7/11/1979 – Houston, TX @ Music Hall

Van Halen live bootleg from 7/11/1979 on the Van Halen II World Vacation Tour.

Date: 7/11/1979
Location: Houston, TX
Venue: Music Hall
Opening band: The Screams
Source: Audience bootleg (Quality: C)

Audio Bootleg

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Brian Wright

I saw this show. This was VH’s first ‘alone’ tour, but not the first show of this tour as it was all well rehearsed. I don’t recall any opening band or any other bands at the Music Hall that evening, but it’s been a long time since I was there. I didn’t even know there had been any pictures, let alone a boot of the event. Dave came out dressed in those white gloves. About halfway through the show he got an, ahem, nose bleed (eyes rolling innocently) which soiled the gloves and he discarded them. Even still, he didn’t let that nose bleed stop the show. He plowed right on through to the end. It was an awesome show and it was, in fact, the first time I’d been to a rock concert. I am so glad I got to see them on this tour. DLR’s acrobatics were amazing and Eddie’s monster let out some great yells that night I’ll tell ya.

The Mighty Van Halen

killer memories….and killer VH tour to see!

Brian Wright

Definitely awesome and for only $8.50 (only slightly more than the album cost). The ushers were wearing over-the-ear headphone-style noise blockers right before the show started. I wasn’t sure what to make of that until the band started playing. Then, I realized quickly that I should have brought earplugs. The Music Hall was a very small venue and with Van Halen’s wall to wall stacks, there was more than enough coverage. My ears were ringing for a couple hours after that. It’s the concert gift that keeps on giving.
I probably shouldn’t mention this next part but hey, what’s going to a VH show without it becoming one big party, right? It was still technically the 70s. I can tell ya that the Mary was flowing down the aisles randomly and constantly all throughout the night. The ushers didn’t even care. In fact, there was so much second-hand Mary that you didn’t even need to suck a drag… though, you could if you had wanted to. I wasn’t there for Mary. I was stoked to be seeing VH on the VH II tour. I remember buying the album just a few months before and playing the crap out of it so I could recognize the songs at the concert. In fact, this concert felt more like an extension of the VH I tour, even though they played a fair amount from VH II.

Brian Wright

I forgot to mention, it felt like the VH I tour because much of the merchandise at the stands was from their VH I tour, like the tour book. Though, there was VH II merchandise there, like t-shirts. This was also the concert where I realized 1) put your wallet in your front pocket and 2) wear your t-shirt(s) inside-out when leaving.
Though, I had already been following rule 1 for a couple years due to having been pick pocketed at Astroworld, so I didn’t lose my wallet out in front of the hall. But, it wasn’t for lack of trying. At least one person stuck their hands in my back pocket looking for it. However, my shirt was ripped from my hands as I walked out of the show because I had chosen to carry it rather than wear it. I had two shirts, so I only lost one. I tried re-entering the arena to buy it again, but the stands were already closed.

The Mighty Van Halen

ahh, good advice. It probably looked like this total chaos 😉 Wallets were easy pickins’comment image

Brian Wright

Well, the audience wasn’t exactly doing that because I could see the stage well enough for the entire show and I wasn’t that close to the stage. As I said, the venue was small. While the ushers didn’t stop the Mary, they did stop people from standing up on top of things or crawling onto the stage. I would have been a bit PO’d if they’d have been standing up on top of chairs or whatever it is they’re doing here. Though, some girl on the front row removed her bra and threw it onto the stage. Eddie hung it off the head of his guitar for at least one song before tossing it off to the side of the stage. Definitely one of the best shows. My brother went to see VH a bit later. I can’t recall if it was 1984 tour or one of the Hagar tours. I never saw another VH concert after this one. Once you’ve seen a concert this early in a band’s career, it’s really hard to top it. This is especially true because Eddie was at the top of his game right here using one of his original Frankenstrats.
Though, as an aside, I did see Joe Satriani on his Surfin’ with the Alien tour at a small club and it did look much like this photo. People standing up on stacks and various other club fixtures. That was an awesome show, too… but I didn’t get to see much of Satch playing because people kept blocking my view.

The Mighty Van Halen

wow never saw VH again, eh. but yes 1979 was an EPIC year for VH and you saw that magic. My sweet spot for favorite tour is 79-80-81. This tour you saw was great as they were still coming up, starting world domination (or at least US domination 😉

Brian Wright

I asked my brother which tour he saw. His first VH show was the Diver Down tour in the Summit a few years later. I didn’t go to that one. However, the review from him was that it was slightly disappointing. I think that’s likely because they were focusing on material from Diver Down. I also think it might have been the last night and DLRs voice might have been a bit ragged. Not that that was a bad album, but it wasn’t nearly as good as VH I and VH II. Though, I would liked to have gone to the WaCF or the Fair Warning tour. As I said, though, I realized it would be hard for VH to top this show, all things considered. Eddie’s playing was amazing that night. Seeing VH again would likely have been disappointing by comparison.
When I see what I think is the quintessential show for a band, I usually don’t want to see the band again for fear of tainting my perception. The other reason I went to this VH show was that I was curious to see how Eddie actually played some of the parts. As a guitarist, I had listened to his playing, but couldn’t determine how some of them were played. I was curious to see his technique live. I got what I needed from that show.

The Mighty Van Halen

Very cool. Reminds me of this photo where the fans up front are mesmerized seeing the new tricks from EVH.

Mike Skillings

The 81,82,84 Tour would of Been better

Vincent

My buddy had his stolen as we walked out that night. I think he’s still mad about that. 🙂

Vincent

I was there. My Mother dropped my friend and I off and his Father picked us up after the concert. This brings back priceless memories. He had his concert T shirt stolen by a runner and my ears didn’t work right for days. Our youths go by so fast. So fast.