Van Halen
Great Woods
Mansfield, MA
August 14, 1998

Set List - Click here!

Review by Angel Santiago - sanvog@aol.com

Gary's voice is back and proved what a front man he is!! After 8/13/98 mishap with his vocal chords, only performing 4 songs before throwing in the towel for safety's sake, he came back like nothing happened the night before. It was Deja-Vu.

They came out to thrill everyone, you can feel the energy and drive these guys wanted everyone to feel. The song set was perfect, every song just got the crowd going! They went deep into VH1 and VH2 and Fair Warning cuts to everyones delight!! It was great to hear those old tunes and Gary belted them out as if they were his own.

The crowd was on it's feet the entire 2 hour show including myself!! Alex did an amazing drum solo as always, including a sampled Mamba/Merengue which could of made Tito Puente proud!

Mike did the lead vocals for "Somebody Get Me A Doctor" the crowd went nuts, afterwards Gary commented "at least Mike never has a bad vocal night"! Eddie did a great solo as always, but kept it short and sweet which gave room for more songs.

If people were doubting Gary's vocal and stage presence, he prove us wrong, the guy is electric, running, jumping over the amps, an acrobat, and clean spoken, no thrashing words at the crowd or smart comments, a true professional.

"Josephina" Gary and Eddie took center stage and played it MTV unplugged style it really sounded nice (should have recorded it that way on the album). Hoping they would play "ONCE" and a cut from the "Balance" album, but no luck. But you never would of missed them, the set was a flashback for the older fans and an eye-opener for the new kids on the block hearing a history of amazing rock tunes by this great band!

Well done Eddie, Alex, Mike and Gary...well done! You MUST see them to believe...yea..ONCE!

As we left the concert, I didn't hear one person wishing for Sammy or Dave....Gary..you're in!!!!

The Mighty VAN HALEN rocked Great Woods tonight. I just got back from my 17th VH show and it was one of the best I have ever seen! Thursday night Gary blew out his voice after 4 tunes and VH had to cancel the show. Eddie and Alex came out on stage and invited everyone back, promising to deliver a kick-ass show and did exactly that!! It was worth the 2 hour drive and then some!!

From the opening Unchained it was obvious that Gary was in peak form. Mike Anthony was Da'BOMB!! His vocals make you wonder if he could have finished up for Gary if his voice hadn't come back. VH did many songs from VH1 including Jamie's Cryin' and I'm the One.

Anybody that relies on public opinion or record sales to make up their mind about seeing these guys is making a HUGE mistake! VAN HALEN is as powerful, entertaining and exciting as ever if not more. DO NOT MISS THIS TOUR!!

I just got back from the show and it was SSSSSMOKIN'! It was definitely worth waiting an extra day for this one. Last night from the very start things just didn't feel right and sure enough Gary lost his voice after four songs. BUT TONIGHT it was much different.

Before the show started Eddie was backstage making whisling noises on the guitar, tapping along with the song on the PA. I could tell he couldn't wait to get on stage. When they did come out they rocked, they conquered, they kicked ass... BIG TIME.

The boys played a lot of old stuff plus a couple I haven't heard live until tonight, namely, I'M THE ONE and JAMIE'S CRYIN'. Great performances by all members Eddies solo was as always, incredible. Mike's vocals on Somebody Get Me A Doctor, outstanding.

Gary showed great improvement on vocals tonight as well as acrobatics. I thought he knocked himself out on one occasion when he took a flying leap over a stack of amps. And last but surely not least, Alex, Alex.....what can I say he's the man.

Now comes the constuctive critisism, only one thing about the show, Humans Being. Don't, I repeat DON'T drop this song from the play list but Gary has got to pick up the pace on this one. Eddie and Alex did a good job slowing it down for Gary but they shouldn't have to. Gary pick up the pace brotha'.

Other than that, friggin' damn good show dammit. I can't wait till the next one. I hope I don't have to wait another few years for it.

Out in the parking lot, the Van Halen warm up included "Dirty Water Dog", "Jamies Crying" and "Without You" were performed. I met up with a Mr. William Paulus's sister and her husband just before the shows and I did not know until the show that they would be there. Mr. William Paulus during the early 1970's used to act just like Gary Cherone did on stage at times in school and around the neighborhood and my families back yard. The two share many physical attributes.

Yesterday, Van Halen returned as promised to Great Woods and so did Kenny Wayne Shepherd whom had the same set list as he did the previous night and again an excellent show he gave us. When Van Halen returned, the crowd of all 90 percent and I were in for a night that was much like the very conversation held between the people around myself, and the husband and wife.

That woman turned out to be gorgeous inside and out and it was sincerely nice to speak with a couple of people that are kind and friendly just to be treated friendly. The band was having fun and were much better than the night before.

During Edward Van Halen's guitar solo, it became apparent that sometime recently, there was an accident and his shins were left with spiked puncture wounds in a pattern that someday the story perhaps will become part of a song. He gave every indication that it would. Unlike last night, there were as I was told, new lighting people in the trusses. And unlike last night, Gary Cherone did a excellent job, all things considered.

Michael Anthony perhaps for the first time during this tour took center stage instead of stage right and sang "Somebody Get Me A Doctor". The people in the crowds were well behaved and even the songs from "3" recieved a warm and friendly reception. Women danced as did men. Hands were in the air. Beach balls were abounding. Happiness was the priority and it came through even though work was done.

Almost every aspect of life as known goes through the head at one time or another and last night, mine did. Inspiration was taken and inspiration was given. Looking back at a man behind me I used his attitude when a woman came up from behind and stopped herself upon seeing that attitude. She stated as she came forth "You have a way with...". Maturing and being married comes from being around people that are mature as well. Thanks man, where ever you are.

Remember the sound of Vulcan & Earthling phasers during original Star Trek series? Right now my head hears that very sound. Sitting directly in front of Michael Anthonys side of the stage and eventually standing in front of a speaker cabinet at front row will have that effect. I left knowing that as I walked, people knew of me from the internet and thank you :-) People were singing and chatting in the parking lot. People were being searched as well. Finding my wife safe and comfortable at home was the encore of the night.

Thank you Van Halen for rocking and rolling. Thank you Van Halen for just being as you are when you are for you are and alway be remembered as .... You decide:-)

All I can say is that anybody that didnt come back for the show last night is a complete idiot! I work second shift and I had to go through a lot to switch my days off, but it was well worth it!

You can tell that the boys were trying extra hard to make up to everyone. Eddie played an amazing solo, as well as putting a little extra umph into all of the songs. Michael NEVER ceases to amaze me when he hits that high note in Somebody Get Me A Doctor. Alex's solo blew me away. And Gary...well, I admit I'm a biased local, but you can tell he was giving his all (and then some). I was thoroughly impressed with his ending to Right Now. Some of those notes he hit...man, I was really afraid he was gonna throw out his voice again...but he sure didn't.

At this point he had a random Queen moment ("look around, around around...") which was also amusing to me. We got to hear their first performance of Jamie's Crying and it went off great. Audience participation is always a fun thing.

The _only_ bad thing : I was a bit disappointed and confused that they didnt play Dirty Water Dog...seeing as on Thursday I heard them play it in the soundcheck. Well, I guess maybe they changed things around for the show on Friday, but just the same it would have been nice to hear it b/c its one of my favorite songs on the new album.

All in all...two big thumbs up...fun for the whole family :)