Van Halen
Rose Garden
Portland, OR
July 10, 1998

Set List - Click here!

Review by Eric Barrera - EJB@aol.com

It's midnight and I just got home from my tenth and BEST F*@kn VH show I have ever seen. The energy coming off of that stage was incredible. If there is any doubt in your mind if GARY is the best frontman for VH go catch this show. I think the person who called up the local rock station after the show summed it up the best when he said he only had two words to describe the show, SAMMY WHO?

The guys looked and sounded better than they have in years. They appeared to be having so much fun up on that stage that it was contagious. They even came back for a second encore which Gary stated that they don't do very often but were glad to do so.

I can't begin to say how fun this show was, and believe me Gary made a believer out of the crowd here in Portland. If you have a chance, do yourself an enormous favor and catch the best VAN HALEN show you have ever seen. These guys just continue to prove that they are the best damn rock band on earth. ROCK ON VH!!!!!!!!!!

I just walked in the door from my 11th Van Halen show... it was pretty awesome! They played the cozy little (about 7000) Theatre of Clouds at the Rose Garden. It was great to see them that close for a change. I was interested how Gary would compare to the other frontmen and he did an admirable job but still really didn't have the showmanship that Sammy or Dave did.

Eddie of course was his usual killer self!! He really looked like he was enjoying himself up there. Mike and Al kept a rock solid groove as usual.. and Al looked like he was healing up just fine from his accident. His solo was great and he added a pre-recorded piece that he jammed along to, and that was really cool.

Eddie also added a few new twists to his solo spot but still threw in all the normal stuff you want to hear. They changed up their normal set list and threw in "I'm the One" off of the first album and that was a surprise. I'd never heard that one live in 11 shows before tonight.

Gary is really willing to do the old classics and that is pretty evident in the set list. "Dance the Night Away" was also cool to hear live. All in all, another kick ass Van Halen show. Gary is going to be a good addition, but it is a different vibe than years past. Still...VH FOREVER!!!!

Man they were awesome last night at the Rose Garden. They could have got a better opening band than Monster Magnet (they sucked). But once Eddie came out everyone stood and did not sit down at all.

Eddie's solo came right about in the middle, he was having a blast, actually the whole band was having a blast, they looked like they were at home up there. Especially from the 10th row floor. Well for the first time seeing them I hope they come back again. But, Gary looked like he was a fag.

Amazing!!!!!!!!

My first time seeing them and there are not enough words to say how great it was! Gary was great. All I can say is Dave/Sammy who? Mike and Al were great as well. But I really went to see Ed. He is the king of Guitar.

His performance was everything I had hoped it would be and more. For those of you out there that think VH is washed up, go see them live. You will become a believer again. The best show I have ever seen. Go! You will be glad you did!

Well we were a bit concerned that tix weren't selling well here in grungeville, but Portland eventually made a decent account of themselves at the best Van Halen show we have ever seen!

VH took the stage a tad after 9pm, and completely erased the doubts any of us had! We've been to a lot of VH shows in the past 12 years, but never have we seen the band with so much energy or passion. Gary Cherone should seriously consider changing his last name to Van Halen, because he fits in this band like one of the family. Unless you have seen VH with him at the helm, you can't even begin to understand the incredible power and range his vocals have. He is a performer that gives the crowd what they want, all the time. Imagine DLR's stage presence with Sammy's vocals on steroids!

We're sure that there will be other reviews that go song by song, so we'll skip that and just say that VH played songs we thought we'd never hear live. We browsed some set lists from past shows, and they gave us more than the usual treatment. After the encore of Josephina, Panama, and Jump, they came back for a second encore. They did Dance The Night Away, and Feel Your Love Tonight, 2 songs we've never heard live! It was the best VH show ever.

The new songs sound great beside the old material. The album is not an accurate representation of how great these songs are live, especially One I want, and Fire In The Hole!

If you're worried about wasting your hard earned cash on a second rate rip-off of the real thing, spend the cash, it'll be worth your money within the first 3 songs.

I was one of the fortunate souls in attendance last night to see VH bust out I'm The One...what a treat! I have to say as I write this that I never really thought of sending in a review. But something happened in between going to the show and leaving (sadly) and that is I just took in one helluva performance!

I have to relay it to those who are still debating on seeing Van Halen on this tour. It's a no-brainer looking back on it!

People you can say what you want about the new album...I don't give a shit. The fact of the matter is this show they are putting on. It's scary! Probably the best thing I noticed this time around after having seen the band several times in the past, is the youthful enthusiasm that has been missing. The boys are having fun!

I haven't seen Ed on stage acting this happy in quite a while! Bad hip? You must be kidding me!

Also, please do yourself a favor regarding Gary. The man is a performer! Hell he's a nut! It's great! The fact that he can genuinly entertain did not go unnoticed by anyone at the Portland gig. Why else did the crowd demand a SECOND encore? That's right...TWO! This rarely happens with any band I've ever seen and totally made the night!

Sure we love Ed, and that could be the main reason, but the boys are showing outstanding chemistry together. It was pure fun to watch!

If you do nothing this year, make sure you see Ed, Alex, Mike and Gary in concert. I realize some of the new material is uncharacteristic of Van Halen. Ok, well do you really want to hear Panama on every damn album? Open up your minds and your musical horizons and experience some new ideas. Some people like to refer to it as maturing musically. I'm not getting off this bus! Ever! Last night's show solidified it for me, it just may have been the best Van Halen show I've seen to date! Keep it up boys and many thanks!

Well the boys have still got it! This is my 5th VH concert, and the electricity and power still flood the arena.

I like the fact that that this was a ROCK concert. Not too much B.S. Just plenty of tunes. VH played the new, the popular, and the old...A perfect blend for any generation of VH fans.

Gary did a fine job as the new leader. But I wonder, why did Van Halen search so long for a new lead singer? They have a great one standing behind that Jack Daniels Bass! Yeah! Michael Anthony (check him out on: "Somebody Get Me A Doctor". And you may agree.

Without doubt this show ROCKED. I'm excited about the mix of old and new VH has incorporated in this tour!

All of you old VH fans will want to get up and go check them out. Some of these songs haven't been played live in over 10 years!

Good luck to the boys, and what a great recovery by Alex!

The new Van Halen has gone back to somewhat its roots, with more of a dancing lead and more attention to Eddie and his guitar. I am a big fan of Sammy Hagar, so I was disappointed with the new look, made me realize just how good Sammy really is. Gary doesn't hit the higher notes but does carry the middle notes quite well.

I enjoyed the concert but was disappointed in the small turnout that the Rose Garden Theather of the Clouds had. The crowd was much subdued compared to concerts past, I have to believe that Portland is a fan of the Red Rocker. It had great sound quality and lasted just under 2 hours with 3 encore performances. I would give the concert a 6.5 out of 10.

I have been a loyal V.H. fan for years. The first show I ever got to see was for the "1984" tour and I have not missed a show since.

I have to be honest, going into the show I was excited but I also was going in having medium expectations. You can always count on Mike, Alex and Eddie to put on a good show regardless of who the frontman is.

I was also was shocked to see the lack concert goers. Usually in the past shows I have seen, it's been a near sell-out if not sold-out. I think this may because some people might have lost faith in the "MIGHTY V.H."

I have a message to all of those people: E.S.N.B. that stands for "EAT S#!T NON BELIEVERS!!! This show was "O.C." (OUTTA CONTROL) The best I have ever seen. The Energy was unbelievible, The guys jammed the classics and the new without missing a note. They absolutely blew the ROOF OFF the place. I can honestly say these guys are back and better than ever. Gary U DA MAN!!! Mike killed it. Alex tore it up on the skins, and Sir Edward had that S#!T EAT-N-GRIN going from ear to ear as he absolutely blazed though every tune. My only complaint was his Solo was too short. I mean who can get enough of "THE KING?"

All in all the show was a definate "2" thumbs up!!

P.S.- For all of you skeptics who didn't make the show, "YA SNOOZE YA LOOSE!!! "SHAME ON YOU!!" DON'T EVER LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN!!! PEACE--

Talk about a rockin' show!!! Van Halen is back and running on all eight cylinders! The set list was a great mixture of old and new. Gems like "Dance the Night Away", "Ain't Talkin 'Bout Love" were unbelievable. The new tunes from III sounded better than I ever could've imagined!

As far as the performance... GREAT! Gary is THE MAN! Here's a story for anyone who thinks that this guy doesn't believe in miracles. While singing "Without You", he looked right at me (I was in the front row) pointed. The next thing I new, he was up on the drum kit bangin' on a cow bell. Well, the stick he was using was then thrown right to me! What a guy!! Gary's vocals were right on and he completely stole the show with his dancing and jumping around!!

Eddie? He was having the time of his life! His playing was the reason why he's the guitar god!! The solo was great as was ALL of the guitar playing. Mikey and Al? They were awesome! Mikey sand lead on "Somebody Get Me A Doctor" and brought down the house!

So, for anyone who thinks that Van Halen is washed up, get real!! This is the best band EVER!! They rocked!