This show was part of the Heavyweight Champs of Rock ‘N Roll Tour with David Lee Roth.

Sammy Hagar Opened

I was front and center for Sammy at the Trump Marina in Atlantic City. What a show he put on! Friday the day before the concert he arrived in style via the Coast Guard with 10 bikini contest beauties on his arms to the deck at the trump Marina where did a couple numbers with the band on stage. Saturday he out did himself. He was having a ball. That man can Rock!! The band was hot and he sang his heart out while partying with the fans, shared a few drinks, signed autographs. He signed my picture I had taken the night before out on the Marina Dock and at the end of the show he blew me a kiss. He knows how to treat his Fans.

Then David Lee Roth took the stage and the mood immediately changed. Security came out and informed the people that David does not sign autographs and they were instructed to throw anyone out that tried to get anything on stage for him to sign. One fan threw a T shirt up and he kicked it to the ground and off the stage. The music was good but drowned out his singing…probably a good thing! Then he raised a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and me along with a bunch of people in the front raised our “Wabarita’s” to toast with him. He asked me if I wanted some Jack Daniel’s and I said sure. So what do you think he did next??? Unlike Sammy who truly seems to love his fans this idiot aced like the Jack Daniel’s was his teenie weenie and pretended to “jack off” on me! He threw a whole bottle of jack Daniel’s in my face and all over me hitting a few other people too. My eyes were burning and I was soaked! I could not believe what he did. Quite a few people got really pissed and started chanting “You Suck” bring back Sammy” and “Sammy, Sammy, Sammy”!! I stayed soaking wet and mad for the rest of the show.

After the show I went up to my room and changed and went to the bar for a drink with my husband. I happened to turn and see David Lee walking by with a couple of body guards and walked up to him and shouted to him “hey you owe me an apology” he looked at me and said “oh you are the girl from the show” and I said that’s right, and what gives you the right to treat me that way, you are a mean person. By this time there were other people from the concert forming and they were yelling yeah….that was mean. He kind of laughed it off and said “hey honey do you have anything thing you want me to autograph” I said no and then he said let me sign your shirt. I guess that was supposed to be my apology! The man is losing it!! Please Sammy, never tour with him again!!!! You are so above him. I only wish it was you I could have met Sammy!!

Thanks for a killer concert Sammy! You know how to Rock!!!

Thanks to JoAnne B. for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

Sammy was fantastic as that show. He really puts on a great concert. I really enjoyed when Michael Anthony got on stage he played with Sammy and the Waboritas and jammed on some Van Halen tunes. I loved the song Poundcake. I liked the video and the energy that Sammy brings. Conversely, David Lee Roth was a extreme disappointment. His lack of being being on the road showed in his performance. His voice is totally gone, and all he did was do a bunch of karate kicks and drink Jack Daniels. Sammy had fun with everyone, whereas David Lee was acting kind of stupid. It’s a shame because I used to like David Lee Roth. It is clear that Sammy was the much better singer and musician for Van Halen. Plus, he’s a lot nicer than David Lee Roth.

Thanks for the time, and rock on Sammy.

Thanks to Encinokev for this review!

This show was part of the Heavyweight Champs of Rock ‘N Roll Tour with David Lee Roth.

David Lee Roth Opened

A group of us — musicians all — flew from Juneau, Alaska to see Sammy at the Gorge and we weren’t disappointed! Sammy & The Waboritas were rock -n- roll par excellance and well worth the trip! The amazing backdrop of the Gorge Amphitheater was just icing on the cake.

The featurette on Sammy was great and primed the audience while the stage crew finished swapping sets — which included real-time video and media on the big screen, and two bleachers [rear stage left & right] filled with ‘the chosen ones’ when the show got underway.

Sammy, being the quintessential frontman and charismatic personality he is, was better than ever and his voice is amazing live. In addition, we were all entertained with his scantily clad cocktail waitresses and giant exploding tequila props, he even managed to get fondled by one of the ‘chosen ones’, sex yet to be determined. Be afraid! The set list was great, spanning Sammy’s career to date, and The Waboritas — especially Vic — did an awesome job performing it. Honor is due.

The caveat here is that I found myself hoping Dave — who opened — would finish his set sometime sooner than later, mainly because he doesn’t seem to know what to do on-stage anymore. Add to that his diminishing physical & vocal ability (which I expected) and needless to say there were more than few disappointed fans. His magnanimous personality is gone and we’re now left with Vegas Dave (or is it Seattle?) – I was embarrassed for him.

Dave’s band was pretty good and they really nailed the back-up vocals. The drummer was excellent and Brian Young did a pretty good job on guitar, except he should learn how to play eruption before he attempts it again — perhaps it was an off night for him, but it was awful. Sorry Brian. It was nice to hear the old Van Halen cranking out of the P.A. though.

The bottom line: even if you have to travel 1,000 miles to see them, Sammy Hagar & The Waboritas will make it worth your while.

Thanks to Ward F. W. for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

What can I say, the concert was awesome. The facts are Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth are true classic rockers. The Gorge Amphitheatre is the ultimate concert experience. Sammy played his classics, and Dave performed classic Van Halen greats. It’s great to see two classic rockers still rocking. Let the Rock and Roll continue!

Thanks to Everhart for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

As expected, another great show from Sammy!! Dave did a good job, but at times there music seemed ‘a bit out of sink’.
Being a professional musician myself, I noticed small train wrecks along the way. Though I thought Brain Young (Dave’s guitar player)
was really good! I heard Bart Walsh a couple of years ago (who was great) but Brian seems even better!

As for Sammy, he just has the ability to capture his audience like no other entertainer. His energy level is incredible and his down to earth style is a pleasant change from Diamond Dave’s ‘I’m a rock star’. Dave also kept saying, it great here in Seattle and now were rock’n Seattle. Seattle? Like Sammy said loudly, “someone needs to tell Roth that Seattle is 150 miles away! Were in Washington, George Washington”.

Excellent job for both, but Sammy is still the undisputed Heavyweight champ!

Thanks to Bobby Bach for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

I thought dave was ok at best im glad i was not expecting much because thats what i got an old man who thought he could just walk up on stage and the place would go crazy. Dave seemed to be put off when he realized just standing there like he thought he was a god was not going to do it for this crowd. The sound was subpar forgetting words did not help, oh and what the hell lets bleach the the whole head for the second leg. now if your reading this review and think it harsh, it is. In my opinon if your going to do it, dont waste our time go ahead and remember the words and dont make your lead guitarist tap you on the shoulder every time you need to start singing again. dave was going to play a song with sammy (dreamer) but dave was so dissaponted in the crowd as soon as he was done he took his staff and left. i guess thats all of the classic david lee roth we were going to see. get it together dave and the people will love you, w! e wanted to, you’re just not letting us. sammys review loved it, fun show all good songs this is the show and i guess we all new it. my seat 17th row middle.

Thanks to Rob Thompson for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

One word: AWESOME. This was my third time seeing Sammy (95, 00) and first time seeing Dave. I was amazed at how great of a venue the Gorge is. My Dad and I got there about 3 hours before the concert and saw a bunch of cool t-shirts for sale but they were all $32! It was a great day—the sun was out and it didn’t rain at all.

Dave’s set list was very similar to what he’s been playing the entire tour. I was impressed with Brian Young, he really nailed each song perfectly on guitar. And I thought Dave was going to skip a lot of lyrics and not sing most of them but he did a good job singing most of the lyrics and his voice sounded good. Compared to Sammy, he didn’t really have any long breaks between songs. During Everybody Wants Some (I think) someone threw a cigarette onstage and Dave said he did it with that guy’s girlfriend before the show. He did his Jack Daniel’s routine on a woman in the front row early in the show. Dave had some of his DVD clips up on the screen during some songs. The encore was Jump and the crowd looked like they were having a great time.

Before Sammy came on he had a video intro about his career, which I thought was a cool way to start out. They started out with Red and the place was LOUD. I was hoping to see Michael Anthony jump onstage but when they started playing VH material without him it looked like it wasn’t going to happen. It was still a good show, though. Sammy was energetic, singing well, and also kicking ass on guitar. The videos that were on the screen during most of the songs were cool. I don’t think Sammy playing Eagles Fly killed any momentum the show had, like others have said. It’s what he always does at his concerts, even with VH. He dedicated it to John Entwistle and Mona joined in. Overall Vic played pretty well, Mona’s background vocals were good, and I thought the drums sounded louder then they should, but the band still sounded great. Top Of The World and Why Can’t This Be Love seemed to get the best crowd reactions. Also the encore, Heavy Metal and Dreams.

Both shows were great and worth the 7-hour drive, but I enjoyed Sammy’s more. Dave’s band played the songs well but there wasn’t much else to his show. But after this concert I think that Sammy and Dave are both capable of fronting VH again. If you can go see this show on the second leg, DO IT. It’s well worth it, because we don’t know when we’re going to see VH soon. Sam and Dave rule!

Thanks to Dan Rosteck for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

Well worth the drive!

My pals and I made the 10 hour trip from Lethbridge Alberta, Canada to the Gorge to see the closes thing to a Van Halen concert. When the five of us got out of the truck at the Wildhorse campground and heard the VH and Sammy tunes playing we knew this was going to be very cool night.

None of us really knew what to expect from Dave. I think he surprised a few people. All though his best kicks, jumps,costumes and years are behind him, he did sound ok, for Dave. I really don’t think Dave had a chance to prove himself. The crowd was yelling for Sammy during Dave’s encore, ouch! Sammy was who everyone came to see and I don’t think he let anyone down. His energy from start to finish was incredible. I would love to see Sammy back with VH for a tour but the Waboritas are as just tight musically. This was the happiest concert that I’ve ever been to. Everyone was there to have some fun and that is what DLR and Sammy delievered.

Thanks to all that made our weekend something we’ll never forget.

Thanks to Neil Fraser for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

The Gorge is one of the most beautiful places in the world to see a rock show. Its like a stage on the edge of the Grand Canyon. Now to the show….Well Dave is Dave…great band, they were tight. Dave opened, the way it should be, and he forgot a verse and screwed up a lot of lyrics. I guess thats Dave but you figured he would have his stuff down being that is hasnt toured in a number of years, at least not to the Pacific Northwest. So Dave, like I always thought, is just kind of unprofessional. Yea this is rock and roll but he really didnt seize the moment. Sammy was awesome. I have seen Sammy over a dozen times and its always a blast. Vic and the boys really sound great. What a band! The sercurity sucked and I spent way too much time asking people to get out of my seats. We were on the aisle and people keep filling it up and blocking are view in the 15th row. 2 fights and a really big drunk dude I had to deal with. Why couldnt they fight during Dave’s show. I dont like to miss any Sammy.

I wont go on too much here but Sammy was in top form and Dave was Dave, kind of an ass, really. Ok got some Cabo Wabo, its cocktail time. This one is on me Sammy!
Love ya…

Thanks to Tim Taylor for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

sat the 29 th of June 2002, we found out who is the better front man… the winner is? Sammy! Dave, well ,he was Dave, just not as good. the years have taken there toll on him. The energy he once had is long gone. you think after 20 years he could have come up with some new crowd talk.On the other hand the years have been very good to Sammy. He came out and had the energy you have come to expect from Mr. Hagar. He played a great mix of his classic songs where as Dave only had old HE songs to rely on (played very well by his band)Just to sum it up Dave needs to get a new hair transplant surgeon and as for Sammy lets put him and Eddie in a padded room give them some boxing gloves and put this crap to rest, and put the best rock no roll band back together.

Thanks to Mike Whyte for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

Dave didn’t seem to know that he wasn’t playing is Seattle. The Gorge is in the middle of the state. As Sammy put it, about 150 miles from Seattle and about the same from Spokane. Dave couldn’t scream like he used to and seemed to forget alot of the words to the songs that made him famous. Maybe it was the booze or, being the last leg of the first part of the tour, his voice was strained. But that is no excuse for not knowing the lyrics. Sammy on the other hand put on a great show. He got the audieunce goiing. He had the energy that i’ve seen for twenty years. The people were singing and cheering. I think we would have liked to sing with Dave. but he wasn’t singing what we were. Sammy saved the show. THANKS SAMMY , AND ALL MY BEST, MORPH

Thanks to Mark Morphy for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

I have to admit, going into the concert I thought Dave would have the better show. Boy was I wrong. Dave couldn’t hit the notes like he used to and he did the same jump spin move about 50 times.

Sammy and his band were on top of their game. The band was tight and Sammy’s voice was excellent. The crowd just responded better to the show that Sammy and the Waboritas put on.

I’d have to say that Dave’s best days are behind him, while Sammy and the Waboritas will be knocking them dead for years to come!

Thanks to A.J. Ule for this review!

Thanks to
Nic Olinsky for the set list!

This show was part of the Heavyweight Champs of Rock ‘N Roll Tour with David Lee Roth.

Sammy Hagar Opened

James Campbell (see his review below) is 100% correct in his evaluation of the Fresno show. In fact, I couldn’t have said it better myself James…but I’ll try…

Sammy’s set had this amazing energy (like none I’ve ever seen in any show before…or at least in a long while) and Dave just seemed to go through the motions. I literally could not catch my breathe fast enough between songs with Sammy…I felt like I had just ran ten miles when his set was all said and done. In fact, some guy next to me said, as Sam and Mike are waving and walking off stage, “Dude, I don’t care if Roth comes out and sucks, just that performance by Sammy alone was worth the price of admission”!

What’s weird is though is that the main person I wanted to see that night was DLR (sorry Sam), but Dave just couldn’t keep up. Don’t get me wrong, Dave’s voice sounded good (although those patented screams are harder to reach now 20+ years later) but he just had no rapport with the crowd nor with his fellow bandmates. For the first 3 or 4 songs, Dave kept on motioning to the right side stage crew (sound problems?) and it was a real big distraction… “Dave, the party is out here…hello!”. Anyway, the sound was fine. I don’t know what his deal was. All I was asking is a little focus on the crowd…you know, the people who paid for the show. To make matters worse, he only jumps off the drum kit to do his famous air splits once the whole show…does it as a finale…c’mon Dave, give me a break, you should’ve been doing that all night Mr. Doju Guru! Although, he did do some of his high kicks, so he had that goin’ for him.

Anyway, I know I’m bashin’ Dave a bit, but overall it was a great songlist and solid performance on his behalf. Just could’ve been that much better had he powered down a six-pack of Jolt cola and lost the ‘tude to take the show from an 8 to a ten. In Dave’s defense though, it had to have been hard for him to go on stage after Sammy’s stellar performance. He would’ve had to reform the original members of Van Halen within 20 minutes between sets to pull that one off! Sammy was a ten!

PS Sam, please tell Dave to point that bottle of J.D. the other way if he’s gonna do that!

Thanks to Kevin Moore for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

This was the third time I saw Sammy (the Balance Tour, Mas Tequila, and this one!), and it was unreal. He was so on. Saying he had the audience eating out of his hand does not do it justice. But the reality isn’t that he is up there doing a show…. he is up there loving what he is doing… and it came across so loud and clear. He rocked on every song. Highlights for me were all the Van Halen songs, especially when Mikey came out. I was two rows up on the side, and when I saw him I went nuts. He came over and shook my hand and several other fans, and we were all beside ourselves. And when Mikey and Sammy got together… all the good memories of Van Hagar came back. Eddie and Alex oughta go watch Mikey and Sammy play together and remember how much fun it is supposed to be…

Now as far as DLR goes… what a jerk… anyone that ever says the best days of Van Halen were with David Lee Roth should go see this tour and then keep their mouths shut….first someone please tell his band to get out of the 80’s with their hair styles… and then they open like they are this hot band… David walks out on stage like he is so cool… and then (remember I was on the side of the stage) does his stupid spinning kick… Dave… please age gracefully… you are near or at 50… you shouldn’t be doing that anymore… you looked silly as hell… especially since your leg barely seemed to be able to get up that far….

I left DLR before he even hit the chorus for hot for teacher his first song……

Thanks to John D for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

I went into this concert thinking Sam was going to kick Dave’s ass real good. I had read all the other reviews posted, and I expected Sam to come out the winner. Sammy started because of unknown difficulties with Dave. The set started with a video that lasted about 5-10 minutes. It was cool but it could have been half as long. Sammy’s set rocked and there was a lot of energy. Sammy still moves great, and his whole show is entertaining. He got served drinks by bikini clad women. The stage had guests on it so the whole atmosphere was fun. All in all Sammy was about 8 out of 10. I’d seen him before with Van Halen, and he was good both times. But this time the stage production wasn’t as good. Sammy entertains well, but with Van Halen the mood seemed more legendary.

That’s what I feel Dave created. I felt more privileged to see Dave than Sammy. Dave is more of a legend of metal to me than Sammy, and he didn’t disappoint. Dave’s best moment came in singing Running with the Devil. It was perfect. He doesn’t move as much as Sammy, and he didn’t interact as much with the crowd, but he has more of a spectacular presence. I felt honored more to see Dave than Sammy. I feel the decision is a draw. Sammy is more entertaining, but Dave is more legendary.

Thanks to Grant Thor for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

Sammy started the show and kicked Dave’s ass. The red rocker showed who is the heavyweight champion of rock and roll. As a bonus Michael Anthony did make a guest appearance. Awesome show.

Thanks to Mike Burnett for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

This is a concert that I knew I had to go to as soon as I heard about it. I never had a chance to see either of them when they were with Van Halen, though I was and am a major fan of both versions of the group. Due to “technical difficulties” David Lee Roth was unable to open, so Sammy took the ball and ran with it. From start to finish Sammy had the audience in the palm of his hands. He truly gave us the feeling that there was no placehe would rather be than right there in Fresno. His set list was a great mix of old and new including his Van Halen days. The most exciting part of Sammy’s set was when Michael Anthony came out to play. I was truly surprised. An hour and a half was not nearly long enough for Sammy. Heleft the audience wanting more. Although I was a fan of Sammy before this concert, I have been re-influenced by his music after last night.

Prior to the show I was by far looking forward to seeing David Lee Roth the most. His era with Van Halen is my favorite. Though his performance hasn’t changed that fact, it certainly made me long to see David in his heyday. David did not have the connection with the audience that Sammy did. In retrospect it seems as though David Lee Roth has joined a Van Halen cover band. He put out the persona that we should be honored to see his there and he wasn’t going to try to connect with the audience. The band has done a good of memorizing the old Van Halen songs, although it was hard to sing along with Dave as he omitted a lot of words, or changed them or inserted his trademark screeches. David spend a fair amount of time sucking on a Jack Daniels bottle, and gave the impression he had been doing that during Sammy’s set as well. Overall David just seemed to be going through the motions.

All in all it was a show I will always remember, but would only see again if Sammy Hagar was doing a full headlining set.

Thanks to James Campbell for this review!

ADDITIONAL REVIEW

The Day I heard David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar were going to play together I knew it was going to be the tour of the year how wrong I was!!. Sammy Hagar and his band open the show and blew me and the audience away with old and new songs. I was amazed how clear each song that Sammy and the band played. His stage show and song selection was outstanding, he truly had the audience eating out of his hands. David on the other hand from the moment he and his band walk on the stage with a pair of Black Leather that were to small and green hair, I felt like he and his band was just going through the motions. Also his stage attitude was like we should be glad he made time to play for fans in Fresno California. Tell David and his Van Halen cover bands they had no right sharing the stage with Sammy and his band.. I say, Sammy you are welcome anytime in Fresno, but please leave David and his cover band home..

Thanks to Fred Barton for this review!

Thanks to Mike Barnes for the set list!

This show was part of the Heavyweight Champs of Rock ‘N Roll Tour with David Lee Roth.

Sammy Hagar Opened

This show was part of the Heavyweight Champs of Rock ‘N Roll Tour with David Lee Roth.

David Lee Roth Opened