Is This the Best Possible World?

Sammy Hagar kicked off his Best of All Worlds tour on Saturday alongside Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham, and Rai Thistlethwayte. The tour particularly shines a spotlight on Hagar’s Van Halen era, while also featuring a few hits from his extensive five-decade career.

Van Halen enthusiasts have eagerly anticipated this tour since its announcement, and Saturday’s 21-song set ignited substantial online discussion, both supportive and critical. With two performances down and more on the horizon, here’s an exploration of fan questions about this highly buzzed-about tour.

Regarding Hagar’s promise to delve deep into the Van Halen catalog, Bryan Rolli believes he has done an admirable job. With 15 out of the 21 songs from opening night being Van Halen tracks—some of which haven’t been performed live in decades—fans get a decent dose of Van Halen. Matt Wardlaw echoes this sentiment, appreciating the mix of Van Halen and Hagar’s other hits. Matthew Wilkening suggests Hagar could go even deeper into the Van Halen catalog, but appreciates the inclusion of key tracks from Hagar’s extensive career.

The most pleasant surprises of the show varied by opinion. Rolli appreciated the revival of classics like “5150” and “Summer Nights,” which haven’t been performed since 2010 and 2006, respectively. Wardlaw loved hearing “Space Station #5” from Hagar’s Montrose days in the encore. Wilkening, too, found “5150” to be a welcome addition, along with the “There’s Only One Way to Rock” guitar duel.

When discussing potential David Lee Roth-era Van Halen songs Hagar could add, Rolli feels the Roth catalog is well-covered but suggests Hagar has the range for tracks like “And the Cradle Will Rock …” or “Dance the Night Away.” Wardlaw would like to see Michael Anthony tackle more Roth-era songs, potentially songs like “D.O.A.” Wilkening humorously suggests Hagar open with “Yankee Rose,” but overall, he feels Hagar should focus more on his own era.

Joe Satriani’s role in the tour has been under much scrutiny, given the daunting task of paying homage to Eddie Van Halen. Rolli thinks Satriani has excelled, managing to play Eddie’s parts with aplomb while adding his own flair. Wardlaw, too, praises Satriani for his effort, noting the difficulty of replicating Van Halen’s licks. Wilkening believes Satriani strikes a good balance between tribute and personal interpretation.

Overall, the tour seems to be off to a solid start despite some critiques. Rolli notes the band is still getting comfortable on stage, playing “Judgment Day” too slowly, for instance. But Hagar’s vocals remain strong, especially considering his 76 years, and Anthony’s backing vocals stand out. Wardlaw appreciates the balance Hagar has struck with the setlist, catering to both hardcore and casual fans. Bonham’s drumming and Thistlethwayte’s addition to the band have also been highlights.

Wilkening is pleased to see Hagar in a more modern stage setting, though he wishes for more late-’70s and early-’80s hits. Still, the addition of a live keyboardist seems a smart move, and the tour overall offers something for everyone.

The Best of All Worlds tour seems to be living up to its name, providing a varied setlist that spans Hagar’s impressive career while honoring his time with Van Halen. With more shows to come, fans have much more to look forward to.

Source: UCR