What happens when you unleash Sammy Hagar in a Biloxi casino with a virtually sold out crowd? You get one hell of a show. With the energy of a six year old kid, Hagar bounced around the stage, cracked jokes, signed anything that was handed to him, played guitar and whipped the audience into an excitable frenzy through sixteen songs in Biloxi MS on November 13, 2015.
Hagar doesn’t pinch pennies when he’s in the spotlight. Everything he has in him he throws back out. He has done this through Montrose, Van Halen and Chickenfoot; not to mention various other projects he has started up here and there to keep his rock & roll tumbleweed energy moving in new directions. On this Saturday night on the Gulf Coast, he brought with him a band he has knighted The Circle. Consisting of bassist Michael Anthony, guitar player Vic Johnson and drummer Jason Bonham, these guys have been roaming around in 2015, playing some knock out shows featuring songs from Hagar’s past and Bonham’s lineage.
With a big, big sound, courtesy of Bonham’s charging lead, it was a rock show at its best. From “I Can’t Drive 55” to “Mas Tequila” to “Right Now,” even during the cool down rearrangement of “Dreams,” it was full-throttle straight ahead rock & roll. Getting together only last year, the Circle had a keen sense of what makes having a good time at a concert right from the get-go. As he told Rolling Stone, “We have the best setlist in the world” and he set out to prove it. Van Hagar fans were thrilled to get doses of “Poundcake,” “Cabo Wabo,” “Why Can’t This Be Love;” while Zeppelin worshippers were given a serenade Sammy-style on “When The Levee Breaks,” “Rock & Roll” and “Whole Lotta Love.” And sprinkled amidst all that we got a Montrose song (“Rock Candy”), a Chickenfoot song (“Big Foot”), a Wabos song (“Mas Tequila”) and some kick ass Sammy solo tunes: “Little White Lies,” “55,” “Heavy Metal” and “There’s Only One Way To Rock.”
There were two things that really stood out during the show, the first being how important Michael Anthony was to Van Halen. Anthony supporters have known this for years, that his backing harmonies were such an integral part of the Van Halen sound. Hearing his vocals highlighted here was the proof in the pudding. And two, that Hagar knows how to win over an audience, hold them securely in his hands and then kick them out the door feeling exhausted. No matter what you think of his singing, the man knows how to connect. He jokes all the time – “Am I allowed to cuss here?” and after a reference to Eddie Van Halen’s alcohol consumption, “It’s true. Didn’t you read my book!” – and he loves his fans to the point he signs and signs and signs while in the middle of songs, playing guitar, singing, doesn’t matter. He just does it with a big smile slapped across his face. He put on hats and shirts that were thrown to him and even fixed one audience member a drink, ice and all, during “Why Can’t This Be Love.”
Another big moment during the show was an acknowledgment from Jason Bonham: “I’ll keep doing it as long as people like Sammy keep wanting me to do it,“ he said in reference to his continual playing of songs his father, the late great Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, made famous. Despite having his own band at times and drumming behind such artists as Foreigner, Heart, California Breed, Paul Rodgers and the remaining members of Zeppelin on different projects, he still enjoys the thrill of those gargantuan beats.
And not to be left out, Vic Johnson pulled some incredible moves on the guitar. An unsung hero, he power-fingered through song after song that others had invented before him, playing a double-neck here and some slide there and helping Hagar realize the true meaning of “Dreams” and how it really should be played. If Hagar, who has his fingers in many different ventures aside from music – tequila, rum, restaurants, books and bars – kept this particular entity together for the long haul, it wouldn’t be a bad idea.
37 Responses
How dreams is supposed to be played? So the guy who wrote it is playing it wrong? What did SAM give you some free tequila and run to write this? Vic Johnson can’t hold Eddies Jock
But Vic Johnson and Sammy Hagar have been touring, making great music, and entertaining fans for years. And Eddie???
Just walk away, troll.
Dude VH just got off a 2015 tour and its wasn’t casinos, believe most shows were close sale outs.
You walk away Troll
What VH shows have you been to? Their 2015 tour presented a tangible reason why DLR and VH need to retire immediately. Vocally – it was just plain painful. If I wanted to see a circus side show – it was DLR. Let’s be just a bit objective here. Their performances were the stuff of late night talk shows for months. And Eddie’s comments about Michael Anthony were not only classless [in a way that only Eddie can dish out] – they were proven false the moment Anthony stepped up to the mic and opened his mouth. Wolfy can play their three-chord dribble all day – but his voice is nothing… NOTHING compared to MA’s. STFU as you truly have your head up Eddie’s tail pipe.
I was at their show in Pittsburgh, PA, at the First Niagra Pavillion, and I loved it! Everybody loved it! Roth sounded just fine. I feel like the only people who complain about his voice haven’t been to a concert. And as for Hagar: http://www.vhnd.com/2015/06/23/sammy-hagar-calls-eddie-van-halen-a-liar-contradicts-himself/
The first six albums were the best. 5150 was great, but after that each album had about 50% filler Imo.
Have you heard Sammy and Vic’s version of “Dreams”? I have been moved by EVH’s version, but when you hear this soft acoustic bit by these two, it turns into a very special and spiritual (almost to tears) kind of moment – the way a song should be played.
Went to two of the VH shows this year not once did the name Sammy Hagar come up. When will Sammy just let it go. He even said shit over Eddie when he brought out that cook book. Sammy look in the mirror you are an old FAT man, bring up EVH shots dude is still in shape. Maybe you should do some push aways from the table. You rode the coat tails of great guitarist your whole career it makes you look stupid everytime you open your mouth on EVH. I feel for Mike A but c’mon what father in the world not want to play with his son??? I understand he was treated like crap but he says very little if anything at all. C’mon Sammy grow up we all know if EVH called you tomorrow and asked you to tour again the Circle would be over. No matter how you feel you know when you were in VH you were at the top. Now you are selling out casinos been a long fall. And to the Ms Derrough you should be more subjective in your writing. Sammy give you a back stage pass or something.
Sammy’s a “talker”…its just the way he is. Sure, we’d like to see him be able to just enjoy his legacy with Montrose, VH, Waborita’s, Chickenfoot etc. but he likes stirring up shit so here we are talking about it – again. I’ve seen VH before Sammy, with Sammy and recently without Michael Anthony. I’m a purist and will always think the original lineup is the best but we can’t have that now can we? Get over it: rock & roll isn’t perfect. Bands change. Let them squabble: I go to concerts to rock-out and have fun.
Here’s the lowdown:
Sammy is always fun to listen to. Great in interviews, and has a few excellent songs.
Van Halen was best with Roth. They sound pretty burned out now, but it’s cool they’re still touring.
Michael Anthony is a classy guy. Great backing vocals.
The verdict?
Just listen to the music and have fun.
I’m a 70’s & 80’s rocker and love both Sammy Hagar and Van Halen. For whatever reasons SH and EVH are PO’d about, I don’t care, none of my business but when I hear today’s music from both of them, I still get chills for their amazing voices and kick ass guitars. Vic, Jason, and Michael are great together as well as Van Halen’s line up. Live for the music not for the BS.
Well said. My sentiments exactly.
Yeah, I agree as well. I don’t listen to a band because they are great people, I listen for the music. Both have been wildly successful, but people who prefer one try to belittle the other as much as they can, and it’s just ridiculous. van Halen was one of the most influential bands of all-time with Roth, and Hagar has worked with and been offered to be with so many wildly famous artists. They are all extremely talented, so why act like the other sucked? If you prefer one, there is no problem, but to say the other is terrible is just ignorant Imo.
Sammy Hagar5150,
Van Halen with Dave is nothing more than nostalgia act. they are REO Speedwagon at this point. Sammy is freakin’ 68 years old! Are you trying to bed him? Does it matter to you that he looks like he does? One can easily say Eddie looks like a cancer patient at this point in his life. Blasting Sammy for his weight is stupid, Dave is skinny and sits down to sing “Unchained” wth is that? Does Sammy sit down to sing a rock song? Hell know he doesn’t! “What father in the world wouldn’t want to play with his son?” Not saying he is wrong for wanting to, he is wrong for canning an original member of the band to do it! Lots of musicians have kids, the don’t replace original members of their band to do it.
Van Halen tour of 2015 was a joke! Van Halen tickets on Groupon, really Groupon? Of course Dave isn’t going to talk about Sammy, what can he say? Sam sounds great and puts on a great show.
Sam rode the “coat tails” of great guitarists his whole career? Ask yourself why the great guitarists want to play with Sammy?
When was the last time Van Halen put out new music? ADKOT? That was just a bunch of recycled crap that wasn’t good enough for any of the previous records.
..and I assure you Sammy Hagar5150, Sammy will never be on a stage with a freakin’ granny glide mat!
All that said, I’m sure Sammy will be singing in Van Halen again. (sooner than later)
And Hagar isn’t a nostalgia act? He is playing old songs also, to include a number of Zeppelin covers. The newest song he plays is Little White Lie, which was released 18 years ago.
Roth sat down on a chair to sing Unchained for only a portion of the song as he simulated riding a motorcycle. He is in much better shape that Sammy.
ADKOT had 6 new songs and 7 older songs. Van Halen has recycled old riffs for years (i.e. Take Me Back Deja Vu from Balance). Who cares.
And regarding Groupon, Hagar’s show in STL required Groupon also (the one city in the U.S. he can headline a major venue outside of a casino):
https://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-sammy-hagar-1-columbia-mo
I love the Rothtards!!
Don’t confuse skinny for in shape, plus Sam is 68!!! Unless I’m looking to bang someone, I don’t care what anyone weighs.
Sam sings “Circles” around Dave, always has. Dave used to be a great front man, but lets face it, singing was never his strong suit. Now? He is a parody of himself.
Talking about Sammy’s weight, just shows you have nothing! You can’t bitch about a Sammy show, band is tight, Sam sounds great, great choice of songs, so rag on his weight, it’s all ya got.
ADKOT was crap!!! So many different guitar sounds, you can tell when what was written when.
Who cares? I care!!! I don’t want to hear shit songs that were not good enough to make it on other albums! In 30+ years since the 1984 release, they can’t write 10 new songs?
Sam just wants to play, Ed and Dave not so much.
Don’t get me started on that pos live album they did with Dave!
Sammy is signing songs he likes from his whole career, and the Zep tunes. He hasn’t done that before.
I’m a huge Van Halen fan, but damn that last tour and ADKOT were just horrible.
I am a Roth-era fan more-so than a Hagar-era fan, but I’ve listened to all the albums and read a LOT about the band. ADKOT had 30 demos from what I believe, so I assume the did the demos mostly to give the fans what they would like so people wouldn’t complain as much. Those demos most likely didn’t fail to make it on an album because they weren’t good, it was likely because they had so much material to work with, the songs didn’t fit on that particular album, or they just weren’t finished.
Dave wasn’t a bad singer at all, his range was impressive. He has a low voice, and if you listen to Let It All Hang Out or a particular part of As Is, you will know what I mean.
I don’t think Hagar performs for passion, I mean Chickenfoot broke up due to poor sales.
Van Halen is still good live btw, but they did terrible on Ellen and Kimmel. Roth sounded just fine at the concert I went to, he was hilarious, Alex had an amazing drum solo, and Eddie sounded outstanding!
Sorry, the low vocal isn’t in As Is, it’s in The Trouble With Never
Van Halen with Roth is less of a nostalgia act than Sammy Hagar and the Circle. Hagar & Circle is just doing an entire set of covers! Van Halen 2015 tour was much more successful than Hagar’s, so I don’t see how it’s a joke. They sound better in person than on YouTube videos, I saw them live in June and it was fantastic! And bashing VH about tickets being on Groupon is funny, considering how Hagar isn’t getting an audience anywhere near what Van Halen was getting. DLR has had great guitarists throughout his career as well. And just because about half the songs were demos doesn’t mean they were running out of ideas, I believe they recorded 30 songs for the album. And just because those demos never made it to an album before that doesn’t mean they weren’t good enough, in fact, the demo Angel Eyes (my favorite VH song) didn’t make it on an album, but it was only because Eddie said it didn’t fit their sound at the time, and they wanted to wait to start experimenting. ADKOT is actually one of my favorite VH albums, and the new material is the best on it Imo. Also, I highly doubt Sammy will ever be in VH again.
Van Halen sang Van Halen songs, Sammy is singing songs from 5 different bands, yeah he fronted four of them. What Sammy is doing is something he hasn’t done before. Van Halen did the same songs they have done before. Kinda like REO Speedwagon, Journey, and the like.
Covers? Didn’t sam write 80% of the songs he is singing?
I saw Van Halen live this year as well, and it was crap. Dave voice is shot!!! If you will not admit that, then either you’re deaf, or just not looking at it from an unbiased point of view.
I’m not bashing the Groupon thing, but don’y try and tell me Van Halen are selling out like the Stones or McCartney does. Groupon is there for bands that don’t sell well on their own. I’m not excluding Sammy, but don’t act like VH were selling well. Hell I bought my tix from Groupon for VH. Then we get upgraded after in the facility. lol
Dave has had some good guitarists over his career, but don’t tell me Sam was carried by great guitarists throughout his career. Didn’t Dave go on tour with a VH cover band? Yeah he did!
In almost 40 years they still cant find a place for Angel Eyes? Thinking it could of made Women and Children First or Diver Down?
So you went to a rock show by the great VH and you come back with “Dave was cracking the audience up the whole time.” It is funny that the great DLR is using a glide mat and handkerchief that matched his shirt. That’s what my 17 year old son thought was funny.
You are the only Van Halen fan I have ever heard that 1984 is their favorite album.
Wow, you wrote a lot, so this response will have to be long. First of all, it is still songs from his career, so Hagar is still doing the same music. Next, Hagar co-wrote a lot of those songs, but the 3 members in VH (Roth, Ed, Al) were the writers of all the songs they perform, Anthony didn’t really write from what I understand. The reason I say that is to show that VH is performing all their own songs. Hagar co-wrote almost all the ones he performs, but nobody else in his band has any involvement in the writing.
I’m not deaf or biased, I actually wasn’t going to go, but my mom got us all tickets (I’m 18 now, I was 17 at the time), and I saw the videos of Ellen and Kimmel, and I was expecting it to not be so great. My mom and brother don’t really care for Van Halen, but they loved the concert. Also, a friend of mine went with his dad and brother and they all loved it. So don’t think I am unwilling to admit that they don’t sound good- trust me, if I didn’t like it I wouldn’t be standing up for them.
I never said VH sold tickets like McCartney or Stones, but it would be understandable if they don’t considering how Stones have sold over double the albums VH has and The Beatles are the best-selling band in history and Paul McCartney solo has sold more than VH.
I wasn’t the one who said Hagar was carried by great guitarists. In fact, I disagree with that.
What is your point about Angel Eyes? It couldn’t go on any of the Hagar albums because Roth wrote it by himself and played both guitar parts. My point was that some of these songs didn’t get on the albums, not because they were bad, but for other reasons. Angel Eyes was just an example, and I think it’s a great example, because it is actually my favorite VH song.
Dave was in a cover band, but that isn’t my point. My point is that they aren’t a cover band/novelty act now.
Eddie’s playing was the best part of the show for sure, and Dave sounded alright too, so Idk what you mean.
And yeah, I love 1984, probably my favorite album of all-time. Some Girls, Physical Graffiti, Lights Out (UFO), and The Cars debut album are some of my other favorite albums 🙂
i go to all the halen shows including cherone. dave is horrid now doesnt no how to put on a rock show. he needs to grow up no one likes story time flag twirling sliding on wood floor.plus he cant sing! but i still go cause of the brothers and the music from daves time kicks ass! but we do need to hear hagars eras songs now! also i take cherone songs over adkot songs any day!
ADKOT is great Imo! Chinatown, As Is, Honeybabysweetiedoll, The Trouble With Never, and Big River are some of my favorite VH songs. But that’s just my opinion. I didn’t like VH III at all except for the song A Year to the Day.
Also, everybody I went with loved the concert we went to. Dave was cracking up the audience the whole time. I thought his voice was fine too.
My ranking of the VH albums from favorite to least favorite
1984
Fair Warning
VH1
5150
WACF
ADKOT
OU812
Balance
VH II
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
Diver Down
VH III
Pretty cool list, Vacuuming.
Here’s mine:
Van Halen
Fair Warning
1984
Women and Children First
Van Halen 2
Diver Down
For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
OU812
A Different Kind of Truth
5150
Balance
Van Halen 3
Thank you, I like your list too!
Fair Warning is great, and it rarely gets recognition. Push Comes to Shove is extremely underrated- the bass, the solo, the lyrics- all amazing! The last two tracks are the perfect way to end an album. Eddie is crazy on that closing solo! And there is not a weak track on that album.
And their debut, of course, is excellent! Not a weak track on that one either 🙂
I don’t know if Hagar’s next band is gonna be called The Trapezoid, Chicken Testicles, Van Hagar, or whatever, but he’s always fun.
Van Halen is great….
Van Hagar was great, that was a different band with a different musical syle……..
So much to laugh at here. I have seen VH before, during & after SH. Liked them all. DLR never sang, even in the early days. He would jump around and talk a few lines, talk to the crowd just like he did a few months ago. He was in great shape for his age. And they did Zep covers when SH was in the band. I saw it up close. People have their likes. But the ones who want to bash others for whatever reason are just toxic individuals. Some people like Tom Waits. Some cannot stand him. So what. Granny glide floor? What an idiot. I guess you are not educated as to any kind of dancing knowledge. Yeah, SH could be in better shape. We all can. But he can’t hit those high notes anymore, that’s for sure. I’m more inclined to see VH because you never know what you are going to get at a SH show.
Yes, granny glide mat! Don’t think I’m an idiot because I don’t know the formal name of what Dave likes to dance on, my bad.
Yes, Sammy has always done Zeppelin covers, but now he has the son of the drummer in his band, so it’s just cool to see Jason playing songs his dad helped make famous. It’s just cool!
So wait a sec. You said the people who want to bash others for whatever reason are just toxic individuals? Did you really say that, and then call me an idiot for not knowing the proper name of Dave’s glide mat? LOVE IT!!!!! It’s people like you that make the net great!!!
“People have their likes. But the ones who want to bash others for whatever reason are just toxic individuals. ”
I completely agree. I only comment when people bash original lineup VH. Anyone who says David Lee Roth has no talent (and I use this example because I’ve seen it a lot) is just uninformed. Roth is very talented. Roth gets so much hate online, and it is just from people who don’t know anything about him or the band. Stop the hate people. I guarantee if anyone who claims to hate Roth actually listened to the albums, they would like them!
Here is my last take on it..
Comparing Van Halen with Dave vs Sammy with the Circle is ridiculous. People are not going to see Dave, Eddie is the main draw. Put Sam with Ed again and the tour will do just as well if not better than it did with Dave.
Fact is when Dave went out on his own numerous times, he wasn’t selling out arenas, hell he want even playing arenas.
Van Halen with Roth is my favorite band, but lets be honest, Dave just doesn’t have it.
Hell, I’m such a fan that I went to that thing he did in Vegas at Ballys years ago. I’m a Dave fan, but if were just talking who sings better live, it’s not even close.
I never said Dave has no talent, I said Dave lost his showmanship, and his voice. He went from greatest frontman of all time to creepy uncle.
The Dave vs Sammy debate will never end, and at the end of the day its all just what one likes better. Put people in a room and have em listen to any VH album, then have them hear Dave sing his songs live vs Sammy. I gotta believe most are going with Sammy.
Hell, at this point, I’d say Sam sings Dave songs better that Dave does. Sam was and is a singer, Dave is an entertainer. Unless dave is going acoustically?
Here is one more thing, When Same was in VH, they played Sammy songs, DLR VH songs, and Sammy VH songs. Dave in the band, no sammy VH songs, and for the life of me i cant figure out why they don’t play any DLR solo songs. Doesn’t mean much, just find it odd.
Oh, I think we have a misunderstanding, I agree with almost everything you said lol. When I said that about people saying Roth has no talent, I wasn’t directing that at you at all, that was just because I have seen that comment a lot and it so so wrong. He plays guitar, synth, harmonica, and sings with an impressively low voice, along with writing clever lyrics and co-writing all VH songs (of his era, of course). And again, I’m not directing this at you, I just hope I open peoples’ minds if they read this.
But Roth actually sang pretty well live at shows back in the day, I have a good bit of videos bookmarked. The whole “Roth sucks live” thing is blown out of proportion as well. And his showmanship makes up for it and then some. So live, I would still rather see Roth-era, but I definitely agree Hagar was more consistent vocally and has a higher vocal range.
Plus, as a whole, I love David Lee Roth, but I’m not impressed with his solo work. And that is interesting about them not performing any of Roth’s solo music. I am kind of glad they don’t lol. Idk why, I just never really liked it.
And Roth-era VH is my favorite band too! I like the Hagar-era, but Roth-era is just my all-time favorite 😀
This article is spot on:
http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/09/29/van-halen-concert-review-phoenix/73030864/
Here’s the bottom line, These guys ROCK. I saw them at Texas Motor Speedway and to be quite honest I was blown away. They sounded great and I mean that. Sammy still has it. He’s one of the best front men in the business. I won’t even compare them to VH but if you get to see them and you ever liked VH, Sammy Hagar, or Montrose I would suggest you go and see for yourself. I love smaller venues. Closer to the stage and the sound is so much better than in the Cotton Bowl at a Texas Jam.
DLR couldn’t hold a tune if it had handles on it. Plus he talks a bunch of shit that nobody can figure out what the hell hes talking about. He ruined the VH show for me and I was a huge DLR fan in the day. Christ Ive heard cats fuck with more harmony.
Sorry to hear that. Roth sounded fine at the concert I attended though. There were a couple parts where he sounded a little rough, but overall he sounded alright and his showmanship has not been matched by anyone else I have seen or heard live. Not to mention Eddie is one of the greatest guitarists of all-time Imo. Alex is an underrated drummer (Outta Love Again proves this). And Wolgang is an underrated bass player. Really a great show to see Imo.
This is random, but Wolf is actually going to do a solo album, which sounds interesting too me. I am really curious about how it will sound- more like Halen or Tremonti, or maybe it’ll have its own sound.
I saw DLR on a 2006 solo tour in a casino & it was great!!!.
I was in Biloxi on the floor the night Sammy & the Circle played, i was impressed. They sounded great.
I have seen alot of concerts over the years & I much prefer to see a band at a casino than an arena. You can see, hear & enjoy the concert so much better,
Its about the music & memories. I’m more concerned about a great performance & experience that is worth the my time, effort & money.
But, I’m sure that we can all agree that the music that was created & has been played by the musicians mentioned is simply incredible.