Reviews

Best of All Worlds – Part DEUX

Written by Staff on July 26, 2024

Best of All Worlds – Part DEUX – a review by Dick Beach.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen – a second review of the Sammy Hagar extravaganza.

Why? Well, rather than SPAC, I, my buddy Lou (he’s in Hungry Dingo), my brother-in-law Michael and cousin (on my wife’s side) Edward left the cozy confines of our locals and travelled to Bridgeport, CT for the show. Lou and I from the Capital District, Michael from Hoboken, NJ and Edward from Floral Park, NY (on Long Island). The Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater is smaller the SPAC – 5,700 – and decidedly different. For those of us of an age, it is more like the old Starlight (or Coliseum) than SPAC. Think the Big Top – but louder.

Opener Loverboy can certainly still bring it. Having gone to college in the North Country and listening to CHEZ out of Ottawa, I’m well familiar. 45 minutes of hit after hit after hit…..with 4 of the original players (the 5^th, bassist Scott Smith was presumed dead after being washed overboard while sailing in 2000), it was killer. Sometimes, we forget just how hard these guys rock. Loads of fun.

One cannot question that Sammy, Michael Anthony (bass), Jason Bonham (drums), Joe Satriani (guitar) and Rai Thistlethwayte (keys) rock. Like hard. You know – with gusto…..

Now – admittedly – one has to first – dig Van Halen, second – get over any ‘geez, Eddie is gone, why are you doing this?’ attitude and third – be able to relax and enjoy the ride.

For close to two and a half hours, these guys were non-stop. The bulk was Van Halen songs, with some Sammy, some Chickenfoot (Joe and Michael and members) and some Montrose. Lest you forget, Sammy started the journey with the 1971 album ‘Montrose’. That, my fellow music lovers, is 53 years. I defy you, or anyone you know, to bring this much energy and joy to so many people.

The venue is in the middle of Bridgeport. I would recommend that, given the chance, you find a show and go. Easy to get into, egress was easier than one would think given the space and people, and it’s only a little over two and a half hours if you take the not highway route (that would be rte 2E to 22S (that is the route to Daryl’s House) to 690 to 8 south. A lovely ride.

With the exception of a bit of muddiness, the mix was good, loud and not shrill, as so many shows can be.

Less than 1%, I would guess, of the crowd was under 40 (yes, this old dude is being generous)

At 75 plus, Sammy is still high energy and can sing his butt off, Michael Anthony kicks and hard, Jason Bonham was killer and even somewhat restrained, one might say, Rai Thistlethwayte is a seriously talented dude and Joe Satriani is, well, Joe Satriani.

Geezerfest in two parts, damned straight. Geezerfest teaching those young punks what rock and roll is – hell yeah.

Jason Bonham’s tee shirt said it all, for all us old geezers – ‘Woke Up Sexy as Hell – Again”