Van Halen
Arco Arena
Sacramento, CA
July 08, 1998

Set List - Click here!

Review by Andrew Roedel - aroedel@calweb.com

All I can say is "Wow!"

From Unchained, Romeo Delight and Mean Street, all the way through Josephina and Without You....Van Halen proved to me once again that they are still the best band on the planet!!! Old stuff, new stuff, it didn't matter, they still have what it takes to raise the roof off the joint or send a chill down your spine...

Arco Arena is a small venue, and the crowd was smaller than I expected. It had me anxious in the moments leading up to the show: I was concerned that the crowd would be apathetic...but all those worries melted away as the first notes of Unchained came ripping off the stage. There was no looking back from that point. When I wasn't caught up in the incredible energy of the crowd being whipped up by the boys on the stage, I was being mesmerized by Eddie's perfect and spine-chilling (there's that phrase again) playing.

I had forgotten how good Alex's solos were, and he gave a brilliant one. I had heard Mikey had been singing lead for Somebody Get Me A Doctor, so it didn't surprise me, but it did blow me away! It really was as great as people have been saying.

Eddie's solo (which came in the middle of Year to the Day) was the usual: he demonstrated that he is a virtuoso the likes of which we may never see again. He entraced us with some of Cathedral, floored us with the classic Eruption, and rolled back into the end of Year To The Day by way of 316. My only complaint is that his solo was too short, but then again, I would probably say that if he played until the sun came up....

Gary proved to me that he has what it takes to run with the big dogs. I was impressed with his singing on the oldies, and he played to the crowd well. Josephina is one of my favorites on the new album, and the acoustic version he and Eddie dueted in the encore was fantastic.

Sacramento is one the smaller venues they play, and it is not far from some of the bigger places in the San Francisco area, so it's obvious the band doesn't need to come here. But I've seen them here twice now, and they bring all the power and raw VH energy that they take to the big shows, and it is appreciated by the fans here. In fact I recommend people try to see them in a smaller venue if they never have...there truly was not a bad seat in the house.

The most inspiring thing was how much fun the guys seemed to be having on stage. They were having a blast, and the fun was truly infectious. I haven't seen Eddie that pumped up in a long time. He was hamming it up, and jumping around stage like maniac, doing some of the classic Eddie hops. He looked at home up there.

THANK YOU VAN HALEN for continuing to keep the flame alive! I'm off to book some tickets to Denver to catch the Fiddler's Green show on the 16th :)

WOW!! This was my 10th VH show and it was outstanding. I was disappointed in the small crowd but the volume of the crowd was impressive...as was the band.

The band was phenomenal. The energy and enthusiasm never wavered. Gary was a magnificent stage presence and HE FITS. Alex deserves the Purple Heart...and he still kicks (his drums were in your face all night...especially from the second row. Eddie was Eddie...enough said, AMAZING!

Highlights? Mikey on "Doctor"...great tune. Romeo Delight was intense, as was Humans Being (the band tore the song up). One more highlight??? Every note the band played.

I'm sorry that it ended, but the truth is VH III will only grow bigger, better and those who miss the boat...SEE YA!

From the distinctly familiar opening chords of Unchained through the last fade out sequence of Jump, this concert was like a breath of fresh air for every screaming fan. It was definitely high-speed, high-energy rock 'n roll. This was my 10th adventure to a Van Halen concert, and I can say for one that don't miss Dave's long, drawn out monologues, or Sammy's aerobic shows anymore than the next guy. I've even seen Sammy twice since he left the band, and I enjoyed both shows because he didn't have to fill the whole stage. Gary just seemed content being the lead singer, and he was fully capable at that.

Here's my deal, Dave knew the words but couldn't sing them. Sammy knew the words but wouldn't sing them. Gary just said, "I'll do it."

I was particularly impressed with Gary's version of Romeo Delight and Right Now, and he also nailed Year To The Day and Fire In The Hole. Those two songs alone really confirmed in my mind that Gary is the most talented and versatile singer Van Halen has ever had. Gary really kept the energy level up with the crowd. He really seemed to enjoy himself, who wouldn't? Eddie, Mike, and Alex were all smiles throughout the whole show and the crowd really got into it. I truly enjoyed hearing some of the old tunes again, and Gary proved why he was deserving of all the praise that he got. Great show guys! Can't wait for the next album and tour...

Van Halen hits the stage with a vengence like I've never seen before. The crowd (what there was of it) went absolutely NUTS with the open notes of "Unchained"... I can't think of a better way to start a show.

Like some of the shows prior, the band ended "Without You" with a tasteful harmony of the Beatles "We Can Work It Out".

Alex Van Halen's drum solo was nothing short of phenomenal. Like the Balance tour, Al played against a rhythm track which only heightend the excitement of his solo.

Michael Anthony kicked major butt on "Somebody Get Me A Doctor", and it left me wondering why Mikey isn't VH's singer... Hmmmm.

During their encore, Van Halen, with all bandmates on the drum riser kicked into Black Sabbath's Symptom of the Universe. Most of the crowd didn't get it. During Panama they did tease us with "Everybody Wants Some".

So many things have been written about Edward. So all I have to say is "How does Eddie do it????" His playing was jaw-dropping!

O.K. Now for the scoop. VH played Arco Arena. For those unfamiliar, it is a tri-level venue. To my surprise the top level was curtained off. Talking to the Event Staff they informed me that as of 5:00 p.m only 2,500 tickets had been sold. I found that hard to believe. During the middle of the show I did notice that there were a lot of empty seats.

Gary Cherone did mention during the show that this was one of the smallests crowds, but it certainly was one of the loudest. Yeah, we were pretty loud, and this morning I can hardly talk (somebody get me a doctor).

I think the major factors which played into the lack of ticket sales were:

1. Arco Arena switched from BASS to Ticketmaster during 12 days after the event went on sale.
2. There was literally NO advertising for the show.

All I can say is they, who ever they may be, missed IMHO the best VH show I've ever witnessed!!!

Van Halen still kicks ass! It was great hearing the older songs. I play bass so I was waiting for Mike to solo. Instead, Mike took lead vocals on SOMEBODY GET ME A DOCTOR. He sounded great! He should do it more often.

Alex was phenomenal. His drum solo was THUNDEROUS. Eddie well, HE IS THE BEST enough said. Gary sounded great. The only thing I didn't like was the way Gary was dressed. He was wearing a black long sleeve silk, wide lapel shirt and grey slacks (they looked like bell bottoms). To me that's not rock n' roll. It took some getting used to hearing Gary sing the Roth tunes. But it was cool.

Over all a great show!

Last night's show at Arco was awesome! Van Halen played with as much energy and emotion as most sports teams. It's great to see Eddie jumping all over the place doing his scissor kick "flying Eddies". I have a bootleg video of the US festival from 1983 and they played with more energy last night than they did back in '83.

I am a person who can't stand seeing a band live that stands in the same place the whole show. One reason why Van Halen is the greatest band of all time is that they don't just stand up on stage and go through the motions each night.

The only negatives to last night's show was that they didn't have the jumbotron screen behind the stage (they used the VH3 backdrop like on the mtv live from the 10 spot) and they haven't changed their set list very much. I will never get tired of Unchained, Mean Street, Somebody Get Me A Doctor, and Romeo Delight, but I would like to hear some of the other cuts from the new album in addition to various Dave and Sammy songs that haven't been played for years.

"Guess who's back!" That was one of the questions posed by Van Halen frontman Gary Cherone during their show at Arco Arena. The obvious answer is the best rock band on the planet! After reading previous reviews and hearing various live tracks of earlier Van Halen concerts this tour, in addition to seeing Van Halen live three times during the Hagar era, I must admit that I had high expectations for a rockin' show. And let me tell YOU, Van Halen did not disappoint!

The band opened with the great classic "Unchained," then proceeded to play all of the Van Halen music spanning twenty years. A sign of a great band, one that can last for two decades, is the ability to accurately and energetically perform all of their songs live. Van Halen is a great band and did not miss a beat with new frontman Gary Cherone.

Gary was dressed in a black suit often worn by performers playing Vegas lizard lounges. He was high energy all evening, running around the stage, jumping off the mini risers on stage, hurdling speakers, and showing the crowd some vicious dance moves. It's obvious the music is flowing through his blood, as his movements and camaraderie with Eddie, Michael, and Alex was a blast to watch. A couple of highlights included Gary and Eddie mimicking a shootout as the lead-in for the guitar solo of "Fire in the Hole." When Eddie began his solo, he playfully "shot" Gary, who fell to the floor and lay there motionless for a few seconds. Also, during "Jump," Gary jumped offstage and into the crowd. He didn't miss a beat with the lyrics, though. Speaking of lyrics, Gary is the ultimate frontman, singing Roth and Hagar songs as if they were his own, and he performed live much better than Hagar ever did.

Michael Anthony was his usual solid-as-a-rock bass player, smiling to the crowd and just having a great time. I was disappointed that he didn't get his bass solo, but he did break out the Jack Daniels guitar for "Humans Being" and sang lead vocals for "Somebody Get Me A Doctor" and a chorus of "Why Can't This Be Love." Always praised for his solid bass playing, Michael Anthony can SING! If for some reason Gary doesn't pan out as lead vocalist, Van Halen should look no further than to Anthony to carry on the trademark VH sound.

Alex, like Michael, was solid as always on the skins, even with his neck and elbow braces. I could feel the "thump" where I sat, and the bass drum was loud and reverberated through my body. His drum solo was a thing to watch. How he can continuously pound as he does is a marvel. That's why I consider him the best drummer in the world. I've seen the portion of his solo that plays with the soundtrack, but a few little quirks kept the act fresh.

Finally, Eddie was crisp on lead guitar, as I would expect him to be. He is one of the most talented guitarists ever, and his performance backed that assessment up. Eddie seems to have been rejuvenated by his healthy hip and new, energetic frontman. The two played off each other all night, as Eddie tried to match some of Gary's dance moves, as well as leaped off mini-risers and ran around the stage. I've never seen Eddie have as great a time as he did tonight. Also, his solos were right-on, and I'm sure he's getting a thrill by playing the old classics night in and night out, such as "Mean Street," "Dance the Night Away," "Feel Your Love Tonight," and my favorite Van Halen song, though not a classic yet, "Humans Being." Eddie's guitar solo was a thing of beauty, as he plowed through "316" and "Eruption" with the greatest of ease. Chants of "Eddie, Eddie" rang out from the crowd, and Eddie seemed pleased, he's not one to be modest, by his kick-ass performance. Again, a solid night by Eddie!

If doubters of this latest incarnation of Van Halen still remain, my suggestion is to see this band live! Van Halen is still the premiere rock band in the world, and I expect them to sit on that throne for years to come!

For all those who doubt (and chose not to see the show), Van Halen still ROCKS!!

Having seen every tour since 1980, this was the smallest crowd to date - but still very enthusiastic. Alex was in obvious pain and wearing a neck brace, but still played great. His drum solo after "Romeo Delight" displayed his awesome power.

Seeing old songs like "Unchained" and "Mean Street" performed for the first time since the 80's was a real treat. Another highlight was Mike Anthony whipping out the JD bass for "Humans Being" and singing lead on "Somebody Get Me A Doctor!". Nice healthy slug of the Old No.7 to finish off the song! Reminded me of the 1980 tour.

Saving the best for last, Eddie proved that the music is what really matters - not the long and drawn-out debate over the who is the best lead singer. Who cares? I pay to see Eddie play.

Ed's guitar solo during the middle of "Year To The Day" said it all. That song packs alot of power! No one can touch the greatest guitarist on the planet. I am always impressed every tour, Ed is the king!!

From the "It's Only Rock N Roll" department: During the encore "Jump", Gary jumped down to the steel barricade to get closer to the audience. Seeing the opportunity, some young blonde girl grabbed his dick to show her appreciation. Gary did prove to be a great singer, and didn't change octaves while being groped.

My personal highlight of the show was the combination of "Dance The Night Away" into "Feel Your Love Tonight". FUCK YEAH!! I love to see the old songs.

Well what can I say, they were better than ever. I have been to at least 5 V/H shows. I don't know if it was because they played a lot of their classic tunes. But this show had more raw energy than the last four shows I saw combined.

I can tell from recent pictures that Eddie has got into shape. And it showed on stage big time. He was running and jumping all over the stage. He played all the songs with enthusiasm and his leads were sharper than ever. I am also glad Eddie gave up trying to conform to the alternative look (short hair goatee). I liked seeing the real Eddie long hair and all.

I was a little disappointed at the smaller than usual crowd. But these were obviosly the true Van Halen fans as we rocked the house. Gary complemented us saying we weren't biggest croud they had played for but we were the loudest. Gary did a great job singing both old and new V/H tunes well. I think V/H will only get better with Gary. Listen to Extreme, Three sides to every story album to hear what I think is Gary's best work.

Alex did a kick ass drum solo. The addition of the sound affects at the end really topped the solo off nicely.

I was also blown away by Michael singing Somebody Get Me A Doctor. Michael can sing!

All in all it was best V/H show I've been to. To all those lamers that didn't make the show... You missed it man. I can't wait to hear what the next album and tour will be like.

This show ROCKED!!!! This is NOT the 'old' Van Halen...this is a band that is playing with an unparalleled soul, passion and spirit...VAN HALEN 3 IS FANTASTIC!!! Ed, Mike and Al were at their trademark best, while Gary took songs written by other singers and made them his own!!!

Gary held the crowd in his hand for two hours. This is a man who knows how much the music means to the fans and he gave a riveting performance. Gary clearly loves the classics, but he has something that Sam never had...RESPECT for the classics. Gary sang the older tunes with an energy that Sammy never touched. GARY CHERONE KICKS ASS!!!

Eddie and Alex did wonderful solo pieces and Mike tore the house apart singing 'Somebody Get Me A Doctor.' Ed and Mike also sang a lead line on 'Why Can't This Be Love.'

We saw a band that has rediscovered it's power. The classic tunes will always be there, and I hope fans will let this band that so many love stretch and show us what else they can do. This show illustrated that Van Halen has a glorious past and a future as bright as the Sun!!!