowed the pace dramatically, sitting center stage on a stool flat picking an acoustic guitar to perform “Ice Cream Man.” The stripped-down rendition showcased a more relaxed side of the veteran performer before the band returned the show to full volume. Later, Roth demonstrated surprising agility by performing a limbo beneath a microphone stand held by two backup singers, drawing cheers from the audience.
Part of a 30-date tour that continues across the United States before heading to Calgary, Alberta for the Roundup Music Festival on July 9, followed by Enoch, Alberta on July 10 and Vancouver on July 13. The Wallingford stop felt like both a celebration and a reflection on a remarkable career. Roth left Van Halen in 1985 to pursue a solo career and later joined reunions with the band in 1996 and again in 2007. Fans packed the theater knowing they were there to hear the original voice behind some of rock’s biggest hits, perhaps for the last time. As Roth danced across the stage, a large photograph hanging on the venue’s wall within sight of the stage showed him during his Van Halen glory days in the 1980s. The contrast was impossible to miss, yet the spirit remained the same. Diamond Dave may not be the Roth of four decades ago, but he remains an unforgettable entertainer who can still turn a concert into a party.
