As promised, I am providing you a review of the Sammy Hagar concert that took place at the Tweeter Center in Camden, New Jersey last night. We arrived in the parking lot at about 4:00 p.m., and tailgated on an absolutely gorgeous afternoon. Our illustrious tailgate consisted of beer, water, hot dogs, burgers and chips – a standard tailgating concoction.
By the time 7:30 rolled around, we were nice and buzzed, and made our way to the venue. The Tweeter Center is an awesome place for a concert in the summer time, with out-door seating (for the cheaper tickets – which of course, we purchased). We made our way to one of the outdoor bars, and had some of those Cabo-Wabo tequilas, which were delicious and highly alcoholic (which is what we expected for $10 a drink).
Finally, we made our way to the lawn, and anticipated a kick-ass concert by Sammy. The first set was o.k. at best. It mainly consisted of Sammy’s solo stuff, of which I new maybe 5 songs. I do have 3 Sammy albums including two greatest hits albums (yes, Sammy actually does have two greatest hits albums). I’m guessing Sammy wanted to play deeper cuts instead of the traditional songs. They were good, but it was tough for me to get into it.
He took a break, and when he came back, Michael Anthony (the bass player of Van Halen) joined him, and the music and energy immediately picked up. They played song after song of Van Hagar classics, and even threw in a Dave song – Running With The Devil, that Michael Anthony sang. They ended with a bit of a shocker – Fight For Your Right to Party (of course, done by the Beastie Boys).
Now, normally, one would think Sammy would come out with an encore. But, I guess since he did two sets, he decided not to. I enjoy encores, and he had quite a few Van Hagar classics left to whoop the crowd into a frenzy … however, he never came back. That was a big letdown for me. YOU HAVE TO DO ENCORES! FANS EXPECT THEM! I’m also guessing since the turnout was rather low (I’m going to estimate maybe 3,000 fans were there, and the place can easily hold 8,000), Sammy decided not to “waste his energy.” Again, ALWAYS DO AN ENCORE, EVEN IF YOU ARE PLAYING IN FRONT OF 100 PEOPLE!!!!
Oh well, it was cool to have the run of the Tweeter Center – it was easy to get drinks, and there were absolutely no lines for the bathrooms – unheard of! I even decided to pee in the ladies room, just because – a first for me.
All in all, the show was good, but definitely not the best that I’ve seen from Sammy (I saw him a couple of years ago when he toured with Dave, and he absolutely brought the house down – maybe because there might have been some sort of underlying competition between the two former lead singers of VH).
9 comments:
No encore?
That's blasphemous.
I am sorry to hear that the "egomaniac" was back to his "ole" ways. I didn't want to kibbits, but...He's an azzz. ALMOST every rock star I have met in person has been "cool" and real. I am not sure if that was the hang over or if it was really them...still. Every interview of Hagar has been ego, ego, ego...VH1 behind the music...Which I can only take at 50% due to it being a "produced" show....STILL....
No ENCORE???...I would call the TICKETMASTER AND DEMAND A REFUND! LOL ;)
The drinks sound "cool" and fun! You pee'd on a public restroom??? LOL ;o) Poor thing,
~packing up some hand sanitizer to put in the mail for los~
I guess Van Halen needs an egomaniac to be the lead singer. I heard Dave was even worse than Sammy in the Ego department.
...underlying competition between the two former lead singers of VH).
Wasn't that tour stopped premature. I think there was some falling out between Sammy and Dave.
It's no secret the two never liked each other. Thank goodness VH never took off with Gary Sharone.
Sans Encore? Is he trying to piss off his remaining fans?
There is nothing worse that being all excited about an event only to have it come short of even your lowest expectation.
Though I must admit... my favorite artist rarely does encores at his shows anymore. That's BB King.
But he's 80 years old. He has an excuse. He's probably spent from what he does do, which is always incredible.
BB King is the man. He's like the Yoda of blues.
Actually, he was born before yoda, and swings a mean light sabre.
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