Our adventure started off with arriving at the Spreckels Theatre at
5:30pm… (I did not want to be late!) We received our pre show passes
around 6:50pm. At 7:05pm someone gathered us and the radio winners
through the theatre, backstage and up the stairs to the *tiny* room
where we were packed like sardines awaiting Sammy’s arrival.
After about 5 minutes, someone (Chris?) asked who the netheads were.
The three of us raised our hands (my husband, my sister & myself) and we
were led into another room, smaller, but cooler & much less crowded! We
waited another 5 minutes and then I saw a glimpse of curly blonde hair!
Sammy was finally here! He went into the other room first and I took
the opportunity to gather my items for him to sign (just in case I should
be so fortunate!). Finally, there he was! He was saying hi & shaking
hands with two other guests, going through pretty quickly. Then he was
in front of us,(hi, handshake), as he got to me, I thought, oh no.. if I
don’t speak up now, that’s it… so when he got to me, he shook my
hand, said hi and somehow I got my brain going and told him how much I
admired him & his work and the effect it had on me… so much so that I
named my youngest daughter after him. I then showed him the picture I
brought of my daughters and he asked me if I wanted him to sign it. As
he was signing that, I opened up my tour program and laid it down on the
table. He asked me if I’d like it if he signed it “To Sammy, from Sammy
Hagar”. “Yes! That would be great!” So after signing that, someone
asked me if I’d like him to take a picture of us all. So he
took a picture and Sammy said, “take another one” another flash went
off, and I thanked him and he went on to the next people in line…
After Sammy left the room, we stuck around, not wanting to leave and I
spied the sharpie pen he had just signed my pictures with.. well.. I had
to have one more souvenir! I then poked my head out of the room and
saw Victor down the hall, I managed to get his attention and asked him
if I could take a picture, he graciously agreed.. (I forgot to ask him
for his autograph). Then all of the sudden Jesse was in our room. I
asked him for his autograph and a picture, which he graciously agreed to
as well 🙂
It was then around 7:30pm & we were then told it was time to
head out & find our seats. We then went to our second row center seats
and awaited the start of the concert!
The concert started around 8:20pm with the thumping of Marching to Mars
and the band’s shadows behind the Cabo backdrop. The curtain lifted and
the crowd roared! Sammy was wearing a lime green shirt, black tee
underneath and skin-tight crushed velvet purple pants! (Sammy is in
*fine* shape, ladies!)
He then went into One Way to Rock, Returning Home, I’ll Fall in Love
Again (a personal favorite!) and then Salvation on Sand Hill… he was
really into this song, acting out the words like he was taking part in
the ritual.
He then sang Why Can’t This Be Love? (another favorite). A
fan threw up a tank top, his first clothing change of the night, then
sang Eagles Fly, which he told the crowd he was singing because a pre
show fan requested it… he was really into this song as well… looking
upwards and singing his heart out!
Then, he got his lap slide guitar
and sat down right in front of us, and started in on Bad Motor Scooter.
He talked about how Mona got into the band and she did her solo (which
was excellent! she wails!).
Next up was Good Rockin’ Tonight, then
the new version of Both Sides Now. It was good, but I’m not sure which
version I like better. He then played Hand Jive, then kicked into
Finish What You Started (a crowd favorite!).
The band went backstage,
except for Sammy & Jesse, who went into Who Has the Right?, I loved the
way he sang that one!
*Drink Break Time!* Sammy started talking to the crowd as he was
making his Waboritas and toasted the crowd! Then he poured four glasses
for a few lucky audience members, (nope, I didn’t get any, darn!)
They
then did sort of an acoustical version of Cabo Wabo. Then a rousing
Right Now was next on the list followed by a blistering Little White
Lie that blew away the crowd! He jumped right into I Can’t Drive 55,
and then 3 Lock Box. Then he went into The Yogi’s So High, then lit up
the crowd again with Red, (David’s drum solo), then into Heavy Metal,
then a brief version of My Generation.
Then band left the stage and we waited for the encore! They came back
and played Rock n’ Roll and Sammy introduced a friend of his named
Stevie Salas who joined them on Sammy’s red Washburn and he was awesome!
Then the final song, Marching to Mars. I kept looking for all the
“marchers” wondering where they were… halfway through the song, there
they all came out of nowhere… I was surprised at how many people came
out! Kari was with them and Sammy’s Mom was there too! She was out
there marching & clapping her hands, following the band in a line in
front of the stage! Then the song was over.. and they took their bows,
left the stage and on went the house lights at 10:45pm…
As we were leaving, I spied Sammy’s Mom off to the side. I worked my
way over to her, and asked her if she would sign my tour book. She said
“you want me to sign that?” and I said yes, please 🙂 She seemed
tickled at the thought, and graciously signed it.. right on the opposite
page as the one Sammy signed. While she signed it, Bob told her “You’ve
done well” to which she smiled and said “Oh, thank you” 🙂
We left with huge smiles on our faces, ringing in our ears, hoarse
voices and memories to last a lifetime…
Thanks to Kathy Owens for this review and the set list.
ADDITIONAL REVIEW
Sammy played his first concert after his b-day bash in San Diego last
nite. Although still suffering a little from a head cold, that didn’t
slow him down one bit.
The show was held in an old refurbished theatre in downtown San Diego
with about 1400 seats. With the small size of the venue it had all the
flavor of the Cabo Wabo. Sammy and the band seemed at ease with the
audience and played a very loose set.
Highlights included Both Sides Now , accoustically. Sammy performing
“Who has the Right” solo, and his MOTHER joining him on stage during the
closing “Marching to Mars”, she even joined Sammy, Vic, & Mona during
the ‘March’ at the end of the set, pretty damn funny. (If I could just
get my mother to listen to Sammy!)
My seat from the 2nd row was the best Sammy tix I’ve ever had, If my
camera works, pictures to follow.
Thanks to Larry Benson for this review.