Live | Y&T – De Nieuwe Nor – Heerlen [NL]

1 October 2025

When Y&T played ‘De Nieuwe Nor’ in Heerlen a year ago, the show was sold out. Today, however, the venue is only two-thirds full, which equates to a little over four hundred visitors. And that’s fully understandable in busy and expensive times like these. While the current show’s motto is no longer  ‘50 Years Of Y&T’, it nevertheless offers much of the same. That being said, the illustrious Californian hard rock band is once again a treat for the ears. The setlist is truly mouthwatering.

A TRUE PHENOMENON

No less than twenty songs are featured tonight, many of them being legendary cuts. Since the band isn’t preceded by a support act, the familiar ,,From The Moon’’ intro fills the venue’s air at 8:00 PM. Unlike last year, when the blistering ,,Hurricane’’ opened, it’s ,,Open Fire’’ that immediately kicks things into overdrive. The sound is rock solid from the very first note, making the absence of a supporting act a distinct advantage. The sound engineer barely has to touch the controls. For the next two hours bandleader Dave Meniketti reigns. The man is a true phenomenon with both his vocals and guitar work being instantly recognizable. Few musicians have the fortune to age as gracefully as Meniketti does. At age 71 he still manages to hit every note, his vocal cords and fingers never failing him. What a class act! Impressive!!!

 A TOP-NOTCH LINE-UP

Impressive is also a term that applies to his backing band. The musicians from the original lineup are all no longer amongst us, but the current lineup is certainly equally talented. Guitarist John Nymann, like the late Joey Alves, fully embraces his role as accompanist and provides Meniketti excellent support during his numerous guitar solos. Drummer Mike Vanderhule and bassist Aaron Leigh also appear solid and comfortable. The duo forms a highly skilled rhythm section that operates flawless. This is just a top-notch line-up, one that does the heavily spiced repertoire justice. And since no less than twelve songs are being pulled from the golden years albums ‘Earthshaker’, ‘Black Tiger’, and ‘Mean Streak’ I prefer today’s setlist to the one of a year ago. In terms of atmosphere and exuberance however, the show is inferior to the previous one. Back then a packed house simply generated more euphoria.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

However, when after a good hour of playing Meniketti launches into crowd favorite ,,I Believe In You” many attendees get goosebumps on their arms. This particular song demands a lot from Meniketti. It’s one of those songs he simply cannot pass on. There is no escape to it.  But he manages to inject the mother of all power ballads with the right emotional charge. His co-musicians add their own dynamic touch to the arrangements, successfully propelling the master to great heights. Mission accomplished!

After this masterpiece it’s already a won game but with crowd favorites such as ,,Black Tiger’’, ,,Dirty Girl’’ and ,,Rescue Me’’ yet to come no one has any right to complain. In the end it is the euphoric ,,Forever’’ which finished the show in grandeur. If this was to be the last time to see Y&T it certainly was a grand farewell. A mighty farewell to one of the best hard rock bands of all time.

All photos by Raymond Helebrand