There is no better feeling than out vinyl digging and find something unexpected like a bootleg. Make that bootleg Van Halen and make there be two different ones there by Van Halen and that is why I love collecting. Those little surprises and this is the first one we will talk about. It is a soundboard recording from April 3, 1978 and recorded at the Pogo’s Night Club and Discotheque in Wichita, Kansas. The show was Pogo’s Catch a Rising Star which was a showcase for up and coming bands in the the 70’s. Van Halen had just released their debut album so you can’t get much more up and coming than that.

This show is David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony, Alex Van Halen and the late, great Eddie Van Halen and man were they young and hungry and this show definitely showcases that hunger. They play almost everything from the debut (minus two songs) and even a cover to end the show. David Lee Roth is in fine form as his banter with the crowd is worth the price of admission alone, but since you get Eddie’s guitar mastery it is icing on the top of the cake. I’m getting excited just talking about. Let’s crank this mutha and get in to the music. The label on the vinyl is pretty cool Some Steampunk guy standing there like he is introducing you to new the rising stars of Van Halen.

SIDE A:

The album opens with “On Fire” and let me tell you they are just that. Eddie’s playing is nuts and Dave is pure Dave. The vocals and sound in general is a little rough to start, but gets better and after awhile you get lost in the music. I am not sure Dave is getting all the words right and he does seem to scream a lot on this on especially the “On Fire” part. They go straight in to “I’m the One” which they call “Show Your Love” on here. I love those little mistakes. The backing vocals are really loud and strong on this one and almost louder than Dave which might not be a bad thing at times. As they are singing away, Eddie is playing some killer, sick licks throughout and damn that solo is fire. The man was a beast. Then Dave takes over does he “Shoobie Doowah’s” and back to shredding and the final blast of the song.

As quick as we are in to the show, we get a short bass solo with a lot of distortion before slamming his bass in to the intro “Runnin’ with the Devil” and then things get rocking. Dave does his thing on vocals and things are sounding better by now and all sound issues seem to be fixed. Dave’s swagger and cockiness is in full force. Alex is pounding on those drums and I really like his sound and style. But the highlight of this thing is Eddie…and he is well…Eddie what more can I say.

Before we get to the next song, Dave has to talk to the crowd and he sounds three sheets to the wind. It is classic Dave banter as he preaches to the crowd and I love every fucking second of it. The next tune is labeled as “Light up the Sky” but it is “Atomic Punk”. And well, Eddie…need I say more. He is brilliant, absolutely a machine. Dave is Dave and he might not be the best singer, but he is showman and I can imagine what he is doing to rile up that crowd. We get a great little drum break from Alex which is a barrage of sound exploding at you as they end the song in grand fashion and then his bro does the into to “Little Dreamer” and away we go again. Dave really does a great job on this one as he slows things down and sings with a coolness and a swagger. Diamond Dave at his best.

SIDE B:

Side B kicks off with “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” and some really loud backing vocals again during the chorus that actually are louder than Dave on this one. Dave struts through the verses and is as calm, cool and collected as they come. Eddie lays down the riffs and then rips another stellar solo that would blow your mind if you were in the crowd…or listening to this on vinyl. Then, maybe Michael Anthony talks to the crowd real quick. Dave then talks to the crowd about the heat and then they go in to “Ice Cream Man” and Dave nails it vocally. He’s the draw just as much as Eddie is and one without the other just isn’t the same. Say all you want about the whole Dave and Sammy arguments, but it is Dave for me all the way. Van Halen had more swagger and rawness which is what Van Halen is for me. Dave is out there having a good ol’ time and I’m amazed he is still standing as he scats the end of the song.

And now we are to moment you have been waiting for…Eddie Van Halen and “Eruption”. Dave introduces Mr. Edward Van Halen from Amsterdam, Holland. Hold on tight boys and girls, as it is about to get crazy. Words can’t describe the delectable, tastiness of the flavors coming off that guitar. It needs to be heard as he gets nasty, gets dirty and gets down on his bad self as he runs those fingers up and down the neck of his guitar at blistering speed. Damn! Then they end the show with “You Really Got Me” and it has all the energy and Dave gets the crowd in frenzy when the music stops and he does a verse before he band explodes back in. They slam it home and end it in style.

Now, they do come back for an encore with the weirdest of choices with “Summertime Blues” and Dave mentions how hot things are so maybe that is why. It is a great song on its own, but not what I would expect to end a VH show. Even though, it fits Dave to a “T” with all the little vocal breaks as he makes them Dave’s. Eddie puts his stamp on it as well and I guess it is cool to have a song they played that I didn’t have in my catalog prior so that is a plus.

And there you have it. ‘Catch a Rising Star’ bootleg. It is a short show, but perfect if you don’t have a lot of time as it is very satisfying. You get all the best of Van Halen’s first album and then some. They are young and hungry as I said earlier and that makes for a great show. Dave is in top form and is the only Dave there is and we love him for that. Eddie’s playing can’t be beat as there is no one like him. Alex and Michael are the secret weapons to this band as they drive each song forward and are the unsung heroes. This band was “On Fire” that night and now I have a piece of it! My Overall Score is a 5.0 out of 5.0 Stars as far as bootlegs go. The sound is actually really great despite a hiccup or two and you can enjoy every instrument and vocal (especially those backing vocals…damn those were loud!!). Grab it if you see it out in the wild.