Van Halen
Madison Square Garden
New York, NY
May 22, 1998

Photos by Glenn Diener ©1998 - musicpix@optonline.net
Click photos to download full-size images.

Set List

Review by Shelly Janusz - SJANUSZ268@aol.COM

AWESOME!!!! Van Halen played at the Garden last night and it was easily the best concert I have ever seen. I saw Van Halen two times with Sammy, but to hear Gary and the guys doing tunes off the very first album was truly an experience I don't think I'll ever forget.

The light show was great! All four guys were having a great time. You could just tell they loved what they were doing. Alex's drum solo was incredible. If you are a Van Halen fan, this concert tour is one you cannot afford to miss.

"Feel Your Love Tonight" was the best song for me. And then to end with, "I'm the One" was so incredible. Mike Anthony on lead vocals for was also unforgettable!! It was great night!!! Thanks to Van Halen for being the Greatest Show On Earth!!!

This was my first concert ever, and as a big Van Halen fan of all eras, I was BLOWN AWAY! Having lived in New York City my whole life, as well as having been to the Garden many times, I have NEVER seen MSG this packed and full of energy! They nailed every single song, especially Mean Street. Hearing Somebody Get Me A Doctor, I'm The One and Feel Your Love Tonight was so refreshing, and Gary sang them beautifully.

I was very glad that Gary decided to sing these songs with his own style and interpretation, rather than just try to copy Dave or Sammy. It was really great of the guys to do 2 encores, although I would have loved to hear Josephina during one of them. The setlist was superb, and I cannot wait to go see them again soon!

We can once again put the word 'MIGHTY' in front of VAN HALEN! Tonight, Gary, Ed, Al and Mike tore down the Garden like it hasn't been since 1984!!! As in all other shows on the tour, they hit the stage with 'UNCHAINED' and didn't let up thereafter.

Gary sings the Dave-era stuff fabuluously. Highlights for me were "MEAN STREET" "ROMEO DELIGHT", "SOMEBODY GET ME A DOCTOR" (with Mike on lead vocals) and the medley of "FEEL YOUR LOVE TONIGHT" AND "DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY". Mike did a great job on the tune he sang and seemed to be having a ball--Makes you wonder why Sammy never let him sing, or if he didn't want to? (I AM SURE IT WAS SAMMY'S FAULT)

The only complaint I had was there very little chatting with the crowd. Not that I want an all night rap session like Sam used to do, but a little bit more. Other than that--no complaints, but GARY could not hit all of Sam's notes in 'WHEN IT'S LOVE' or in "RIGHT NOW"

Was surprised with HUMANS BEING and then the encore(s) were JUMP and Panama and then a second encore with 'I'M THE ONE'---That was one out of left-field and it left the crowd in a daze!!! I have never seen them do 2 encores in over 17 shows since 86....WOW is all I have to say,.,,

PS--Why is Eddie not using a cordless guitar???

I had been waiting for this night forever and it finally came. What a show!!!I was completely blown away by everything-Mike,Alex, Ed,and Gary-I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!!!! They made one of my dreams come true tonight by coming to NYC and singing my favorite song live.

Every single song was unfuckingbelievable! My own personal highlights were (the fave song)"When It's Love", "Why Can't This Be Love?", "Dance the Night Away/Feel Your Love Tonight" medley, and of course, "Panama" and "Jump", the encores. AND, a surprise guest appearance of Matt Pinfield! He brought up some guy who proposed to his girlfriend. The audience really didn't care for it-they were waiting for the guys to blast into "Jump".

Ed and Alex's solos were phenomenal...the night wouldn't have been complete w/o the "Ed-die! Ed-die!" chants. The only complaint from me is that the show could have been a little longer..just under 2 hours didn't do it for me.

Even if you are a diehard Sammy (myself) or Dave fan--SEE THIS SHOW!! You will not regret it! Now I'm counting the days till the Jones Beach show August 15!!!

THANK YOU VAN HALEN FOR KICKING ASS AGAIN!!!!!!

I CANT WAIT TO FEEL YOUR LOVE TONIGHT!!! Wow what a show. The most power I've seen by them ever. All the songs were amazing. Michael's take on Somebody Get Me A Doctor was amazing, the house rocked.

After their first little break of they same set that they have been playing they came on and sang Panama. Then Matt Pinfield from MTV came on stage, to say some things, and some guy proposed to his girlfriend on stage! After that they played Jump and left the stage.

With the crowd still roaring they came back again. And then they play Show Your Love. I couldn't believe - I've never heard so many old songs. The critics are wrong - Gary kicks ass!!! The guy is a maniac, running all over the stage with all of his motions.

Alex? Monsterous. Banging on the drums like a wildman. He gets better everytime I see him. I miss the fact that Michael didnt have a solo thoiugh, I've always liked his solos. And Eddie. Oh Eddie. I'm not gonna even bother talking 'bout him here, cause we all know bout Eddie.

But the one thing that stood out the most to me was that at the end of the show, all four of them bowed together. I've never seen them do this before, but this meant a lot. Buckle up everyone this is gonna be a great ride!!

All of the previous reviews nailed it on the head... VAN HALEN KICKS ASS STILL!!!! maybe more, actually. The set list was almost identical to the Boston show, with the exception of the exclusion of Josephina and How Many Say I.

The band started their first encore with Panama. This was followed by a surprise appearance by Matt Pinfield from MTV. He was there to announce that the producer from his show had an announcment to make. That announcement was a WEDDING PROPOSAL!!! She said yes of course. VH then dedicated Jump to the engaged couple and then left the stage.

To my surprise, they came back out for a second encore and Gary proclaimed, "This is for the the old school fans!!!" Van Halen then closed out the show with I'm the One!!!! Van Halen rocked the Garden HARD tonight. Many of the fans left the Garden happily and screaming Eddie!!! Eddie!! while exiting and proceeding to Penn Station.

Many people outside the arena that didn't attend the show were wondering what the heck just happened at the Garden. It was as if the Rangers just won the Stanley Cup (Rangers suck...but that's my opinion...) Nope, no sporting event, just the appearance of the greatest Rock n' Roll band in history, VAN FUCKIN' HALEN!!!!

As a side note, there was one HELL of an annoying person sitting behind me, ridiculing Gary and calling for the return of Dave. I just gotta say get over it to all thsoe that feel that way!!!! The show was awesome tonight, and Gary made the old Roth tunes rock!!!!

This was absolutely the best concert I have ever gone too. As with most excellent concerts, the only problem was that Eddie and the gang didn't play all the old tunes such as "Hot For Teacher" and "Dreams" but did ressurect such old school favorites as "Unchained", "Mean Streets", "I'm the One", "Feel Your Love Tonight", "Dance the Night Away" and "Somebody Get Me A Doctor".

I was a little surprised to find that the concert was not sold out, but as I approached the ticket booth to purchase my tickets, a scalper approached me. The ambiance of Madison Square Garden is unparalleled. The acoustics were some of the best that I have heard in a long time, and when Eddie started pounding out the chords of "Unchained" as the light went out, I knew I was in for a special evening.

I was very surprised to see that Gary was getting into the older tunes, and definitely kicked butt on "Mean Streets". I think what topped off the evening was that for the first time ever live, I saw Michael Anthony's Jack Daniels Bass, and watched as he sung lead on "Somebody Get Me A Doctor". It was just the concert I have been waiting for all my life, minus "Hot For Teacher" of course....

Wow. That is all I can say to truly sum up my feelings. The boyz are having fun again. They all had these grins on their faces the entire show. Eddie was really on tonight as he hit every note perfectly and his effects were amazing the crowd. Michael went more nuts than usual and was bass slapping like no tomorrow and his vocals on Somebody Get Me... Amazing! Alex I have new found respect for. He is quite the master. Gary? Well I think he came he saw and he conquerd MSG. He took the Roth tunes, made them his own and rocked them hardcore. The Sammy tunes were note perfect and the songs from III were well received by the near capacity MSG Matt Pinter's producer asked his girlfriend to marry him during the encore and she accepted so that was also pretty cool.

The set list was much the same except for the lack of Dreams (AWWWW! I so wanted that one!), no Josephina or How Many Say I but instead they closed with I'm The One which made up for it nicely! The new arrangements of Right Now and others worked nicely! Gary was like Freddie but still himself as he roamed the stage like it was his territory! I can't wait til August when I see them at SPAC!

Well after months of speculation and waiting to get my chance to see Van Halen 3 all I can say is BELIEVE THE HYPE!!!! These guys are UN-F*CKING BELIEVABLE!! The concert on MTV (as good as that was) does not do these guys justice.

I have seen these guys 4 times and I know it sounds cliche, but they get better every time!!! Eddie's guitar playing is 2nd to none, Alex's thundering druming is simply awesome, Mike's bass playing along w/his terrific vocals make him one of rock's greatest players, and let me start by saying I am one of Sammy's biggest fans, but Gary won my respect last night as his vocals are simply magnificient, he was dead-on on every and all songs played, it was AWESOME!!!!

Age has not hurt these guys at all, the band drives along at such a frantic pace you'll wish you had 4 sets of eyes to catch all the action!! This concert is a MUST SEE because it really showcase's what a GREAT BAND Van Halen is!! They ripped through such an awesome set that no stone was left unturned and there was something for everyone, the place went nuts!

I think Gary said it best when he said "Don't listen to the press, most of them have their heads up there ASSES". How true it is, F*ck the non-believers THESE GUYS ROCK!!!!!!!!!!

"....The Mighty Van Halen!!" And so began the best concert I've even been to and also the greatest night of my life.

The show was absolutely unbelievable!! The boys were in top skill as they pounded out the old and the new. From the first chord of "Unchained", the energy of the room just kept growing and growing.

Ed's playing was flawless (i.e. the solo to "Right Now"), Alex and Mike kept a perfect beat going for the duration and Gary took the songs to heights Sammy and Dave could only dream about.

Highlights of the evening included Mike Anthony singing "Somebody Get Me A Doctor", the pure fury of "Humans Being", Gary's high-octane stage performance and the sheer raw feeling of every note that Eddie played. Also, the inclusion of "I'm the One" for the second encore should not be overlooked by any stretch of the imagination. As Eddie said upon it's completion: "We haven't done that in twenty years!!" Well, thanks for picking us, Ed!!

This show was full of surprises. Even though I had read reviews of other shows on the tour and checked set lists, I was still not fully prepared for what I got. It was a complete masterpiece and all I can say is I can't wait for Jones Beach in August!! Way to to Van Halen!!