These sure are crazy times we are living in. However, Redheads in Southern California were feeling like they were on top of the world Saturday night when Sammy Hagar & The Circle took the stage on a muggy and overcast evening at FivePoint in Irvine. In tandem with George Thorogood & the Destroyers, this rock party was simply bad to the bone on so many levels.
I have been a huge Sammy Hagar fan my entire life. From Montrose to his solo career to Van Halen and beyond, this cat has been taking names and melting faces since 1972, and he’s still at the top of his game. Joined by The Circle (featuring Michael Anthony, Vic Johnson, and Jason Bonham), the band came to party on Saturday night in front of a hometown crowd. While a bit overcast and muggy, the Santo shots started early and were poured often, and didn’t stop until the night’s final curtain call. Let’s dig into the night’s festivities, shall we?
Opening up for Sammy Hagar & The Circle was Chris Trapper (a killer singer /songwriter from Boston, MA) along with legendary George Thorogood & The Destroyers. Trapper’s 4-song set was brief, and those who were lucky enough to get there early were treated to some amazing music by a man and his guitar. I don’t always find openers terribly compelling, but there was something about Trapper on stage all by his lonesome that touched my soul. Songs like “The Accident,” “This Time,” and “F%&k It” demonstrated in spades why Sammy brought him out on this tour. I look forward to digging into Chris Trapper a little more in the not so distant future. Well done.
Next up in Irvine were George Thorogood & The Destroyers. I’ve been a fan of this band for as long as I can remember but I’ve never seen them perform live over the years. As Thorogood hit the stage with his signature Les Paul, the crowd went absolutely nuts as he gave his legions of fans a quick bow before tearing into 2006’s “Rock Party.” A warning shot had just been fired over the bow signifying the start of what turned out being one incredible set. Thorogood standards such as “I Drink Alone,” “Gear Jammer,” and “Haircut” were intertwined with covers such as “Who Do You Love?” (Bo Diddley) and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” (Amos Milburn). “Bad to the Bone” is my all-time favorite Thorogood jam and wrapped up the 10-song set in fine unadulterated fashion. Unfucking believable.
After a brief stage change out, lights finally dimmed at FivePoint as Sammy Hagar & The Circle finally took the stage. The homecoming was finally here for the now capacity crowd as the band raised a toast and launched into their latest, “Crazy Times.” It seemed like a fitting way to start the show given all of the insanity we’ve collectively been through over the past few years. The crowd ate it up as Hagar, Anthony, Bonham, and Johnson masterfully worked the stage to perfection. Next up was “There’s Only One Way to Rock,” and the show immediately jumped into overdrive from that point forward. Modelo was now being hoisted, the Santo was flowing, and the hometown fiesta had just begun!
Over the next two hours, Sammy and The Circle ripped off a 17-song set that perfectly captured the spirit of this band. Watching the set was like taking a journey back in time to see Montrose, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin (and of course solo Sammy), all in their prime. Good lord, this was rock and roll at its finest and all performed as it should be—LIVE! Fan favorites from the evening included “Rock Candy,” “Heavy Metal,” and “Right Now,” while I unequivocally thought “Ain’t Talkin’ bout Love” and “Eagles Fly” were top of class Saturday. Regardless of your proclivity, this set had it all (and then some) as Hagar and The Circle rocked FivePoint to its core.
As the lights flickered on, I couldn’t help but revel in all I had just been part of over the past few hours. Hagar shows in Southern California are just different, and those who have experienced them know what I’m talking about. It’s more than just the music, it’s family—and Sammy knows this whenever he takes the stage in these parts. He acknowledges his roots, pays homage to them, and engages all of his fans in a rip roaring party like no other.
This is what rock and roll should be.
CHRIS TRAPPER
GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS
SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE
