Vandenberg
March 2, 2024
Myrtle Beach, SC
House of Blues
Back in 1987, I became a huge Whitesnake fan. Like many people who were teenagers in the mid-late ‘80s, I first became aware of Whitesnake with the release of their eponymous album, which has since affectionately become known as the Whitesnake ’88 album. I saw Whitesnake on that tour as headliners, and one chap in that band blew my mind more than anyone other than David Coverdale. That chap was Dutch guitarist Adrian Vandenberg.
Sometime around 1989, after I absorbed what Vandenberg had done with Whitesnake, material from his previous band Vandenberg was released as The Best of Vandenberg. It was here that I very excitedly learned that there was a whole other world in which Adrian Vandenberg resided. I became a huge fan with songs like “When the Shit Hits the Fan,” Your Love is In Vain,” and the now legendary “Burning Heart.” I remained a huge fan of Vandenberg, but they never toured the US. Who would’ve thought that some 34 years later, I would finally get to see Vandenberg live?
On March 2nd, Vandenberg, along with co-headliner and former Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate, rolled into the House of Blues in Myrtle Beach, SC. The venue was packed to the rafters as people eagerly awaited the return of Vandenberg. Armed with a new band of young guns consisting of Mats Leven (vocals), Koen Herfst (drums), and Randy van de Elsen (bass), Vandenberg took the stage like clockwork at 8 pm to a roar from the sold-out room.
Kicking things off with “Hit the Ground Running” from their 2023 album Sin, I could feel my jaw drop. The fire, the intensity, and the drive of this band blew me away, and I knew I would be seeing something extraordinary. Without hesitation, the band went into the Whitesnake classic “Fool For Your Loving” to a deafening and gracious crowd.
Hearing lead vocalist Mats Leven deliver both Vandenberg classics and Whitesnake classics proved that, without a doubt, he is the perfect person for the job. Mats has an old-school hard rock vocalist mentality and presentation. There is zero ego or arrogance in his delivery. He does not need to yell and make demands of the audience. As he stepped up to the plate for songs like “Give Me All Your Love,” “Freight Train,” and “Still of the Night,” all he had to do was point the mic to the crowd, and they sang every word of every song (yes, even the Vandenberg tunes). Mats has such a commanding presence, and he had us all eating out of his hand.
The rest of the band was absolutely stellar, and these guys played these songs like they were by Adrian’s side from the beginning. As for Adrian himself, that man is amazing. At 70 years old, that man is as limber as a noodle, and he was pulling off-stage moves that would’ve had me wholly locked up and throwing my back out. Adrian also has zero ego and arrogance in his presence. His greatness shines in his performance and in the songs that bear his name, but aside from that, he played just like he was one of the boys, which is a pretty rare thing from such an iconic musician. While a pleasant surprise, it also made me respect him more than ever.
The highlights of the set for me were Sailing Ships and Judgement Day. Sailing Ships showcased the artistic connection between Mats and Adrian as they performed together in a beautifully sparse and intimate style. The room seemed to shrink about ¾ of the size because the audience was attentive and fixated on the performance. Commanding an audience of that kind with such a gentle song is not an easy feat, but they did it confidently and easily. As for “Judgement Day,” that was my favorite song from the 1990 Whitesnake album Slip of the Tongue, and hearing it again after all these years didn’t disappoint. The song was played with so much groove, class, and finesse that it sounded like it could’ve been written and released this year.
Closing their hour + set with Whitesnake’s “Hear I Go Again,” Vandenberg pulled the crowd closer and had everyone smiling, moving, and singing while hanging on every lyric. Seeing everyone as excited as me to see Vandenberg live was so much fun. Ok, not as excited as me, but I say that proudly.
After the band took their final bow, all I could think was that I had only one complaint. They should’ve played way longer. I could’ve used at least another 30 or 40 minutes, but like many great bands I have seen live in my 40 years as a concertgoer, they left me wanting more. Seeing Vandenberg live was a childhood wish and a dream come true. It was a reminder that the music of my youth can still have a lot of relevance and importance to me and many others. I can only hope Vandenberg feels the love and that we won’t have to wait at least another decade to be graced with such an amazing live show. I pity those who missed them live, and you are reading this, and you still have a chance; walk, don’t run! You can thank me later.
Vandenberg Setlist:
Hit the Ground Running
Fool For Your Loving
Your Love Is In Vain
Give Me All Your Love
Freight Train
Sailing Ships
Judgement Day
Crying in the Rain
Burning Heart
Still of the Night
Here I Go Again
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