Pseudo-Reunions

Poor Michael Anthony. The guy endured Van Halens original run with David Lee Roth, then kept pounding his Jack Daniels bass during the Sammy Hagar era and somehow found a way to keep smiling through the Gary Cherone fiasco. And what happens to him now that the reunion everyone knew would happen finally did? Hes replaced by Eddies kid. Bummer, man. Getting Roth back in the fold without the Anthony is some strange logic. Although Diamond Dave was (is?) a mesmerizing front man, it was the guy playing the low end who was hitting the high vocal notes. Bands can replace a players work on a fretboard, but emulating a voice is not as simple. This missing component of the Van Halen sound matters only to diehard fans, but theyve been waiting for Roth to reclaim whats rightfully his for so long they probably dont care that much anyway.
Tue., Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.; Thu., Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m., 2007