Will third time be the charm?

By Jane Norris

Published: May 1, 2008

Right now, fans who kept the faith — and kept their tickets — are getting ready for Van Halen’s concert tonight at the John Paul Jones Arena. Other fans, tempted, are trying to decide whether to jump at the chance.
After two postponements, the show is set to go on at 8 tonight, with rising star Ryan Shaw opening.
The heavily anticipated tour is reuniting frontman David Lee Roth with guitarist Eddie Van Halen and drummer Alex Van Halen. The three haven’t performed or recorded as a team since the release of their hit-filled album “1984,’’ and current bassist Wolfgang Van Halen — son of Eddie Van Halen and actress Valerie Bertinelli — hadn’t even been born at the time.
Now that reviews are coming in from other tour cities where rescheduled shows are taking place — largely positive reviews at that — more people are breathing sighs of relief.
“I’m going to bring my earplugs,’’ said Vinnie Kice, “I hope it’s loud.’’
Kice, who is program director and operations manager for Generations 102.3 and 94.1 and is on the air from 3 to 7 p.m., said that requests for Van Halen’s hits have been soaring. Listeners will call to ask if the show will go on, and then they ask to hear a song, he said.
“It’ll be a kicking show to say the least,’’ Kice said.
Even stations that don’t have Van Halen-heavy playlists are getting psyched.
“I’m just excited that it finally came together,’’ said Brad Savage, program director for the Corner 106.1, WCNR-FM.
Savage’s station offers a wide variety of rock choices but doesn’t play a whole lot of Van Halen. However, one must give the Corner credit for catching a star on the rise in Shaw and making him feel at home in Mr. Jefferson’s Neighborhood.
“Ryan Shaw is an act we’ve played very frequently,’’ Savage said.
Shaw, who got a Grammy nomination earlier this year for best traditional rhythm and blues performance for “I Am Your Man,’’ might seem an unlikely choice to open Van Halen’s tour, but his soul sound is building a bigger fan base nationally. Fans in Charlottesville, however, had heard of him well before he got so close to golden mantel candy, thank you.
Shaw already was in town with his band when the Feb. 22 concert was postponed, and he’d scheduled an interview with the Corner. Shaw offered to perform anyway while he and his band were in town, Savage said.
The Corner folks and other music fans jumped into action to schedule something, anything — and within hours, Shaw was indeed the man, thrilling an audience of about 100 at Outback Lodge.
He came, he Shaw, he conquered.
“What a rock ’n’ roll moment,’’ Savage said. “We’ve helped make this a market where he’s got a great fan base.’’
If you kept your Van Halen tickets and parking passes from either the original Feb. 22 show date or the March 11 first try at rescheduling, you’re all set. They’ll be honored tonight.
If you’d like to go and hadn’t jumped before, tickets remain available. And if you are one of Shaw’s local fans, you’ll get two chances to hear him this weekend. Catch him tonight before Van Halen rocks the Jack, and then get to Outback Lodge on Sunday night to hear him again.
Shaw’s 9 p.m. Outback outing is $10.