08/30/2025
Last night's adventure ... David Lee Roth & Lucas Oil Live at WinStar World Casino!
First, I LOVE and appreciate live performance! Regardless if it's music, theatre, stand up comedy/improve, and everything else. The Lucas Oil Live venue is LOVELY! Not a bad seat in the house, and it's really comfortable, they even have permanent drink holders as part of the seating!
David Lee Roth is a performer very dear to me. I had a DLR poster from the Van Halen days on my college dorm wall, so I've been a loyal follower for a LONG time. I've followed him thru the good and the bad, and now into his semi-retirement years. He continues to have bold independence and successfully live life on his own terms. This is what has mostly captured my heart. Most of us can only hope to have the spirt and the self-challenge this rock legend continues to bring to the stage!
DLR has aged, no doubt. The beautiful mane is now shorter, muscle mass and weight is down, but he looks healthy. He's been thru back fusion surgery, so there's an absence of flips and jumping off stages. and that's ok! ... He's as naughty as ever, women were throwing panties on the stage, people were dancing, even if we didn't know each other, and no one around me sat the entire concert! It was easy to tell he's missed his audience and we've certainly missed him!
DLR was never been known for his vocals. His speaking voice is ABSOLUTELY PERFECT, but his musical vocals have reduced, much like many other performers. The fantastic thing he's done ... is lean into it! The addition of 4 backup singers and a top talent band, plus his command of the stage, along with his music direction, and of course his antics, created a really fun show overall and continues to make David Lee Roth a true rock legend!
DLR does the unique and surrounds himself with quality talent, while also promoting lesser known talent. Poison was an opening act for him back in the day, as well as Warrant, just to name a few. The point is further proven with this tour ... I've spent too many years in event planning, as well as a Theatre performer, to fully comprehend that successful shows require collaboration.
If you only saw an online video version of this show, or only focused on one performer, then you missed too much to pass judgement. There's 9 performers in this show, including a bad ass bass player, drummer and keyboards. Plus, the SPECTACULAR performance of the lead guitar, Al Estrada. If you love guitars, you will love this show. I lost my breath at points with Estrada's skills ... breathtaking!
If you missed the 4 backup singers, then you seriously need to take a step back on saying anything. These guys were almost show stealers, they embraced the heart of every song while exhibiting their own individual styles. It's hard to get in front of a show boater like DLR, unless he allows it, but they earned a fair share capture.
I've got concert brain and hearing today ... human experiences with music is one of the things that brings all of us together! ... go see a concert, travel, experience the world!
