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Van Halen played Cafe Wha?, announce 2012 tour (including 2 nights @ MSG) -- setlist, video, pics & dates

David takes a shot at Cafe Wha?
Cafe Wha

As promised, Van Halen (Eddie, Alex, Wolfie & David Lee Roth, but not Michael Anthony) played a super intimate show at Cafe Wha? in the West Village last night (1/5).

David said the last time he played a stage that low he had to get the car back before midnight. He said he was more nervous playing Cafe Wha?, where he can’t hide, than any stadium (“no fake vocals at this show” he noted…). Part of that nervousness came from the fact that it was more than just a small, old, legendary venue where they chose to play a press-only show. It’s also the club that David’s uncle Manny Roth used to own, and Manny, now 92 years old, was in attendance. David mentioned he was 7 years old the first time he was there, but never got to play on that stage – “it was harder getting this gig than getting into the rock n’ roll Hall of Fame,” the rock star-turned EMT-turned rock star joked during one of his many monologues during the hour+ show. He talked about living on the LES, wanting to meet Lady Gaga, being an EMT in NYC, playing clubs in Southern California, and various other topics in between playing the hits (and one new song). Full setlist and some videos below.

Rolling Stone writes:

“It’s like climbing into a rocket in here,” David Lee Roth said as he stepped onto the matchbox-sized stage at New York’s 250-capacity Cafe Wha? for Van Halen’s first concert in four years. “It’s a rocket that comes from way back into the past into what the future’s going to look like. Welcome to Occupy Van Halen, ladies and gentlemen!”

With those words Eddie Van Halen kicked into the opening notes of “You Really Got Me” and the crowd -composed almost entirely of journalists and music industry insiders – went absolutely bonkers. Over the next hour, the group played a stunningly tight set of songs from their 1978 debut LP all the way through David Lee Roth’s swan song, 1984. It was a show guaranteed to make any crowd go into a collective state of hysteria, but the happiest man in the house could have been Roth himself. Dressed in beige overalls and a Brian Johnson-style newsboy hat, the singer had an ear-to-ear grin on his face all night..

And there were smiles and hugs all around, as the band seemed to be getting along just fine…

Cafe Wha

And it’s a good thing they’re getting along because they’ve just announced a pretty big tour that includes two NYC shows at Madison Square Garden. All of those dates and more information, also below

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Van Halen – David Lee Roth Talks Lady Gaga (Among Other Things) (Club Cafe Wha 05/01/2012)

Van Halen – Panama, Live in NYC

Van Halen – Shes The Woman (Club Cafe Wha 05/01/2012)

Ice Cream Man – Van Halen David Lee Roth @ Cafe Wha? in NYC 1/6/2012


Cafe Wha? setlist:
You Really Got Me (The Kinks cover)
Runnin’ With the Devil
Somebody Get Me A Doctor
Everybody Wants Some!!
She’s The Woman (First time played live since 1976)
Dance The Night Away
Panama
Hot For Teacher
Ice Cream Man (John Brim cover)
Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
Jump

(Beautiful Girls and Unchained were also on the setlist but they didn’t get played)

TOUR AND NEW ALBUM PRESS RELEASE:

Van Halen, Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductees and one of the most important and influential rock bands of all time, announced their return to the live stage with an extraordinary 2012 North American tour. The announcement was made late last night, during a once-in-a-lifetime performance, at the intimate Café Wha? in New York City. Known around the world for some of the most iconic live performances in music history, the legendary rock band will begin their tour on February 18. Kool & The Gang will join Van Halen for select tour dates.

Tickets for the Live Nation-promoted tour go on sale beginning January 14 at Ticketmaster.com and LiveNation.com.

In addition, Van Halen confirmed their new album, A Different Kind Of Truth, will be released in the U.S. by Interscope Records on February 7. The first single from the album, “Tattoo”, and its accompanying video will be debut simultaneously on Tuesday, January 10th, with album pre-orders starting that day. A Different Kind Of Truth is Van Halen’s first original studio album with singer David Lee Roth since the band’s classic multi-platinum album 1984.

Fans can expect Van Halen to perform selections from A Different Kind Of Truth alongside songs from their arsenal of epic hits that include: “Eruption,” “Running with the Devil,” “Jamie’s Cryin’,” “You Really Got Me,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Everybody Wants Some,” “Unchained,” “And The Cradle Will Rock,” “Beautiful Girls,” “Mean Street,” “Somebody Get Me A Doctor,” “Jump,” “Panama,” “Hot For Teacher,” “I’ll Wait,” and more from their classic albums Van Halen, Van Halen II, Women and Children First, Fair Warning, Diver Down and 1984.

Van Halen – who the Los Angeles Times recently called “a force of nature” and “one of the flat-out greatest rock bands on the planet” – was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in March of 2007.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1974, Van Halen changed the rock and roll landscape forever with the release of their self-titled, 1978 debut album displaying unparalleled stage presence, revolutionary musicianship, and extraordinary songwriting abilities. With more than 75 million albums sold worldwide, the band’s record of achievement is hard to top. Among a long list of awards, recognition and accolades, Van Halen joins an elite short list of two time Diamond Award honorees in the history of the music industry. Presented with two Diamond Award RIAA Certified Status’ for their albums Van Halen and 1984, the band has produced a repertoire of hits that remain some of the strongest and most influential rock songs ever written that fans will admire for decades to come.

Kool & The Gang found a special sound at the unique intersection of jazz, R&B, funk and pop. Their music has been created by the same core of players for over thirty years: Robert “Kool” Bell, his brother Khalis Bayyan, their longtime friends Dennis “DT” Thomas and George “Funky” Brown.

VIP Packages will also be available through VIP Nation, including premium seats, exclusive merchandise and more. For more information please visit: www.VIPNation.com

Van Halen — 2012 Tour Dates
2/18/12 Louisville, KY KFC Yum! Center January 16
2/20/12 Detroit, MI The Palace of Auburn Hills January 14
2/22/12 Indianapolis, IN Bankers Life Fieldhouse January 14
2/24/12 Chicago, IL United Center January 14
2/28/12 New York, NY Madison Square Garden January 14
3/1/12 New York, NY Madison Square Garden January 14

3/3/12 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena January 14
3/5/12 Philadelphia, PA Wells Fargo Center January 14
3/9/12 Buffalo, NY First Niagara Center January 14
3/11/12 Boston, MA TD Garden January 14
3/15/12 Montreal, QC Bell Centre January 14
3/17/12 Toronto, ON Air Canada Centre January 14
3/21/12 Ottawa, ON Scotiabank Place January 14
3/24/12 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall TBA
3/28/12 Washington, DC Verizon Center January 14
3/30/12 Pittsburgh, PA Consol Energy Center January 14
4/1/12 Rosemont, IL Allstate Arena January 14
4/10/12 Fort Lauderdale, FL BankAtlantic Center TBA
4/12/12 Tampa, FL St. Pete Times Forum TBA
4/14/12 Orlando, FL Amway Arena TBA
4/16/12 Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville Arena TBA
4/19/12 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena TBA
4/21/12 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum TBA
4/25/12 Charlotte, NC Time Warner Cable Arena TBA
4/27/12 Nashville, TN Bridgestone Arena TBA
5/1/12 Tulsa, OK BOK Center TBA
5/5/12 Tacoma, WA Tacoma Dome TBA
5/7/12 Vancouver, BC Rogers Arena TBA
5/9/12 Calgary, AB Scotiabank Saddledome TBA
5/11/12 Edmonton, AB Rexall Place TBA
5/17/12 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre TBA
5/19/12 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center TBA
5/22/12 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center TBA
5/24/12 Denver, CO Pepsi Center TBA
5/27/12 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena TBA
6/1/12 Los Angeles, CA STAPLES Center TBA
6/3/12 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena TBA
6/5/12 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion TBA
6/12/12 Anaheim, CA Honda Center TBA
6/14/12 San Diego, CA Viejas Arena TBA
6/16/12 Phoenix, AZ US Airways Center TBA
6/20/12 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center TBA
6/22/12 San Antonio, TX AT&T Center TBA
6/24/12 Houston, TX Toyota Center TBA
6/26/12 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena TBA