2008 June 04

Van Halen’s tour ended on Monday, June 2nd. We’re finally able to share some of the the reviews that fans emailed us during the tour. “Better late than never.”

If Van Halen tours again, we’ll be able to have people post their reviews instantly. Until then, maybe these reviews will bring back your own concert memories, or perhaps get you pumped up for seeing them some day. Thanks to the loyal VHND readers who emailed us these (unsolicited)! We have many more that we’ll be posting soon.

You may post your own review by posting a comment.

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9/27/07 Charlotte, NC:

What a night!!!

I left the house about 4:30 heading towards Bobcat’s Arena in Charlotte. I had Van Halen pumping though the stereo as loud as I could get it without it getting distorted. It was an awesome feeling…I’m going to see VAN HALEN!!! I had missed them the other two times they came through, once with Gary and once with Sammy, which, in retrospect, is a good thing, because I get to see them for the first time with Dave at the helm. Don’t get me wrong, I love Sammy and I even liked Gary to a point, but Van Halen with David Lee Roth is classic. When I heard that they were reunited and going on tour I knew I had to go see them. Then to my surprise they announced that they were kicking off the tour in CHARLOTTE!!! It was a sign. I HAD to be there!!!

I got to the Arena with no problem, snagged a pretty good parking spot, and went and grabbed a bite to eat. As I was in line at Burger King I was talking to the people around me. One person who saw them back in the day and refused to go to any other Van Halen show without Roth. There was a couple that came from Atlanta who haven’t missed a tour since the first time they saw them, including the “Sans Halen” tour with Dave and Sammy…etc etc etc…It began to sink in how huge of an event this is.

Later I filed in line as the doors finally opened. The arena staff were very efficient and the lines kept moving at a good pace. I picked up a T-shirt and headed to my seat. I had upper level seats but they weren’t bad seats. I had a clear view of the stage and wasn’t too far away. Ky-mani Marley (Bob Marley’s son) played a quick 30 min set as the arena started filling up. After he left the stage and the lights came up a quiet anticipation began to grow. Two radio controlled blimps started flying through the arena with the classic Van Halen logo on each side. They flew around for about 20 minutes. They flew out and then the lights dropped and a slow pulse began. The crowd exploded. This is it. I finally get to see the band that I’ve been a fan of my whole life.

The spotlight came on. Eddie Van Halen center stage blazing out the opening riff of “You Really Got Me” topping it off with the famous Eddie Van Halen split kick. Then the lights come up and there’s Van Halen in their full glory and top form. Diamond Dave doing is trademark high kick and Alex’s thunderous drumming. Eddie’s son, Wolfgang, was tearing up the bass. The sold out crowd was on it’s feet! Van Halen is back!!!

What followed was a show that can only be described as epic. They blazed through the best of the Dave Era, playing almost the entire first Van Halen album. The set list was almost perfect. Eddie’s guitar playing was dead-on and the backing vocals sounded like they came off the CD. Diamond Dave was true to form. He was hitting almost every note and his playful interactions with Eddie were hilarious. Wolfie did great filing in for Michael Anthony. He is a great player, though at times he was a little too tense, then what can you expect from a kid playing for a sellout crowd for the first time like that. He did awesome on the backing vocals though. Alex’s drums were awesome and his solo was crazy. Speaking of solo’s Eddie took center stage near the end of the show, there wasn’t anything new in the solo, but I wasn’t complaining. He kicked it off with the tapping intro to “Women in Love” and then played a quick run of “3:16.” After that he played an absolutely perfect rendition of “Cathedral”, followed by the legendary “Eruption” itself. I couldn’t do anything but just stand there in awe. I was watching Eddie Van Halen himself, playing “Eruption,” in person. It was a surreal moment which I will never forget.

The show closed out on “Ain’t Talking ‘Bout Love” and the band took their bow and headed off. The crowd was on its feet waiting for the inevitable encore. Then a disco light sprayed a star field across the arena to the sounds of “1984.” Dave came out waving a huge flag as the intro to “Jump” started. The band tore though their biggest hit, and Dave stole the show by twirling a staff martial arts style during the keyboard solo (the keyboards were the only back-tracking in the show.) After the band finished the crowd remained on their feet showing love to the greatest band ever.

All in all, it was an awesome show. It wasn’t perfect though. There were a few minor missteps during “Unchained” and “Hot for Teacher” and though Wolfie did awesome, Michael Anthony was sorely missed. It was enough to detract from the fact that Van Halen is back and hopefully for good this time!!!

K. Williams

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I was lucky enough to be at VH’s first live public concert on the new tour last night in Charlotte NC!!! What a show. They rocked a sold out crowd with all of the classic VH you’d expect. I’ve been a loyal VH fan through all the years and all the changes and never miss a show when they are on tour. This one was right up there with the best of them. They haven’t missed that old magic at all!!

Max Davis