Van Halen
Classic Amphitheater
Richmond, VA
August 28, 1998

Set List - Click here!

Review by Thomas Rice - The-Screws@webtv.com

One of the best concerts of the year!!! If you can see it do so. They did some classic hits like I'm The One, Jamie's Cryin' and Unchained. It was good to hear them after not hearing them for so long.

The thing that made me mad was the staff at the show after all the money and albums, CD's and t-shirts and even the 5150 Peavey guitar amp I bought to use in my own band they stole the film out of my camera and manhandled me to the door!!!! What the F**k is that all about I think after all my loyalty I think a few pictures arent too much to ask is it??!!??!!??

Tonight the energy was plentiful in Richmond. Right after "One I Want", Eddie started having technical problems (sounded like something had a short). The crowd was just starting to get warmed up, and the spotlight was still on him, so everybody started chanting his name. He turned around and held up his index finger as if to say, "one sec". After the song, he said, "sorry about that" to the crowd.

Gary was in his athletic form (from our seats up front, we could see him before he got onstage, and he was jumping around throwing punches into the air). Two hours later, everyone left drooling and tone deaf. A truly great night indeed.

I gotta say that I liked the long set better!!! But nonetheless it was Van Halen, and that my friends is 'nuf said!!!! The only glitch to the whole show was Eddie's apparent electronic woes. They are still haunting him...didnt seem to matter much.

'Nuf Said!!!

Earlier this evening the mighty Van Halen stormed into Richmond and tore our fine town to shreds. With a dazzling array of lights, acrobatics, and bone crunching music from the world's ultimate party band, Eddie and Co. proved that they can still take anyone to school.

Ripping the show open with an incredible rendition of Unchained, I knew I was in for the show of a lifetime. I had already seen them this tour when they blew the doors off Cleveland, but I couldn't resist seeing them once more. Moving through two songs off their newest album, Eddie ran into some technical problems during the intro to Mean Streets. Gary began joking with the crowd by saying "so you think that's the end?" After taking a few minutes to correct the problem, they said "Sorry" and were back on their march to bring the house crashing down.

There are so many highlights to this show, I can't do it justice in only a few short paragraphs, but after the technical problem it seemed as though they wanted to make up for the delay. THEY DID. Soon they were tearing through Dave classics such as Jamies' Cryin, Somebody Get Me A Doctor (Michael Anthony on vocals), and I'm The One (bop bada, shoobe do whah); while still hitting great Sammy tunes like When It's Love and Right Now.

Being only 19, I never had an opportunity to see any of Dave's antics, but I can honestly say that Gary is the most ridiculous lead singer I have seen. He was jumping and running all over the stage like a madman, yet was still hitting every lyric. A true entertainer, he is definitely welcome into the fold.

Alex's drum solo was spectacular, but my favorite part was during the intro to Panama when he began shouting like a wild Gorrilla. "Brown Sounding" Eddie's guitar solo brought the crowd near insanity as he played pieces of Cathedral, Eruption, and 316. It wasn't one of his longest solos, but he still managed to prove that he is still the greatest rock and roll guitarist in this galaxy.

Altogether, this was the most incredible concert I have ever been to. AND I have seen it TWICE on this tour!!! With the combination of Kenny Wayne Shepherd covering Jimi's "Voodoo Chile" and Van Halen restaking their claim as the greatest band in the world, you'd be crazy not to go.

The lights went out and Van Halen was alive and ripping through the incredible sounds of Unchained. Being a Van fan since the 70's, it was different with Gary, but not unwelcomed. Dave and Sammy had their styles, Gary definitely has his own. The band looked genuinly happy to be there, together, playing a spoofing each other at times.

The got through the first set of songs with some technical difficulties, mainly due to the unwireless guitars that Eddie was playing tonight. Since he was "wired" it seemed to take him down a notch in his movement around the stage, but still he was the classic Eddie splits and jumps we all enjoy seeing him do.

Mike really has filled a void in vocals for some of the songs since he is the high octave guy. The band did not have a large enough stage to be as flamboyant as I have seen them in the past but, still a high energy show throughout. The sound was fair being it was an outdoor venue, it was difficult at times to her Eddie really getting into it. I did miss seeing Eddie playing keyboards as well, but understandable with the selected songs.

Gary, I have to admit, impressed me with the way he took control of the stage at times, the guy is no "More Than Words" geek. He takes a commanding attitude with songs from the new album.

The show lasted right at 2 hours which even made it more enjoyable. It really is great to see a band that has been up and down with personal problems come back together and still get a crowd moving. The "V" sign was flying on thousands of hands tonight. I can only hope that they make it back next year so I can keep the VH symbol alive and well in Richmond, VA. A very impressive set list and keeping true to the fans is what makes Van Halen the greatest RnR band around today.