LIVE: SAMMY HAGAR – July 23, 2014

Venue: Freedom Hill Amphitheater

City: Sterling Heights, MI

Date: July 23, 2014

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

Some performers amaze year after year and seem to get better with every show – Sammy Hagar is one of those performers.  Armed with a killer band (not his typical Wabos), Sammy is joined on this tour by bassist Michael Anthony, guitarist Vic Johnson, and drummer Jason Bonham.  With tips of the hat to his catalog and that of drummer Bonham’s famous heritage, the show contained nothing but hits from top to bottom.  The obvious selection of Van Halen tracks were complimented by the vicious harmonies and bass mastery from Hagar’s VH comrade, Anthony.  The addition of more recent solo tracks that have been perfected on guitar by Johnson, the sole Wabo on the trek, as well as tracks the predate Sammy’s 1985 merger with Van Halen, helped fill this setlist with classic Sammy tunes.  A history of rock wouldn’t be complete without the addition of some Led Zeppelin tunes, especially when you have Jason Bonham on drums.  Moving in and out of classic rock tracks from the last 40 years, with no regard for chronology, the band and Hagar took this audience for a fun trip through history, while making sure the present wasn’t forgotten, with the addition of a lone Chickenfoot track near the end of the show.  This tour is more of a celebration of Sammy and his influences than it is a man assmebling a band to go out and pump his own ego.  Ever the showman, Hagar once again showed the Detroit, MI area what a great rock show is.

Complete set of Sammy Hagar photos HERE

Setlist: There’s Only One Way To Rock – Rock Candy – Good Times Bad Times – Poundcake – I Can’t Drive 55 – When It’s Love – Whole Lotta Love – Little White Lie – When The Levee Breaks – Moby Dick – Why Can’t This Be Love – Finish What Ya Started – Heavy Metal – Best Of Both Worlds – Right Now-  Oh Yeah – Rock & Roll – Dreams

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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries