Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Swole

Ain’t Talkin’ Bout Swole

Eight pax gathered to start the week off on the right note, by swinging iron and celebrating the music of America’s greatest rock and roll band, Van Halen.  This was YHC’s first Q since Eddie Van Halen passed away earlier this month, so I wanted to pay tribute to the band that has provided the soundtrack to many of life’s best moments.  The playlist consisted of YHC’s favorite song from each of the band’s studio albums.  Live albums, best of albums, and one offs from movie soundtracks were omitted.

The warmup was basically ceremonial and lackadaisical due to the Q’s general indifference to warming up.  We jumped in to the main event consisting of sets of 20, 15, 10, and 5 swings paired with merkins, then deadlifts, then curls, then triceps extensions, then weighted crunches.  Some various core exercises were interspersed to break up the rounds.  Following five rounds, we had completed the requisite 250 swings, but since you can find an extra gear and do anything while listening to Van Halen, we did an extra 50 swings.  I hope Eddie would’ve liked that.  Next was three rounds of goblet squats and clean and presses.  Some weighted carries and bonus swings were enough to get us to 6:15 without having to do the dreaded elbow plank and hollow body hold.

If it seems like YHC rushed through the portion of the backblast about the workout, then that is correct.  I really just want to write about Van Halen, my favorite band and one who’s music has brought me massive amounts of joy throughout my life.  I remember the first time I heard a Van Halen song like it was yesterday, even though it was in 1984 and I was about six years old.  It was a Sunday morning and I was watching a music video weekly countdown show on broadcast TV (we didn’t yet have cable).  The video for Jump came on and it was like nothing I had ever heard.  From that moment on I was hooked and would devour everything the band ever recorded.  In junior high and high school my pregame hype music was Van Halen.  When I got my driver’s license the first CDs I played in the car were Van Halen.  You can hit 90 mph in a Toyota Tercel when Panama comes through the speakers.  The morning of my wedding I played Van Halen II a couple times through.  I think we all have that band or singer that resonates with us for some reason and sets off a tuning fork in our souls.  It’s incredibly sad that Eddie is gone, but any opportunity to celebrate the music left behind makes for a good day.  Rest in peace Eddie, and thanks for everything.

Playlist:

Runnin’ with the Devil (Van Halen I)

Dance the Night Away (Van Halen II)

Take Your Whiskey Home (Women and Children First)

Hear About It Later (Fair Warning)

Where Have All the Good Times Gone (Diver Down)

Panama (1984)

Summer Nights (5150)

When It’s Love (OU812)

Poundcake (For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge)

Can’t Stop Lovin’ You (Balance)

Without You (Van Halen III)

Tattoo (A Different Kind of Truth)