Live Gig Review and Photos by Robert Cavuoto
Adrian Vandenberg immediately set the bar high on Tuesday, March 4th, at The Vogel in Red Bank, NJ, performing Whitesnake and Vandenberg hits for his My Whitesnake Years Tour!
Exploding out of The Netherlands and onto the global scene in 1982 with their debut album, Vandenberg, Adrian notched an international hit with “Burning Heart.” It paved the way for multiple releases, such as Heading for a Storm [1983], Alibi [1985], and later Vandenberg [2020]. In the late 80s, David Coverdale of Whitesnake decided to part ways with the entire band, including John Sykes, enlisting new members, including Adrian as Whitesnake’s touring guitarist.
With Whitesnake retired or at least semi-retired, Adrian has capitalized on the opportunity to deliver the next best thing to his US fans with a passionate celebration of one of Hard Rock’s most beloved bands. This show promises to be performed to perfection, as he was a key member of Whitesnake at the height of their popularity.
The band consists of Adrian Vandenberg [guitar], Mats Levén [vocals], Sem Christoffel [bass], Len van de Laak [keyboards], and Joey Marin de Boer [drums], who are on a fast and furious run of ten shows on the East Coast of the US before heading on the Monster of Rock Cruise and then to the UK and Ireland in May. Fans can expect a setlist that delves deep into Whitesnake’s and Vandenberg’s discography, unearthing beloved hits and fan favorites that have continued to stand the test of time.
Opening the show, they launched into a powerful trio of songs that set the tone for the evening, immediately captivating the audience. Starting with the driving, Vandenberg’s anthemic “Hit the Ground Running” off the band’s—2023 album Sin. Seamlessly transitioning into the sleazy blues of “Slide it In,” as Adrian channeled all his first-hand expertise with the song’s crunchy riffs and searing solo. The band members moved with a fluid, almost choreographed grace as each musician locked into the groove, feeding off the crowd’s energy. The third in the trio was “Fool For Your Loving,” and was delivered with surgical precision. This time-traveling show covered songs from Whitesnake’s MTV years with songs from Whitesnake’s self-titled 1987 release and Slip of the Tongue.
A relentless guitar onslaught fueled the show, courtesy of Adrian, as he showcased his technical mastery. He unleashed an onslaught of crushing rhythms and furiously melodic solos, his fingers dancing effortlessly and fluidly across the fretboard with speed and meticulousness. I asked Adrian before the show how he balances aggressive rock with melody, particularly in his solos, and he replied, “I’m always trying to walk the line between having the right amount of melody in a blues-rock song while not sacrificing the instinctive rock feel. No matter how you dress up a song, either with a lot of guitars to transform it into a rock song or undress it to play acoustically with violins on a folk arrangement, it should work.” That definitely comes into play with Vandenberg’s song “Burning Heart,” which was played as one of the encores!
Not to be outdone, Mats brought soulful and emotive singing and harmonies that perfectly complemented the Whitesnake songs and Adrian’s playing. In a world where so much music feels manufactured and soulless, Vandenberg proved that raw talent and passion still have the power to captivate and inspire. Together, they created a wall of sound that was both powerful and nuanced, a testament to their innate musical chemistry.
Joey is the band’s engine room, ensuring all songs are timed and paced to perfection. He is a versatile drummer who can easily switch his playing styles to suit the needs of each song as he toggled between the Whitesnake hits and the Vandenberg classic seamlessly. Sem lightning-fast fingers laid down the low end and knew how to handle a song by playing between the melody and the harmony, which is felt more than heard. Len enriched the band’s live sound by adding ambient layers behind the guitar and drums, like on “Love Ain’t No Stranger” and “Is This Love,” meticulously balancing the sonic landscape, making it feel more full and dynamic. Taking a break from the barrage of rock anthems, the band added some dimension in the encores with “Sailing Ships” as Adrian and Mats sat on the drum riser to perform this heartfelt song. The band closed the show with “Still of the Night,” which was dedicated to John Skykes!
It’s a must-see for Adrian Vandenberg fans still yearning to hear timeless rock anthems played live again with skill and heart. It was a masterclass in hard rock showmanship, and if you closed your eyes, you would swear you were listening to Whitesnake in their prime – Vandenberg and his band were that good.
Tickets to his remaining US shows and overseas shows can be found here:
https://www.ticketmaster.com/adrian-vandenberg-tickets/artist/3046931
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