Hagar seems to genuinely appreciate his fans as much as they appreciate him, which is rather refreshing these days. All throughout the show, he is either smacking hands, signing autographs, and even handing out drinks to fans in the front rows. The guy also never shuts up between songs - although his banter is usually pretty amusing. After a joint thrown up from the crowd hits him in the head, he picks it up saying "You can't smoke this thing when your singing". But after more prodding from the crowd, and another drink from the "waitress", he finally proclaims "my old lady is gonna kill me!'', and takes one fucking hit from the lit doobie. Profanity, excessive drinking, semi-nudity, and drug use! GASP! This DVD is not for the little ones.
Thank God I'm a big one, because I enjoyed the hell out of this DVD - although it didn't hurt that I matched Sammy drink-for-drink during the show while watching. Probably the most disappointing thing about the concert was the set list. Hagar covers an impressive 22 songs, but there were several poor choices, and some hit songs got left out.
First of all, he played damn-near the entire new Ten 13 album, which is somewhat understandable for a Ten 13 tour, but this was a special event (birthday bash?, DVD recording?), so give the fans some frigging classics my man. He only played three Van Halen songs, unless you count the hugely disappointing spoken-word version of "Cabo Wabo" that ended the show very anticlimactically. The only good "Van Hagar" performance was "Finish What Ya Started", which starts off with a very light and funky, acoustic makeover before they eventually crank up the volume and cut loose on the second half. Instead of the half-assed "Top Of The World", Hagar would have blown the place away with some "Poundcake" or "Right Now".
To be fair, he did blow the crowd away with the next song, "Rock Candy". Although Hagar's vocals were sounding pretty shredded, Vic Johnson's guitar tone sounded monstrous in duplicating Ronnie Montrose's famous riffs. During the performance Hagar also found the time to pour some lucky guy in the front row a beer. After a few tepid ballads at the midway point, which nearly brought the show to a crawl, the band really kicked into gear to close out the final third of the concert. "Little White Lie" from 1998's Marching To Mars album featured some cool slide guitar and reminded me a lot of The Who's "Magic Bus". By the time "Mas Tequila" came around, I think Hagar had probably consumed a little too mas tequila because he was running around the front of the stage autographing everyone's shirts and tour books.
Article comments
1 - NathaN
Good review but extremely late in coming as this DVD was released years ago now.
2 - SFC SKI
Well, there is no time limits on recommendations for music releases. I did not know this had come out, but it might be worth looking up.
Thanks.
3 - Lono
Agreed, music is timeless and I am just as happy to read a review about Sammy as any current asshat in the music business today.
Sammy has somehow always managed to come across as a class act. One day soon I will make the pilgrimage to Caba Waba for a Waborita. I mean, what rock destinations are left? I have been to a show at Red Rocks, visited the EXP, visited the rock & roll hall of fame in Cleveland, and wandered the streets of Haight Ashbury.
ok, couple I need to hit also: the Rose Bowl & The Fillmore
4 - Paul Roy
I was a little concerned about posting not-so-timely reviews, but as I am reading here, people are often unaware that the DVD exists, or they have been on the fence as to whether to get it, so it is still helpfull to them. I have a large collection, and am just getting around to many of these concert DVDs that I review for my site, which I only started less than a year ago.
5 - Lono
Paul,
True that. I didn't know this DVD existed myself. If I found it used, I would definately pick it up.
6 - Matt
Nitpicking--the album 5150 came out in 1986, which means Sammy joined VH well before 1987, the date mentioned here.
7 - Paul Roy
Yeah, you're right Matt. Hagar joined Van Halen in 1985 (I'm pretty sure).
8 - Mark
You may also care to review the more recent, "Long Road to Cabo" DVD!!
9 - Temple Stark
Hagar - Gag-ar.
His solo music is pedestrian. This review was timely enough that I posted your review of this to the Advance.net Web sites.
The review can be found at a few different places on the Advance network around the country, but here's one of them.
Thank you
- Temple Stark
10 - Michael
Truly one the great "Rockers" of our time. His work in the rock and roll field has spawned many more young "Rockers" who know what true rock and roll music is all about. Hats off Sammy!!!!!!