Van Halen
Shoreline Amphitheater
Mountainview, CA
July 05, 1998

Set List - Click here!

Review by Ian D. Carroll - SureKnow@aol.com

I became a VH fan with 5150 (I'm 25), and up 'til now I have always said the greatest VH show I've ever 'seen' was the Live Without a Net video. I saw them twice live after that (Monsters and FUCK) and the energy and comraderie of LWAN was not quite there (the FUCK show I saw was really rote).

With Gary, the energy has returned. I've read many reviews here saying that the energy level is the highest since '86, and I agree! Eddie especially seemed to be having the time of his life last night. His playing was spectacular and he was jumping around like crazy! (What hip problem???) The Shoreline Amphitheater was packed and the fans thrilled by the inclusion of neglected classics like Mean Streets, Romeo Delight, and especially Feel Your Love Tonight (which as reported here was stuck onto Dance the Night Away in medley fashion--very effective).

How nice to hear Romeo Delight live yet lyrically intact (in two bootleg vids I've seen, Dave seems to make up new verses for the tune as he's singing, punctuated by "I forgot the FUCKIN' WORDS!")! "Feel my hearbeat" indeed!

Other highlights:

• Al's LOUD drum solo (he is the double bassdrum king!)
• Mike singing Somebody Get Me a Doctor (WOW!)
• Gary's vocals on Year to the Day (which coming after Doctor as it did, was excellent testimony to why VH needs an out-front vocalist and shouldn't just have Mikey do double duty!) His vocal improvisation as Right Now wound down was excellent as well.
• the suprise replacement, as first encore, of How Many Say I with an acoustic, Gary-and-Ed-only performance of Josephina! Nice job guys. Now if Ed had just hung onto that acoustic long enough to lauch into Take Your Whiskey Home . . .

Lowlights:

• A TOO ABRUPT running time of ten minutes short of 2 hrs! The band seemed to be just warming up by the time the houselights came on! How about at least another couple songs, fellas? May I suggest Light Up the Sky, a Mike-sung On Fire, Hot For Teacher or the aforementioned Take Your Whiskey Home?
• Gary's ass-grabbing (his own) and his kissing Mike full on the lips mid-song (!)--Freddie Mercury had a more butch stage presence! I don't mean to sound "homophobic" or anything (I doubt Gary is gay but that's not the point anyway) but some of these mannerisms just seem out of place on a Van Halen stage. Gary needs to reign it in a tad, IMHO. If Ray Danniels can tell Sammy to not to play with bras onstage at 48, he can certainly have some words with Gary about his antics! ;-)

Overall, though, one kick-ass show, which I can happily say was the best VH show I have ever seen!

Oh my God!!!! I have been a fan since day one and seen a lot of shows, but this was one of the best. It ranks up there with the '84 tour and the 5150 tour. Gary can really hold his own when it comes to singing. As for showmanship, Sammy would not be able to keep up with something like that.

I am really impressed and didn't doubt for a minute that he wouldn't be able to pull it off. Musically, the boys sounded just as good as they always have. I will be seeing them backstage two nights from now in Concord and I'm so damn excited that I don't know what I'm going to say.

The crowd tonight was a sell-out and I don't think anyone in the place left disappointed. What is there to say? Van Halen is still the best live band to this very day!!!!!!!

Van Halen does it again! I must say I was pretty impressed with VH3. The mix of songs seemed like they knew what we wanted to hear. Opening with a VH classic like "Unchained" was the smartest thing they could have done! The crowd was into it instantly.

After that they jumped into a couple of songs off the new album that kept everybody rockin'. Gary really surprised a lot of people that I'm sure were apprehensive before the show. I definitely was blown away! His moves on stage, physically emphasizing voice on new songs, and repoire with boys up there with him made him look like a natural part of this group.

Alex looked like a man possessed! A couple of times I thought he might put his sticks through the skins, he was hitting them so damn hard!

I was a little diasppointed Mike didn't get his solo, but the Jack Daniels bass came out and his eyes lit up! He was awesome doing the lead singing on "Somebody Get Me A Doctor".

Then there's Ed-- somebody lit a fire under his ass! I haven't seen him fired up like that in years. His licks were dead on tonight, especially on his Wolfgang, Jr. during "Fire in the Hole". He added some bluesy touches to "316" and the acoustic only "Josephina" in the encore gave Ed a chance to break things up. Once again, Ed proves THERE IS A GOD!!!

These guys have proven to me that they are THE GREATEST BAND ON THIS EARTH! Anyone who has a chance to see them had better check it out. This band kicks ass!

Just got back from tonight's concert at the Shoreline Ampitheatre and I was really surprised. After seeing VH on TV I thought this concert would rate kind of low. I would still pick Sammy or Dave but Gary did OK. I could do without him humping every speaker cabinet on stage or the bending over and rubbing his ass or trying to twist himself into a pretzel but I just checked out the rest of the band.

I'd have to say the biggest surprise is how great Michael Anthony is. He definetly is a huge part of the VH sound. I think if we get to VH 4 he should be the lead singer.

It was cool hearing some of the old stuff like Romeo Delight and Dance the Night Away/Feel Your Love Tonight. I haven't heard those live since around 80/81. One thing I did notice is how Gary slides his way to the high notes where Sammy would just hit them.

I'd have to say the low point was "Year To The Day" but it was saved by Eddie's solo. The high points were hearing the old songs and the girls down front taking off their tops for the cameras. There were also a couple times where Gary is standing in front trying to work the crowd and Eddie stands in the background waving his arms to get the crowd going. It seems like Eddie has to work the crowd more now.

Overall it was great to see them live again and I will probably go to the Mid-State Fair concert in August.

Well I'm sure the Gary Cherone debate will rage on, and I have the following 2 cents worth after just seeing a 20,000 seat show on a perfect night:

1. Gary is a talented and worthy artist
2. He has an amazing voice
3. He writes great lyrics
4. He is a thoroughly decent human being, devoid of the sexist and derisive tendencies of his predecessors
5. He is not the right man for Van Halen

Let me say up front that I love this band, and have been loyal to it and will continue to be, but I gotta call the shots as I see them to make this review worth anything.

There is simply a lack of chemistry with Gary. He is trying too hard, and it's still not enough. Eddie looked uncomfortable and Gary looked awkward, like he was desperately trying to fill the shoes of his legendary predecessors. But Sammy's range is hard to reach, and Dave is a born entertainer. Their ghosts haunted the stage tonight, and had Gary running for his musical life.

Predictably, the crowd went nuts for the older stuff, and Eddie did a great job recreating some of his best older work, like the dazzlingly innovative solo in "Somebody Get Me A Doctor". The newer material didn't translate as well in a live setting and paid for it. By the time they got to "Aint Talkin Bout Love" later on Eddie seemed a like he was struggling a little, drained from a less than fully catalyzed evening.

I suppose there will be some pressure to change things on the next record from the financial people in the VH camp..I think they should spend some time looking at some of the thousands of super qualified people out there and find someone who can re-ignite this machine.

Whatever happens, I have the utmost respect and fondness for these guys and will keep buying their records and going to their shows!

A few hours ago I just witnessed the very best VAN HALEN show I have ever been to. I have been a fan since 1980 and have seen the band many times but what we just witnessed was totally UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!

I have read alot of the reviews over the last month of what other fans have had to say about the "new singer" Well people he is NOT the new singer he is the LEAD VOCALIST for the best rock band on the planet right now. From the second they took stage from the end of their last song "JUMP" they flat out rocked!!!!

GARY he just has so much energy he was all over the place. During the second song they did "WITHOUT YOU" he threw the microphones stick high in the air and the damn thing hits MICHAEL ANTHONY right in the face and he shook it off like a fly landed on him and didn't miss a beat. You can notice that the guys were having a whole lotta fun onstage you can also notice Gary has "NO EGO" they played song's from the early days with perfection.

It is great to see "HUMANS BEING" live I loved the acoustic version of "JOSEPHINA" during the encore. EDDIE is a living legend!! What can be said about the man but thanks and what a pleasure it was to hear Michael Anthony singing SOMEBODY GET ME A DOCTOR.

If you're a VAN HALEN fan you just have to see this show when it comes to a city close to you. I went through a ticket broker for this show and for the Tuesday night show in Concord 80 bucks tonight and 100 bucks for Tuesday night. Worth every cent!

Instead of reviewing the show at the Shoreline (which was fucking AWESOME) I'd like to review the events that led to tonights display of pure, heart pounding, mindblowing extravaganza.

What a great show! I've been a faithful fan since 1980 and have seen multiple shows from both of the previous VH era's. I've read countless opinions/articles/clippings on Van Halen vs. Van Hagar vs. Van Halen 3. Now I'd like to say my piece if ya'll don't mind. Hey, you've read a bunch of babbling bullshit from people who never heard the first VH3 tune, then from those who had yet to see the first live show many of you were just as ignorant with the replies that were fired back at the clueless originator.

Don't get me wrong, this is NOT meant to be a flame. It was fucking irritating as hell to login all those times, jump to various Van Halen sites and read the shit that was put there by so-called fans. If you're reading this and are not one of those I speak of then the above wasn't directed at you. Ok? No hard feelings to those who DID their part in the trashing and predicting the end of Van Halen. I knew this time would come when many of you would be eating your words.......

Anyway....My first Van Halen concert was 1980 (The "Invasion" world tour!) in Oakland, David Lee's birthday. Ready or not, I went to that show as a top 40 rock fan and came out the 'atomic' Van Halen fanatic! No, I didn't obsess over them, just became a very loyal fan...not to Dave, not to Sammy, if Gary's job should end sooner than anticipated, so be it,.......I'm a fan of the "3" that to me are Van Halen..( a.k.a. Edward, Alex, & Mike!) Kind of makes me wonder if "3" means a bit more then the third version of the band.....maybe it's a self-tribute to the original 3 that have handled the adversity that's come their way...and kept moving forward instead of drifting or giving up?? No need to get too involved with this....only my opinion/thoughts.

In Harry Pemberton's review of the 4th of July show in LA he mentioned a life changing experience that came in the form of 'Van Halen I' and to have to explain this it would be pointless, "....can you relate?" After reading his review as well as just returning from seeing the new VH at the Shoreline in Mt. View, Ca, I had to write and say "Hell yes! I can definitely relate! Where his change came after listening to the first VH album, my change came in 2 phases...

Phase1: happened the first time I heard 'Eruption' and before I rationalize what I'd just heard (my first thought: "No way that was played by one person without over-dubbing!!), the opening chords to 'You Really Got Me' jad begun, Mike & Alex added their assualt to my already sensationally spinning mind, add to the mix Dave's shreeks, shrills, whistles & wails and I was on the way to becoming "Van Halenized!"

Phase2: 6 months later I saw VH for the first (1 of about 12 concerts and still growing!) and the rest is history!

I stopped thinking things like "....They can't possibly top that CD and/or concert..." after the F.U.C.K. cd & tour made it's way through the Bay Area. What "can't" Eddie turn into an instrument? A fucking Makita cordless drill!?!? 'Judgement Day' and Ed's two-handed piano-man type attack on his guitar.... just 2 examples of his endless desire to make music.

When other successful bands get comfortable with their place in Rock'n'Roll which can be noticed in their follow-up releases (sounding the same as the previous release with hopes of identical or better results), Van Halen refuses to give in to the lure of the quick & easy way to big rewards. They seem to be happier when they're exploring new ways to grow and by taking chances on their discoveries.

Here's an example:

The easy way out: Sam's out, now what? After Sammy's departure the 'easiest/safest' thing they could have done to save the band and keep their following would be to bite the bullet and put up with Roth's antics, ego, etc. thus giving-in to popular demand and cashing in "big-time!" Some may refer to this as "selling out"! Van Halen.....sellouts??? Right! From their first album up to the present "III" and the tours that followed each release, they've done things their way! AND they've almost always have been the innovators.....rarely immitators (Several remakes on Diver Down comes to mind..)

The disastrous experiment: David Lee Roth (Round 2) It took balls to tell Dave he wasn't in the band...."only here to record a couple tunes for the Greatest Hits". Especially when candidates for Sammy's replacement were few the world wanted to see the Reunion of all reunions.

The exploration: Who the fuck is Gary Cherone? (check out Guitar World and the shirt Eddie's wearing...) Despite all the bitching, whining, and devotees turning against them, VH did it their way by sticking with Gary and we (the fans) get the best of all 3 worlds....which hopefully will be coming to your town soon! (If not, I suggest using whatever means is available and getting your butt to this show!!)

World #1: The latest version of VH with newcomer Gary(by-the-way, Welcome to the family Gary!!) and "VH 3"!

World #2: Recent VH tunes are kept alive, a-la Gary, who puts as much heart/effort into singing the Van Hagar hits as Sammy ever did and his voice isn't that far off from Sammy's which makes for good listening(if you liked Hagar that is...I did)

World #3: He's unselfish and genuinely enthusiastic when singing from the Dave era.

Correct me if I'm wrong here.....With Dave, all we got was Dave at his best which will be a very tough act to duplicate. (and I'll admit what we got wasn't enough, but Dave was a grown man and chose his path to pursue....remember??)....With Sammy we watched the boys growup and build on their already highly talented skills as musicians. Plus we got a singer with a wider vocal range than Dave had which gave Eddie more to work with when writing songs. On the negative side here, Mike had to hit some notes he wasn't use to hitting with Dave! But he stood up to the task...You're awesome Mike and so was your rendition of "Somebody Get Me A Doctor". The highlight of the show!

Again...something new from the past....not possible with Sammy or Dave!! Finally, with Gary, we get all the above AND anything that Van Halen gives us from now until they call it quits!!

A virtual 3-D frontman! I'm happy to have him in the band. They all looked like they are having fun again. Somebody needs to focus to help Gary focus his energy into doing something onstage that blends with the boys! He's spastic at times and a little queery looking with some of his "moves", but his voice makes up for most of what is stage presence lacks.....I'm sure he'll figure it all out by the next time they come around. If not, that's fine too...

Everybody that bitched about the latest VH release and about Gary should really make an effort to see these guys. I went with a buddy that had never seen Van Halen. He can't wait to see them again. I ran into another friend their at the show....first thing he said when we had the chance to talk (before the encore) was "I can't believe this is my first VH show.....I can only imagine and dream about what they must have been like onstage 10 years ago!" I told him that would have still been after Dave! He just shook his head...I laughed. I've seen all versions.....They'd be the best band in the world with any of the 3 lineups!! In fact, they're the best rock n roll band....times 3!! Not many...make that NOBODY, NO BAND can have the same thing said about them!!

Eddie, Alex, & Mike.....ya did good in choosing Gary! Gary, you lucky bastard! Welcome to the band and keep up that energy, and try to get it under control now and then....k?! : )

Van Halen never ceases to amaze me!!!! They got up on stage last night at the Shoreline Amphitheater in San Jose, CA, and said "Screw You" to all their harsh critics and performed like Gods for all their crazed fans. They left us singing with songs like "Why Can't This Be Love" and "Feel Your Love Tonight"....the Drum Solo was just incredible, it had a touch of techno music that accompanied Alex's rhythmic talents perfectly....

The guitar solo was godly, Eddie worked the delay, the sounds came from all over the place...you had no choice but to be engulfed by it...if there is a God, his name is Edward Van Halen..

The best aspect of the show was their lineup of old Van Halen goodies...the band played long-lost classics like "Mean Street", "Romeo Delight", and "Somebody Get Me A Doctor." Unlike Sammy Hagar, Gary Cherone is very logical...he realizes that there's a demand from the fans to hear these oldies, and so he's cool with perfoming them!!!

All said, it was a fantastic show that no true VH fan should miss!!! And even if you're not a big VH fan, you still should see the 1998 Van Halen World Tour, because it is a fantastic Rock N' Roll experience!!!

To sum the show up in a word "Amazing". I've seen the band twice in the eighties and once in the 90's w/Hagar. Those shows really couldn't compare with the new and much improved Van Halen. I would have to use many adjectives to describe Gary and his performance; unique, energetic, provacative, and kick-ass!

The whole band seemed to have a new energy and tightness. The sound was great for each individual musician and as a whole, lets just say - I could feel the band in my bones.

Over all the experience was well worth it and I would go again and again, in a minute!

I went to the show last night in Mountian View, and I knew what they were going to play and such from the setlists that had been posted, so I was basicly going into the show watching the perfomance. Now I am a VERY pro-Sammy VH, but I do like the new album. Gary was a great preformer. He was jumping up and down, runnin' all around the stage, and just plain having fun!!! Eddie and Mike were just playing off of Gary's energy, and were just enjoying playing. Alex, well, pretty soon he'll be wearing full head gear with rods and spikes. You could barely see his face with the neckbrace and bandana!!!!

Gary's singing: he did a great job. Although, the Sammy stuff is just not the same without him, but overall I thought he did a great job. Humans Being was his best Sammy song, and I'd prob say Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love was his best Dave song. Fire In The hole was the best of the new stuff. This song kicks ass seriously!!!!

Eddie's playing and singing: Eddie still has it. I don't care, the man can just play the hell out of a guitar. I just don't care for his singing. Backup is fine, but when he and Gary sat down for Joesphina, I knew I was in for a long song. I like the song, just not Ed singing with Gary on it.

Mike's playing and singing: Mike was great as always, and him singing on Doctor was awesome!!!! I hope he gets to sing more!!!

Alex's playing: he did a great job. The solo was just ok, I personally like the solo he did on the Right Now tour better, but still, a great display of his talent.

Overall: it was a good show. Not the best VH show I have seen, but still one of the better shows out there today. They had boom mics up all over the seated section, so it looks like this show was being recorded!!! I give this show a 7 out of 10.