Setlist:

01. You Really Got Me
02. I'm the One
03. Runnin' With the Devil
04. Romeo Delight
05. Somebody Get Me a Doctor
06. Beautiful Girls
07. Dance the Night Away
08. Atomic Punk
09. Everybody Wants Some
10. So This Is Love?
11. Mean Street
12. Pretty Woman
13. Drum Solo
14. Unchained
15. I'll Wait
16. And the Cradle Will Rock
17. Hot for Teacher
18. Little Dreamer
19. Little Guitars
20. Jamie's Cryin'
21. Ice Cream Man
22. Panama
23. Guitar Solo
24. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love

ENCORE:
25. 1984
26. Jump

(unofficial)

______________________

Review: Charlotte Observer
by COURTNEY DEVORES

Seems like old times: Van Halen rocks arena

Opening night of Van Halen's long-awaited reunion with David Lee Roth literally kicked off with several of Roth's highflying kicks at Charlotte Bobcats Arena on Thursday, although Eddie Van Halen was the first to appear on stage with one of his own signature hurky-style jumps.

The last time Van Halen performed in Charlotte with Roth as its frontman, he had just turned 30, gas was $1.21 a gallon and tickets to the show at the old Charlotte Coliseum were $12.50.

Twenty-three years later, the band's original members are all over 50 and guitarist Eddie Van Halen's 16-year-old son Wolfgang has replaced original bassist Michael Anthony.

The show sold out in a matter of minutes in August, and the arena was packed when the band hit the stage around 8:30 p.m., following a short but sweet set of pop and reggae-tinged R&B by Kymani Marley.

Fans assumed after well-publicized fighting, ill will and a couple of false starts over the past 11 years that the group would never reunite. But earlier this year the Van Halen brothers announced that Roth would rejoin the fold. If the group can keep egos and tempers in check (sources say the three original members arrived on separate buses for rehearsals), the reunion could be the biggest tour of the decade.

Any animosity wasn't apparent on stage as Roth and Eddie Van Halen saddled up next to each other, smiling, during "Everybody Wants Some" and "Dance the Night Away." Roth and Wolfgang Van Halen even sang "Oh Pretty Woman" side by side.

The younger Van Halen proved to be a showy player and spot-on backing vocalist, although he didn't yet prowl the stage like a seasoned vet.

His post rehab father looked skinny, but cut, as did his brother. In fact, the original members all looked fit, though none ran around the stage like they did 25 years ago.

"You Really Got Me" started things off with the band sticking to the set list that was leaked on the internet last week. Highlights included "Beautiful Girls," "Unchained," and "Hot For Teacher." The group saved its biggest single and only #1 pop song, "Jump," for the encore.

Roth left the band in 1985, scoring several pop hits on his own. His former band outlasted his solo success, topping the mainstream rock charts 11 times without him.

But to many fans it just wasn't the same without the flamboyant, larger-than-life Roth jumping and posing out front like an uber-charismatic game show host. One fan compared him to Liberace strutting in his embroidered jackets and skintight leather striped pants.

What might be overlooked in favor of his over-the-top persona is his voice, which was in peak form Thursday. He easily met and held notes that younger singers like Jon Bon Jovi just can't reach anymore.



Review: New York Daily News
by Jim Farber

Van Halen: Still brothers in rock

First, the good news: David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen got through the entire stretch of their first show together in 22 years last night without killing each other.

Now the better news: At last night's opening salvo of a national tour at the Bobcats Arena in Charlotte, N.C., the two performed with a vintage measure of joy and verve, showing neither the vitriol that long ago fractured them, nor the problems that have plagued them as individuals in the time between - including, most recently, a spell in rehab for Eddie.

Joining the duo in this eons-in-themaking comeback were drummer Alex Van Halen and Eddie's son Wolfgang on bass, subbing for Michael Anthony.

The latter snub prevented the tour from pulling off a full revival of the original gang of four.

But the pitched spirit and chops displayed this night evoked more than enough of the band's '80s heyday to please any true fan.

From the first power chords of "You Really Got Me," the band hit a hard groove that didn't let up for the next two hours.

Eddie's guitar runs showed again the God-like speed, agility and wit of old, even if he still shows no interest, or ability, to connect this to anything approaching an adult emotion.

We're still talking frat house stuff here, even from men moving into their 50s.

Same goes for Roth, who remains the same eagerly corny ham as ever. His outfits looked like they came straight from Siegfried and Roy's back closet.

Still, he came through where it counted. He didn't cower from hitting the high, screechy notes. And his trademark bellow rang through loud and clear.

The group played 25 songs, batted out in brisk succession, and all from the pre-Sammy Hagar era (1978 to '84).

It often stressed a mangier and rawer style than what came later, and while that kind of thing can sound sloggy in an arena, last night the sound remained bracingly crisp throughout.

The rhythm section - another big question mark of the night - pulled its weight.

Young Wolfgang kept the bottom in line with his bass lines.

Alex Van Halen's double bass drums again made the perfect two-fisted mirror to brother Eddie's bravura riffs and leads.

More than 25 years since he first pioneered his two-hands-on-the-fretboard approach, Eddie remains a technical wonder.

Again, last night his leads did loop-do-loops around the melodies, and peeled into wheelies in the choruses.

It may seem unseemly for a man of his age to retain a tone that's all leer, but Roth's camp character helps lend a leavening dose of self-awareness to the character.

Dave and Eddie seemed cordial. They even hugged at one point. But they connected in the music more than in any gestures, and that was for the best.

The repertoire showed the range of their material proudly - from pop like "Dance the Night Away" and "Janie's Crying" to more obscure pound fests like "Atomic Punk" and "Romeo's Delight."

The top hits, played at the end, like "Panama" or "Jump" may be over-played on radio. But after so many years performed by either a listing version of Van Halen or a weak solo David Lee Roth, it was great to finally welcome back the real thing in such fine form.

Review: Rolling Stone Magazine
by Mark Kemp

Gods of Rock Deliver the Goods: Van Halen Kick Off Reunion Tour


“You’re going to see some tears when they hit that stage,” said Modesto, California’s Matt Caramella as he waited for Van Halen with David Lee Roth to hit the stage for the first time since 1984 in Charlotte, North Carolina, last night. Sure enough, tears streamed down his face as the lights went down and Eddie Van Halen appeared on the darkened stage, shirtless and wearing faded green Army fatigue shorts and white sneakers, cranking out the first few riffs of the band’s reconstituted Kinks cover “You Really Got Me.” By the time Roth came out, wearing tight black leather pants, a polka-dotted shirt and white sports jacket with gaudy black embroidery, Caramella was in fist-pumping ecstasy. “These guys are my heroes,” he shouted over the din, “the gods of rock & roll.”

And for more than two hours, the gods delivered. From “You Really Got Me” to “Runnin’ with the Devil,” “Dance the Night Away,” “Oh, Pretty Woman,” “Unchained,” “Hot for Teacher,” “Ice Cream Man,” “Panama,” guitar-god solo “Eruption,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” “Jump” and about thirteen more classic Van Halen tunes, the band was in top form for their long-overdue reunion. “I’m not going to waste time BS-ing around tonight,” Roth told the delighted, sold-out crowd of predominantly middle-aged guys in white- and blue-collar work clothes and gals who’d retrieved their Eighties bustiers for a night of original hair-metal nostalgia. But he was lying: Roth was at his BS best.

His hair may be shorter and crow’s feet longer, but Diamond Dave is every bit the Vegas showman that he was two decades ago, when he left Van Halen for an ill-fated solo career that took him from cheesy bad to train-wreck worse. He showed his gift for gab — and flamboyant duds — from the get-go, imitating Mick Jagger and martial arts moves, smiling like a clown, riding a giant microphone. And despite old wounds, his bandmates seemed charmed by their new old lead singer. Eddie Van Halen, switching from his signature Peavey “Wolfgang” guitar to his old, red- and white-striped “Frankenstein,” nuzzled up to Roth several times. And drummer Alex Van Halen, sporting his trademark white headband, pounded his kit with a constant smile. If original bassist Michael Anthony was missed at first, it wasn’t long before Eddie’s sixteen-year-old son, Wolfgang Van Halen, had the crowd in the palm of his hands. The teenaged slap-style bass player held his own with style, grace and grit, throwing out picks to the audience as he walked the catwalk into the crowd, his bass in hand, during “Atomic Punk.” There were some bumps along the way, including a few times when Roth missed his vocal cues, but the audience could not have cared less.

All four members looked healthy and fit, particularly Eddie, who has gone from drug-addict weird to middle-age handsome since the original band’s aborted reunion of 1996. Even young Wolfgang seemed to have lost some of the baby fat he showed in earlier photographs with the band. And then there was Diamond Dave, who has evolved from rock & roll cool to old-Vegas hip with style, grace and his eternally smart sense of flamboyant irony.

“Did this really happen?” Matt Caramella shouted as the house lights went up following the encore, “Jump.” By then, his tears had mingled with the sweat running down his face from his buzz cut. “Man, that was like a @#$%& dream.”

USAToday Review

Does anyone know if there's a backup act & around what time Van Halen start ?

Thank You Kindly

Go Eddie Go

It's Ky-Mani Marley ... one of Bob's sons

here's a little blurb on him

[www.billboard.com]

I understand they hit the stage about 9 or a little after

Jim

...

Ultimate Rock Music Poll
[www.squidoo.com]

Talk about warhorses!!! I think the only good thing about Michael Anthony not touring with them this time is that there's no 10 minute bass solos.

I read for a 7:30 show,,after the opening act VH went on at 8:30

I love this, '23. Guitar Solo '



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-09-30 02:02 by Ket.

Excellent show, sat on floor quite hot inside, I think they must have turn off the air for us concert fans.
Diamond dave was nothing but smiles all nite.

DGA35 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Talk about warhorses!!! I think the only good
> thing about Michael Anthony not touring with them
> this time is that there's no 10 minute bass solos.


I think they had to add Wolf to the band so someone could actually be "Hot for Teacher" without it seeming too creepy.

Jim

...

Ultimate Rock Music Poll
[www.squidoo.com]

They're playing their 2nd tour stop tonight in Greensboro right now
My wife just called and said she's in. She and a girlfriend scalped tix for $40, about half price.

Lukester, i haven't seen a show in the Greensboro Coliseum in maybe 20 years.
But i've seen some big shows there - Stones, Zep, Who,Rod Stewart and many more.
I see my old college buddy Mark Kemp wrote one of the Charlotte reviews above.
I'll try and track him down again on email.

get ready for some rock n roll. I wish I would have known I'm an 1 hour away or so

The Charlotte show started at 8:30 pm sharp.

The show was outstanding and in some ways blew the Who, Stones, and Coop away. Eddie is the best guitarist on the planet.

Don't miss it.

nellcote'71 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lukester, i haven't seen a show in the Greensboro
> Coliseum in maybe 20 years.
> But i've seen some big shows there - Stones, Zep,
> Who,Rod Stewart and many more.
> I see my old college buddy Mark Kemp wrote one of
> the Charlotte reviews above.
> I'll try and track him down again on email.

....sounds great nellcote...I'm glad your wife and friend got in so cheaply....I think the last show I saw in G'boro may have been the Grateful Dead....early 80's....hey I saw Lucina Williams at the Carolina Theater there last Sunday.....I loved it.......tell Kemp Lukester said hello.

Ket Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I love this, '23. Guitar Solo '


That could probably describe the other 25 songs as well.

"It's just some friends of mine and they're busting down the door"

Well,for the sake of argument,at least they didn't pack it in after an 18 song set featuring keyboard solos.

I've just listened through this gig on a good audience bootleg, and I gotta say I'm mighty impressed. Now I'm only judging by an audio recording, but style-wise this is makes me think about how the Stones could have sounded in '89 if they had tried to sound like they did in '72. Pointless comparison, sure enough.

But the Eddie, Alex, Dave and VH Jr I hear on this recording are very impressive. It's like a 1984 show except that Eddie is a tad bit sloppier and slower (and uses the wah-wah on several occasions), Dave's voice is about 85% of what it was in its heyday, and Michael Anthony is obviously gone, though I can't judge well enough from this boot how well Wolfgang is doing his job. I'm guessing that Eddie and the whole band will be improving during the tour, and it's simply awesome that they've got this far. No one dared to even hope for it only half a year ago.

As for the setlist... Speaking only of audio recordings, I enjoy VH warhorses a lot more than I enjoy Stones warhorses from their later tours. There's barely a song on that list I'd like to have removed. But now when they're back with Dave, I think they should take the opportunity to play a couple of tunes that they never played live in the '80s, or at least some more rarely played stuff. Most of Fair Warning and VH2 should be really good live.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-10-02 02:05 by LieB.

All the reviews I've read online so far have been very positive and the clips I've seen on Youtube look pretty good.

I'm looking forward to seeing them next month.

Blech....never liked them, never will, but y'all enjoy...

JR

Going to the Cleveland show next week. Ticketmaster has been releasing great seats the past 2 days. 10th Row Floor was released so were lower levels next to stage.

Some new videos and show reviews in the blog in my sig.

Jim

...

Ultimate Rock Music Poll
[www.squidoo.com]

chippy pics Philly # 2

Marley's son opened with " It was i who shot de sheriff "
go figure
He did very short set of about 5 songs


these must be for da potheads



Very loud but crystal clear from 11th row floor far left
Eddie sure is a joy to see & hear
my 1st time seeing Van Halen & i loved it

Hey Dad ! Can i have my allowance please








This is da shit Dad