Sammy Hagar The Best of All Worlds Concert Review Talking Stick Resort Amphitheater Phoenix AZ 8-20-24

Review and Photos By Roc Boyum

Sammy Hagar’s “The Best of Both Worlds” tour in 2024 showcases an exceptional lineup with Joe Satriani on guitar, Michael Anthony on bass, Jason Bonham on drums, and, of course, the Redrocker; Sammy Hagar on vocals and guitar.The tour is enhanced by special guest artist, Loverboy, making it one of the standout summer tours of 2024.

On a beautiful Hot Summer night in Arizona, the evening kicked off withLoverboy taking the stage at the former Ak Chin Theater now called the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheater. Loverboy immediately fired up the audience, setting the tone for what would be a scorching summer evening, perfectly suited for the Red Rocker; Sammy Hagar. Loverboy captivated the Phoenix audience with a medley of hit songs, delivering an impressive set of eight tracks that embodied the essence of 80s rock music.

For those who were part of the 80s music era and witnessed the emergence of MTV as a music video channel; bands like Loverboy, Sammy Hagar, and Van Halen were essential components of their daily music rotation.

Loverboy remains a dynamic live band, with each member sounding exceptional. Mike Reno’s vocals were superb as he performed the band’s classic hits, like, “The Kid Is Hot Tonite,” “Hot Girls In Love,” “Turn Me Loose,” and of course their theme song Working For The Weekend.” Paul Dean’s guitar skills shone brightly, evoking the rock glory days of the 80s, and drummer Matt Frenette showcased his iconic drum fills, inspiring many in the audience to play air drums along with him.

With four multi-platinum albums and a global fan base, Loverboy continues to tour with all original members, except for bassist Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve who replaced original bassist Scott Smith after his passing in 2000.

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Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar’s “Best of All Worlds” show electrified the already energized Phoenix crowd at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheater on August 20, 2024.  The electricity was further amplified as this tour included more Van Halen tracks than on any previous tour.

 It had been twenty years since Sammy Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony played their last show together with Van Halen, making this night and the tribute to Van Halen a special and fitting homage to this iconic rock band.

Prior to the tour, Hagar expressed his excitement about paying tribute to the classic songs from his Van Halen days, noting that it was the perfect moment vocally to showcase them. Considering the challenging vocals Sammy created while he was in Van Halen, he may have painted himself into a corner if he was not able to deliver the same killer rock and roll vocal performance as he originally recorded. Of course, Sammy’s vocals were spot on and kicked ass at this show making it great to once again see and hear these great VH classics performed live.  

A crucial factor in successfully performing the Van Halen classic material was the band itself. With Joe Satriani on guitar, Michael Anthony on bass, Jason Bonham on drums, and keyboardist/backup vocals by Rai Thistlethwayte, there was never any doubt the band and musicianship would rock the house making this Van Halen tribute a resounding triumph.

Joe Satriani honored Eddie Van Halen admirably by infusing many of Eddie’s innovative finger-tapping techniques and whammy bar runs into his solos, before adding his own Satriani flair to extend some of the solos.

In the classic Van Halen song “Poundcake,” Satriani paid homage to Eddie by incorporating an actual power drill at the beginning of the song as EVH did in the original video for that song.

Michael Anthony, an original member of VH, was instrumental in defining the band’s sound through his impactful basslines and some of the most unforgettable backing vocals in rock and roll history. Throughout the show, Anthony showcased his talent, delivering outstanding performances on timeless VH tracks like “Panama,” “Poundcake,” “5150,” and “Right Now.” His vocals sounded just as impressive as they did two decades ago when he contributed to shaping these iconic songs.

Throughout the night, Hagar exuded his infectious energy as he moved around the stage, delivering powerful vocals. Maintaining his signature style, he shared his drinks with the audience, a gesture fans always appreciate. At one moment, he picked up his red guitar, jokingly saying, “I do this to make Joe (Satriani) look good.”

Since the tour is dubbed The Best of All Worlds Tour, Hagar showcased a great mix of tracks from his solo repertoire, including “Eagles Fly,” “Mas Tequila,” “Heavy Metal,” and “I Can’t Drive 55” – essential tunes for any Hagar performance.

The show featured an outstanding rendition of Joe Satriani’s classic “Satch Boogie,” which stood out from the Van Halen and solo Hagar songs performed.

To honor legends, Jason Bonham played a massive drum kit reminiscent of Alex Van Halen’s setup, complete with three bass drums. In a touching tribute to his late father, John Henry Bonham, Jason had his father’s face adorned on all three bass drum heads, creating a truly awe-inspiring moment.

“The Best Of All Worlds” is a fitting name for this tour, making it one of the most exciting and enjoyable tours this year, and undeniably one of Sammy Hagar’s best tours to date.

Even though Sammy Hagar remains highly popular, as he attracted over 12,000 fans to this show, it’s uncertain how long he will keep touring. Therefore, seize the opportunity to see this legendary rocker with his iconic lineup at any available venue; you won’t be disappointed.

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