Van Halen's Live: Right Here Right Now - my review

[Chip Z'Hoy]

Got this record in the mail today, the RSD release, and I'm just getting done giving it a spin.

It's an album that seems to be for people who said "I like FUCK, but what I'd really like is to hear it sound shittier." So, no one.

I'm sure the double album is some record company arrangement because there is ZERO need for this album to be as long as it is. Who needs a live version of "Spanked"? Who??

Weirdly, I would say the stuff people would be most in favor of cutting--"Ultra Bass," "Pleasure Dome," "316," "Give to Live"--is the some of the more interesting stuff on the album. I think the "You Really Got Me"/"Cabo Wabo" medley works. I just like hearing the band sound loose.

The Roth-era songs are interesting, if only because Hagar couldn't sound less enthusiastic singing them. What a dick! People paid money. Suck it up, dude.

I think I'd give it a 2/5 overall. I got it for the collection; I can't see myself listening to this again.

One thing I really like about it is how LIVE it is, it really feels like you're at a LIVE concert, it's just so LIVE, I love LIVE MUSIC.

[SeniorGrande]

The 2 things I remember of this album is:
1) No need to listen to it...
2) Never bothered to listen to it.

[Psychobolia.com]

One thing I really like about it is how LIVE it is, it really feels like you're at a LIVE concert, it's just so LIVE, I love LIVE MUSIC.

Especially the vocals!

[kwf]

Shite fake live album

[Bono Nettencourt]

The 2 things I remember of this album is:
1) No need to listen to it...
2) Never bothered to listen to it.

[Spongie]

I liked that record a lot. Give to Live was a highlight for me.

[kanister]

Saw VH for the first time on the European tour after this release.

What a borefest it was. Hagar had sucked the life out of the band by this point. Still pisses me off I was too young to see the real VH.

[Mister Freeze]

You guys are so uptight. This is a fun album. Kind of a Van Hagar greatest hits before they had one. I remember liking it. Also good to have official versions of Sammy singing the old tunes. I know he didn't like it, but I did. The Who cover is cool too.

Came out at the right time between FUCK and Balance.

The summer tour behind it was a great time with a newly solo Vince Neil opening.

[SterileEyes1]

The album never did much for me but the home video was another story.

When I was 10 or so, this guy who played in a cover band with my dad and taught me how to play early on made me a VHS with The Weird Al Video Library and VH RHRN on it.

All I know is the first two or three songs are probably what I’d point to as what made me want to take playing music seriously.

In hindsight I get that the footage is cobbled together, plenty was fixed after the fact, the set was way too FUCK-heavy, but I can’t deny that it got a massive “fuck yes” from 10 year old me.

The Judgement Day breakdown and outro still kick all kinds of ass.

[Love_Industry]

Saw VH for the first time on the European tour after this release.

First and only time for me as they cancelled both the SRF and MSG shows on the reunion tour 2008.

I liked it though. It was deep into the Hagar era and I had accepted it for what it is, didn't expect classic VH, just a tight band having fun onstage playing Van Hagar songs and that's what I got.
Something like 3rd row at Ericsson Globe, it was Easter and Hagar said we are "probably the smallest audience Van Halen has ever played to".
Thought it was cool that they played 5150 and Unchained, I asked Alex if they would be playing "Summer Nights" and he said Ed can't do it without the guitar he used to record it. Should have asked for "The Dream is Over", can't believe they missed that in such a FUCK-heavy setlist.

[JinglesTheChristmasMouse]

Not good.

[pieceofme]

Got this record in the mail today, the RSD release, and I'm just getting done giving it a spin.

It's an album that seems to be for people who said "I like FUCK, but what I'd really like is to hear it sound shittier." So, no one.

I'm sure the double album is some record company arrangement because there is ZERO need for this album to be as long as it is. Who needs a live version of "Spanked"? Who??

Weirdly, I would say the stuff people would be most in favor of cutting--"Ultra Bass," "Pleasure Dome," "316," "Give to Live"--is the some of the more interesting stuff on the album. I think the "You Really Got Me"/"Cabo Wabo" medley works. I just like hearing the band sound loose.

The Roth-era songs are interesting, if only because Hagar couldn't sound less enthusiastic singing them. What a dick! People paid money. Suck it up, dude.

I think I'd give it a 2/5 overall. I got it for the collection; I can't see myself listening to this again.

One thing I really like about it is how LIVE it is, it really feels like you're at a LIVE concert, it's just so LIVE, I love LIVE MUSIC.

Me. I like that song. I know I am the only one.

Never heard this album. And even the live version of Spanked doesn't tempt me!

[daveg]

I love me some Van Hagar, but this has some of the worst song choices for a live album and might be my least favorite live album from a band I like.

Not enough from 5150 or OU812, to many from FUCK. (Spanked, Pleasure Dome, In&Out, Man on a Mission are not good songs) No need for a cover song. Only 1 Sammy solo would have been fine. Solo's were way too long.

Not having Summer Nights or 5150 is crazy.

They Dave era tunes did sound .... Ummm .. Forced. They probably should have just ignored the Dave era. At this point, I doubt anyone would have cared.

It's too bad, cause I think they sound great. Just nothing I'll ever revisit.

[Tommy2Tone84]

You guys are so uptight. This is a fun album. Kind of a Van Hagar greatest hits before they had one. I remember liking it. Also good to have official versions of Sammy singing the old tunes. I know he didn't like it, but I did. The Who cover is cool too.

Came out at the right time between FUCK and Balance.

The summer tour behind it was a great time with a newly solo Vince Neil opening.

Well said Freeze.

[BernieTaupson]

You guys are so uptight. This is a fun album. Kind of a Van Hagar greatest hits before they had one.

Spanked, Cabo Wabo, Man on a Mission, Give To Live and In N Out don’t deserve to be within five blocks of a Van Hagar greatest hits collection.

[JizzySynatra]

Boring and unnecessary at the time. Releasing Live Without A Net on record would have been a much better choice. FUCK was only released 2 years prior and it's full with those tracks and they don't sound any better on this set. The Roth era tunes sound painful with Sammy singing them at this point. Sammy doing "Jump" is just awful.