The White River Amphitheatre in Auburn played host to the return of the mighty Van Halen, which opened its 2015 North American tour at the outdoor venue this past Sunday.
One of the biggest bands in the world at one time, Van Halen proved it hasn’t lost a step in it’s first full-fledged show since 2013, running through a two-hour, 25-song set list that inlcuded deep tracks such as “Drop Dead Legs” off the “1984” album and “Dirty Movies” from 1981’s “Fair Warning”.
Before Sunday’s show, the band had never performed either song live.
The band also dusted off classics, opening the show with “Light Up the Sky” and “In a Simple Rhyme”, both from the “Women and Children First” album. It was the first time the band had played the former since 1980, the first time since 1978 for the latter.
Drummer Alex Van Halen and newcomer Wolfgang Van Halen on bass – guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s son who replaced founding member Michael Anthony – held down the bottom end.
The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band opened the show with a mix of originals and blues staples, including a blistering version of Jimi Hendrix’ “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”.