Van Halen
Montage Mountain
Scranton, PA
July 28, 1998

Set List - Click here!

Review by Jeff Miller - ffejvh@webtv.net

First off, Kenny Wayne tore it up big time, he was rockin' tonight!!

Now for the good stuff: VH KICKS SO MUCH ASS IT HURTS!!! What a show, I was in the second row on Ed's side and I was blown away. I've been a fan since Fair Warning and I've seen them on every tour since 1984 and this is by far the best tour I've seen.

The set list was the same as the others except they played "I'm The One" and didn't play "Year To The Day", Eddie just went right into his solo, the rest of the band looked confused as if it wasn't planned but they just laughed and walked off stage.

During Ed's solo he was looking at Al's drums for a cue but Al wasn't there so he played the drum fill from Eruption himself, very funny.

Al's solo was the best I've heard from him so far, it was awesome!!

Mike's vocals on "Someboby Get Me A Doctor" were earsplitting' I think the only ones who could here those high notes were dogs, unbelievable!

And last but certainly not least is Gary, what a frontman, VH has definitely found their man. His voice and range made Dave and Sammy stuff sound new and refreshing. And the new stuff kicks ass live.

At the end of "Ain't Talkin'", Eddie started jamming an old Sabbath riff and then in the middle of "Panama" Eddie and Gary went off on there own rendition of "You Really Got Me", it was really weird but it sounded cool. All four of them were laughing their asses off at each other all night and just having a ball, it was really great to see them have so much fun again, they really have some great chemistry going and I hope it lasts forever!!!!

If you only go to one concert this year you MUST see the almighty VAN HALEN!!

My wife and I caught Van Halen at Montage Mountain (Scranton) tonight. The show was....what else can I say....GREAT! We had seats in the 7th row on Eddie's side. The terrific seats made the show that much better. (Thanks Karen!!) I wasn't sure what to expect out of my wife. She's not a major rock fan. (She thinks that ABBA is a metal act) So, I broke out the VH collection and made her a couple of tapes to listen to in the car. Pretty soon she was looking forward to the show almost as much as I was! Judging from the grin on her face and the singing, dancing, and clapping that she was doing tonight I would say that Van Halen has another new fan.

I also caught the boys in Philadelphia on the mini leg of their US Tour in May. The thing that sets this tour apart from the "Ambulance" Tour, as Eddie likes to call the Balance Tour, is that The Band seems to be having a blast up there this time around. I'm a big Sammy fan but Gary is full of energy and goes non-stop. The chemestry between him and Eddie is obvious. Mike is as rock solid as ever. The Bass solo has been replaced by him singing lead on "Doctor". Tonight it was a real show stopper. Alex still plays like a maniac (even if he does look like he was just in a car wreck). Eddie is still, well, EDDIE!

The set list was pretty much what they have been doing on this tour. They didn't do "Year To The Day" but they did play "Dance The Night Away" and "Feel Your Love Tonight". I was hoping for "Dreams" but they did "I'm The One" in that slot. "Right Now" was a crowd favorite. Eddie put a harder edge on that one tonight. "Mean Street" was smokin'. Unfortunately they would have to play about 6 hours to cram in all of the songs that I like! The current tour is a nice mix of Dave, Sammy, and VH III songs.

If you're any kind of a Van Halen fan catch this tour. You won't be disappointed!

I am a HUGE Sammy fan, but I have to say, this was by far the most amazing Van Halen show I have ever seen. I can't even describe the energy that those four have! I saw the show at Madison Square Garden on May 22nd and thought that it was good to hear the old stuff, but I still thought that it couldn't compare with the Sammy days...I have totally changed my mind after last night.

Gary Cherone was a total nut! His vocals and energy filled the ski slopes with such unbelievable power...and Eddie...Eddie was wailing away with full distortion like I've never heard before! Michael Anthony was hitting some ridiculous notes on "Somebody Get Me A Doctor", and he was really funny, too. Somehow a roll of toilet paper made it to the stage during "Josephina" and Mike had a piece on the neck of his bass during "Jump", so when Mike went to sing the second verse he held up the toilet paper and said, "I have to take a shit." It was really funny.

Gary Cherone, who threw a total of six microphone stands around the stage and repeatedly climbed on Alex's gong, was cracking jokes at some guy who was videotaping the show during "Right Now". He kept pointing at him, laughing, and making reference to "the little red light".

As far as the set list goes, the songs they played totally rocked, but I was VERY disappointed that they left out one of my all-time favorites, "Romeo Delight", considering they've actually been playing it on this tour! They also left out "A Year To The Day", and they didn't play "Dreams" either. This show is incredible, and it is a must-see, but at this point in the tour, especially when they're playing venues in the same regions as places they played earlier, it would be really cool if they played a little more than 4 songs from the Sammy era. Hopefully "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)" will make a comeback soon. VH forever!

I just saw Van Halen perform at Montage Mountain in Scranton, and I was completely awestruck by the show. I saw the show in Philly two months ago, and I thought that nothing could top that. Well, this one did.

In this show, the band seemed a little more relaxed. They threw in riffs and fills that weren't in the songs in Philadelphia. The crowd was really into it. Eddie decided to blow off "Year To The Day". Instead he gave us an extra long solo. I was amazed when he did an extended version of Eruption. I was in the ninth row and I think that Eddie actually made eye contact with me and pointed at me once. I could be wrong, though.

I was standing on my seat for virtually the whole show. It was spectacular. I'm The One was not done as a second encore like it was in Philly. Instead it was incorporated into the set list. But they did do Josephina, Panama, and Jump as encores. It really looked like they were having a ball up there during Panama and Jump. What a show! Go see them.

The conditions were perfect for a little rock'n'roll up on Montage Mountain and Eddie and the boys did not disappoint. The set list was standard for the tour so far. They played I'm the One where Romeo Delight is normally played, and they didn't play Year To The Day. However, that left more time for Eddie to solo and it is safe to say he took full advantage.

Basically, it's Eddie's show. He has a LOT more enthusiasm than the Balance tour. Mike stepped forward on Somebody Get Me A Doctor and sang notes so high you'd swear someone had his package locked in a pair of vice grips!

Alex contributed mightily on the drums, and his solo just seems to get better every tour. Unfortunately, I don't see what Gary adds to this band. It looked like he was trying too hard, and he's just happy to be in this group and doesn't want to screw it up. He sounded good on the songs from VH 3 and the Hagar ballads, but definitely couldn't cut it on the older stuff. His voice is admittedly stronger than DLR's, but he didn't come close to delivering with the same emotion/attitude that David could, and it's too bad because the band really sounded GREAT on the the old songs.

Also, I think Eddie and Gary lost a lot of momentum w/ the crowd when they did Josephina to start the encore.

I say, definitely go to hear the band, they are as sharp as any of the numerous VH shows I've seen over the years. Don't expect much from Gary, though. When you're used to seeing Hagar hang down from the scaffolds, you realize that Gary is not much of a showman.

I've truly never seen four guys so into what they do, just incredible. They looked happy as hell, in return every fan /follower in the audience was downright in the grooves!

Gary Cherone is the perferct choice for this band he's so Freddie Mercury (minus a few subtles, I hope). He brings an awesome new side to the boys Van Halen.

Michael kicked ass on the ole bass, loved seeing him sing and play the Jack Daniels bass so f***ing cool. This guy is as solid as any bassist out there and the vocal notes he can hit - just chills, man....

Alex is the king w/o a doubt after all these years of slammin' the skins, this man comes up w/ all sorts of ways to make the audience swing to his grooves, I myself was entranced.

Eddie, what can I say that everyone doesn't already know about the genius. Every note, so crystal clear, every solo driving right home. One special moment last night although Ed may have not thought so, was when he started his main solo and Alex had split to do something, and missed the drum intro to eruption. Did this phase Edward Van Halen, no sir he went up behind his brother's set and played the intro on the drums and hell right back into his solo, what improv. God I love this band and I always will. Thank you VAN HALEN.

Well once again Van Halen 3 played to an eager crowd. Not to disappoint the band ripped through classics like Unchained, I'm The One, Somebody Get Me A Doctor and Humans Being with sheer intensity.

The band was on fire tonight. Ed, Al, Mike and Gary all seemed to draw energy from the crowd. This crowd was much more involved tham the crowd in Hershey was. Gary pointed this out by saying "you guys are kicking are asses as well as the asses of those at the Hershey show."

The only complaint of the show was it seems to be getting shorter. This was my fourth (NYC, Philly, Hershey) and it was far shorter than the less energetic Hershey. The band did not play Year To The Day. Ed lengthened his solo. BUT after no YTTD I was expecting a new replacement like maybe From Afar or Dirty Water Dog or Don't Tell Me, BUT nothing just a trip to the parking lot way too soon. Musically... a great show. Length...Not up to their potential.

This was my 4th Van Halen concert ever, and I would have to say my best! I couldn't believe the energy the band gave off throughout the entire night. I don't think I stopped jumping up and down and my legs are feeling it today! I went down with a buddy of mine and we sat in the 6th row on Michael's side. Being up close and personal does matter. It is so great to see the details of the show that you wouldn't normally see being in the nose bleeds.

Gary was a nut jumping around as usual. I got a big kick out of Michael picking up a roll of toilet paper someone had thrown onto the stage. I think he said something about he had to shit and he mounted the roll onto the mic. He also is very comical with all the facial expressions he makes during the entire show. I also got a kick out of him taking a swig of JD after playing "Somebody Get Me A Doctor".

Alex was amazing as usual. And Eddie was Eddie! I was a little disappointed that he was on the other side of the stage; however, he made up for it when they did "Josephina" on our side. Eddie also made me laugh when he went up to Alex's drums and did a quick roll while playing his solo. I never really took notice before on how much he lights up during the show. But hey, that doesn't effect his play! =) GREAT SHOW!

I saw the show in Philly and the one in Scranton was ten times better. It was also my little brother's concert he is 14 and just to see the look on his face was so awesome. During the Panama my brother was standing on the seat and Gary made a comment toward him and it was great. I love all the new stuff and Gary sings the old stuff totally great and has such awesome stage presence.

Mike singing Somebody Get Me A Doctor was great. Eddie and Alex's solo was the best thing I have ever heard. I hope I can get to see another show very soon. Van Halen is the greatest.

I thought the show was great. I loved the way the band just came out and started playing. It was like they were back to basics and I thought that was great. Hearing the old songs was fantastic, I just hope that we get different old songs next time.

I know the boys are going to get better with Gary and that excites me more than you can possibly know. They have showed a lot of doubters in my town that they can still rock the house, and I can now say I told you so to all those people.

It's funny how the boys changed their minds overnight. We need another record soon. I understand it takes time, but waiting 3 years is way too long. The only disappointing thing was not getting From Afar in concert.