A great band can overcome one squeaky wheel. It’s a testament to Van Halen and namesake lead guitarist Eddie Van Halen that the squeaky wheel they overcame happened to be their frontman. David Lee Roth spent much of Friday night at the Molson Amphitheatre warbly and off-key, but that did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the 16,000 in attendance, nor did it take away from the musical anthology that was their 23-song, two-hour set.

Set against a beautiful night by the lake, the iconic foursome dug deep through their arsenal and pulled out material across seven albums, mixed with an Alex Van Halen drum solo here and an Eddie guitar solo there. The (mostly) inspired band seemed eager to appease their casual and young fan base, as well as their hardcore supporters. On top of classic sing-along staples like “Runnin’ With the Devil”, “Everybody Wants Some!!” and “Hot For Teacher”, they offered a nod to their long-time fans with a rare live performance of “Dirty Movies”.

The band seemed to find another level late in the show, as the set built to an explosive crescendo with “Unchained”, “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”, a cover of the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” and “Panama”, before closing with their signature, “Jump”. This was when Eddie, in particular, came alive, looking positively giddy while pouring himself into each song and closing to a raucous ovation with a satisfied look that said, “yep, that’s how it’s done.”

Now, we do need to talk about David. Lee Roth had moments that showcased the range and raw power that made him one of the biggest stars in rock music, but those glimpses were all too sparse amidst a performance primarily comprised of inaudible mumbling, speaking through songs and far too much preening. Ironically, the biggest elephant in the room, the nature of the volatile Eddie/David relationship, showed no cracks, as both frequently exchanged banter and admiring smiles while even sharing the mic at times.

There’s a temptation to wonder how good Friday’s show could have been had it featured a lead singer that was as inspired as the rest of the band. But still, warts and all, Van Halen continues to wow after 40 years in the business.