Sammy Hagar's Best Of All Worlds Tour Hits Chicago

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Rob Grabowski and Tom Antonson caught Sammy Hagar In The Act during the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Ill stop of the Best Of All Worlds Tour on Saturday, Aug 3, 2024 . Check out Rob's photos and Tom's review!

Saturday night, thousands of Van Halen and Sammy Hagar fans packed the Credit Union One Amphitheater to celebrate the legacy of the mighty Van Halen. It was a little humid, so attendees could feel both the moisture and the excitement in the air. That excitement built even further when Loverboy opened the show. The Canadian rockers, known for their 80s anthems, wasted no time diving into a setlist that had the audience on their feet from the get-go. The crowd was definitely "Lovin' Every Minute of it" and so was the band. Frontman Mike Reno and company had the crowd "Working for the Weekend", but since it was so much fun it may not be considered work. They powered through an 8 song setlist, which was packed full of hits and did a great job warming the crowd up for Sammy.

It was a good thing everyone's voices were warmed up because when Sammy took the stage the entire amphitheater erupted and the crowd went wild! This tour is called the "The Best of All Worlds" and it definitely lived up to its name. Sammy Hagar (The legendary Red Rocker), Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, guitar guru Joe Satriani, and the legendary Jason Bonham treated the crowd to some of Van Halen's best songs, and even delved into Sammy Hagar's vast solo catalogue. Jason Bonham did a fantastic job filling his massive drum kit, which was an ode both to his father and legendary drummer Alex Van Halen. Hagar and company were also accompanied by Rai Thislelthwayte, who supported the band on keyboards, rhythm guitar, and background vocals. To say that the band was tight would be an understatement, because they nailed even the toughest Van Halen songs to exist. Joe Satriani did an amazing job paying tribute to the late and great Eddie Van Halen, who revolutionized the guitar world and wrote some of the greatest songs of all time. Satriani even played a model of Eddie's "Frankenstrat" guitar, which was ironically used during the set to play Sammy Hagar's solo hits.

Sammy and company treated the crowd to a wide variety of music including hits he wrote with the band, and hits such as "Panama" and "Jump". Bassist (and killer background vocalist) Michael Anthony even treated the crowd by singing "Ain't Talkin' bout Love", which was a special moment. The band even played an emotional version of "Eagles Fly", where the tens of thousands of people in attendance lit up the amphitheater with their cell phones and cigarette lighters. Hagar's stage presence was magnetic. At 76, his voice still packed a punch, and his interaction with the audience made the massive venue feel intimate. A standout moment was the heartfelt rendition of "Eagles Fly," which had fans singing along, swaying with lighters (and cell phone lights) held high. The chemistry between Hagar and Michael Anthony was particularly special, highlighted during Van Halen classics like "Right Now" and "Why Can't This Be Love". Hagar and company also treated fans to Van Halen songs that haven't been heard live in decades. Songs such as "Summer Nights", "Poundcake", "Judgement Day" and more kept the crowd on their feet for the entire 23-song set. Personally, I would have loved to hear the song "Humans Being" performed in the set, especially with the timely release of the new movie "Twisters" as "Humans Being" was featured in the original "Twister" and is one of my favorite Van Halen songs.

During the show Sammy addressed the recent tour retirement announcement of rock legends Aerosmith and he praised their legacy and commitment to bringing the fans a quality show. He also emphasized the respect he had for Steven Tyler for having the guts to say he could not perform how he wanted to and not cheating the fans out of their hard earned money. The band even covered The Beatles "Helter Skelter," in Aerosmith's honor. Other highlights of the show included people throwing items on stage to be worn and autographed by Sammy, which is a staple of his show. However, when someone threw a custom 5150 St Louis Cardinals jersey onstage Sammy was met with boo's from the crowd. Even the love of Rock-'N-Roll couldn't sway the Chicago Cubs fans to give Sammy a pass! He talked about wearing other band shirts that concertgoers would cheer and love to see him wearing a Led Zeppelin shirt.

Sammy took it upon himself to educate the crowd on how we should accept everyone and that it was a rock n roll show where everyone was welcome. He tried to exude the love for everyone, including St. Louis Cardinals fans which was met with more thunderous boo's. and he said, "OK, I know where the line is drawn." To say it was a Rock-'N-Roll show would be a true understatement as it was without a doubt one of the best concerts I have ever witnessed. The energy was electric and hearing some of Van Halen's hits played live and loud enough to cause temporary hearing loss was definitely a treat. Considering this was as close to the full lineup of Van Halen (or Van Hagar) that has hit the stage in years, it is a treat for younger audience members that may not have been able to see the legendary rockers back in the day. Even if you were fortunate enough to see Van Halen back in the day, this show will take you back to the glory days...and maybe when you may have had a little more hair...or hearing for that matter. If you have the chance to see this show, don't miss it because you will truly regret it.

Photos by © Rob Grabowski / GrabowskiPhoto.com - All Rights Reserved

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