The DLR Cast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 120: Don't Hate Us, It's Just A Hiatus Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

After nearly six years (!) of The DLR Cast, it's time to step back, reflect, and...take a break for a while. Darren and Steve discuss their decision to take a hiatus from the pod- it's not the end, they are not "throwing in the shoes!" When major news happens in the David Lee Roth and Van Halen universe they will return, but after 119 episodes, and sharing the same views, ideas, opinions and frustrations, its time.

Before that, there's lots of shoutouts to friends and supporters, a bit of news, talk about the upcoming DLR tour dates, the shows Darren and Steve will likely attend, the recent Van Halen pre-US Festival soundboard tape on YouTube, Darren's Van Halen-related academic work, and more.

Thank you so much for spending time with us!

Episode 119: The Year in Dave & A Look At 2026 Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

Heard you missed them and they're back! Darren and Steve return and discuss all-things Dave in 2025 - his return to live performances, the band, the possibilities of more than one new tour date in 2026, things to be thankful for, and hopes for the new year. Plus, sidebars into KISS, Rodney, pro-wrestling and more!

But wait, there's more!

For more Darren and more interviews with musicians, film directors, authors and cool happening in pop culture, check out the Paltrocast, available everywhere.

Several times a month Steve talks to up-and-coming musicians the relatively new Another Cool Rock Podcast

Episode 118: Festivus & More David Lee Roth For The Rest Of Us! Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

Dave's 2025 tour has ended and now, the traditional airing of the grievances! A lot of what Darren and Steve have opined on before, and more; Dave announces that "winter tour dates" will be announced soon, hits and setlist misses, making and losing money, RIP the great Ace Frehley, and its all come down to the fact that it really is what it is, when it comes to DLR.

Episode 117: We Do It Live - Darren Does FIVE David Lee Roth Shows Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

Steve and Darren live as the "2025 Roth Show" tour continues, and Darren tells the tales of his now seeing FIVE David Lee Roth concerts, the most recent shows being St. Louis & Pennsylvania. The good, great, the bad, the fun and....Indiana. Set-list changes, some vocal analysis and much more. Bottom line: Dave is having fun, the band is 🔥, the stuff on You Tube is NOT indicative of the crowd's energy.

Plus, Darren’s recent guest spot on Dave & Dave Unchained with Dave Criblez 🔥, and, no tour promotion and no merch - Steve designs the tour shirt that should be for sale. As always, the latest DLR news & rumors — discussed fair, balanced & as positive as possible!

More Darren: Check out The Paltrocast at YouTube and via Paltrocast.com.

More Steve: Check out Another Cool Rock Podcast at here and at all your podcast platforms

Episode 116: "Who's The Show? We The Show!" and Darren Goes To Two Shows! Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

The shoes have been thrown...out! The David Lee Roth tour is well underway and Darren reviews the two shows he saw, in Huntington, NY, and Atlantic City, NJ! Him and Steve discuss the positives, the negatives, and everything in between: the band is exceptional, Dave seems to be having a great time; the surprising setlist choices and songs we (and the band?) wish were played (both solo and VH), Dave's interesting vocal choices, and the merits (or not) of the extended versions of "Drop Dead Legs," "Dance The Night Away," and others.

Plus, Steve wonders if the shows are getting better as the tour goes on, Darren has got tales of good moods and high spirits, the surprising photo passes and lack of restrictions, and who is running the show...Tom? And a bunch o' Van Halen bootlegs have hit YouTube!

Be sure to visit Paltrocast.com to check out Darren's review of the Huntington, NY show and some great concert photos!

Episode 115: "No Octaves Here, Man!" Aug 04, 2025

Show notes

Darren and Steve debate, discuss and dive into the first few dates of David Lee Roth's tour, the good and not so good, from the vocals to the setlist to attendance and more.

Plus, Darren's upcoming three DLR shows, will there be more dates after this first leg, and where?

Also, more Van Halen bootlegs are showing up again, Happy Gilmore, and the wonderful Black Sabbath/Ozzy tribute concert is exactly how a Van Halen tribute concert could've/should've been.

****

When Darren isn't talking about David Lee Roth and Van Halen, he's talking about a ton o' other things on the Paltrocast, available via YouTube and at Paltrocast.com.

When Steve isn't talking about David Lee Roth, Van Halen, Cheap Trick and others, he's talking with other rockers via the Another Cool Rock Podcast, available everywhere you get your favorite podcasts.

Episode 114: Some Good News: A Little Bit Goes A Long Way Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

Steve and Darren discuss some good news around David Lee Roth ahead of the tour starting July 22 as Dave and band have been in seemingly intense rehearsals the last two weeks, and it looks likely the same guys that rocked M3 is intact. Darren figures he'll see at least three shows on this leg of the tour(DLR Cast Meet-Up, anyone?), while Steve, alas, will not be able to.

And some speculating and wondering: it would be a great time for any pre-show press, or any content from Dave...plus, revisiting the 90s - Dave was more visible than most folks remember with U.S. & Europe shows, The DLR Band album, and a lot of promotional activity; Dave gets praise from Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, updates on a bunch o' former Dave band members - new music from former Dave (and Ozzy) guitarist Joe Holmes, Jake Faun, and Frankie Tartufo (?!?) and some talk about the new Van Halen Balance album 30th anniversary package and much more.

Stay on top of everything that Darren has going on with the Paltrocast, at YouTube, TikTok, Substack, Medium and at Paltrocast.com.

Episode 113: A Bunch o' Daves: DLR, Dave & Dave Unchained and "The Big Question" May 30, 2025

Show notes

The DLR Cast is back and and there's a lot going on! At about 52 minutes in, it's the meet-up that just had to happen! Finally, Darren and Steve join forces with Dave and Dave from Dave & Dave Unchained: A Van Halen Podcast for a tag team episode, going all-out in covering and analyzing David Lee Roth's triumphant return to the stage at the M3 Fest. The foursome cover it all -- Dave's voice, his band, the surprisng debut of backup singers, the setlist, and so much more.

At the top: Darren and Steve chat a bit about Dave at M3 and discuss Dave's recently-announced 21-date U.S. tour -- will it be the same band? Will those cool back-up singers be with Dave? Will Dave stay motivated? Will the setlist have any Dave solo tunes?

For all-things Darren, be sure to check out The Paltrocast at YouTube, Paltrocast.com, Spotify and more. And Steve has launched a new pod, Another Cool Rock Podcast, available everywhere you find The DLR Cast and your favorite podcasts.

Episode 112: M3, Mea Culpas, and More! Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

Darren returns from a trip to the west coast with some interesting, and quite possibly, very good news. First, a mea culpa: word is about that DLR is really putting in the effort - could "The Block" really be happening? Words like "committed" (in the good sense!) are thrown about.

For more Darren be sure to check out The Paltrocast. And if you're new here, did you know Darren wrote a book? Yes, DLR Book, available at your favorite online book retailer!

Episode 111: All-in for Dave's U.S. Tour! Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

David Lee Roth's U.S. tour is now...two dates, with the addition of the recently announced September 12th date at Mountain Winery in California. Steve and Darren dig into that, and Darren's got a backstory and a theory. What will Dave's setlist be like? Who's in the band? And just how many corporate gigs has Dave been playing? Are they all Royal Machines gigs? Also, the frustration around the new song "Alligator Pants."

Plus Darren and Steve have some ideas: GoFundMe, "Davenomics" and the "Premium Dave Experience" with the Los Angeles River Yacht Club, anyone?

For more Darren be sure to check out the Paltrocast!

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