Concert Reviews

“I learned to ride a bike in Swampscott,” the one-time Mass. resident reminded the New Hampshire crowd.

David Lee Roth at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Aug. 13, 2025.

David Lee Roth got by with a little help from his friends Wednesday night in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.

Playing his only area appearance, the Van Halen frontman blitzed a sellout crowd of 2,200 with an electric 90-minute, 18-song set. The Roth show paid tribute to some of his old band’s biggest hits, as well as uncovering a few buried treasures.

Dressed head-to-toe in black leather pants, jacket and matching vest, Roth basked in the glow of the spotlight.

“Hello, my name is David Lee Roth,” he quipped. “But you can call me Dave.”

The 70-year-old singer had no problem bringing the capacity crowd to its feet and keeping them there, fueled by the rumpus riffs of “Panama.”

Not missing a beat, his band seamlessly segued into the devastatingly delightful groove of “Drop Dead Legs.” The tunes, both off Van Halen’s landmark multi-platinum seller “1984,” still sound timeless.

A rock-and-roll ringmaster, Roth looked the part, sporting cool General Douglas MacArthur shades. The battle plans were clearly drawn this night, as he led his electric ensemble through a potpourri of Van Halen’s rich catalogue. (And none of his own solo work.)

He kept things tight musically, while adding plenty of 1970s-style hard rock levity throughout, as one woman sitting in the front row discovered.

“Don’t stick your tongue out at me unless you intend to use it, baby,” said Roth, sporting a Cheshire cat grin.

He also played up his local ties. “I learned to walk in Brookline,” said Roth, whose father served a residency as an eye doctor in Massachusetts during his youth. “And I learned to ride a bike in Swampscott.”

Meanwhile, Dave’s solo band maintained its matter-of-fact edge. Guitarist Al Estrada replicated Eddie Van Halen’s licks note-for-note. From the frantic boogie of “Romeo Delight” and gristled swagger of “Mean Streets,” to the anthemic stomp of “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” the guitarist aced it all with seeming ease.

The rhythm section of bassist Ryan Wheeler and drummer Francis Valentino held steady. Wheeler channeled his inner Michael Anthony with the familiar bass intro of “Runnin’ With the Devil.”

Valentino was also well versed in VH101. He provided the Latin-tinged rumble of “Jamie’s Crying” and the tribal beats of “Everybody Wants Some,” while also handling Alex Van Halen’s magnum opus “Hot for Teacher,” with equal aplomb.

Danny Wagner provided added ambiance on the keyboard-laden ballad “I’ll Wait,” while adding sonic bombast to set closer “Jump.”

Meanwhile, Dave was … Well, Dave.

Rumors of Roth’s pending retirement back in October 2021 were proven to be greatly exaggerated, as the singer shows no signs of slowing down.

Sure, he might not be jumping off drum risers or wheeling crescent kicks like he once did, but the veteran rocker’s tongue-in-cheek humor and attitude remains unchanged.

Even at 70, rock’s eternal teenager is still selling it boldly like a carnival barker.

Like many singers his age, Roth’s whiskey-soaked vocals have taken a hit over the years. However, he’s managed to overcome these obstacles by enlisting an arsenal of backup singers to bolster his hard rock outfit.

Singers Kurt Lykes, Juneau Lake, Andre Washington, Stevie Notes, and Devin Micheals are providing Roth with ample vocal firepower. When firing on all cylinders the quintet creates a wave of sound that washes over the audience.

From the Kinks cover “You Really Got Me” to signature Van Halen sing-alongs “Beautiful Girls,” “Dance the Night Away” and “Feel Your Love Tonight,” the quintet did an effective job enhancing Roth’s overall sound and jovial vibe.

A few even handled some of Dave’s customary high-ended screams, like those in the ever-challenging “I’m The One,” keeping everything authentically awesome.

“Eddie Van Halen came to me in a dream last night,” said Roth, midway through “Dance the Night Away.” “He told me this song was actually ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ backwards.”

But at the end of the day, it was still Dave’s show. The energetic frontman held all the cards, and also held the audience in the palms of his hands. He still has a few more miles left in his rock-and-roll odometer.

Retirement be damned.

Setlist for David Lee Roth at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Aug. 13, 2025:

• Panama
• Drop Dead Legs
• I’m the One
• I’ll Wait
• Beautiful Girls
• You Really Got Me (Kinks cover)
• Runnin’ With the Devil
• Romeo Delight
• Dance the Night Away
• Mean Street
• Feel Your Love Tonight
• Jamie’s Cryin’
• Unchained
• Oh, Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison cover)
• Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
• Hot for Teacher
• Everybody Wants Some
• Jump

Christopher Hurley

Christopher Hurley is an award-winning sports journalist covering local sports, the Bruins, Stanley Cup Finals, WrestleMania, and more since 1995.

Source