Concert Preview: SAMMY HAGAR & the WABOS
SENECA ALLEGANY EVENTS CENTER
Friday May 23^rd 2008

     BET IT ALL ON RED….. Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer SAMMY HAGAR will be rolling in his CABO WABO Cantina stage to the  sprawling hills of Salamanca this Friday Night to kick off Memorial Day Weekend 2008.
     HAGAR and the WABOS: guitarist VIC JOHNSON, bassist MONA, and longtime drummer DAVID “Bro” LAUSER will be pouring out the hits from the immense catalog the RED ROCKER has amassed over his illustrious career; from MONTROSE to VAN HALEN and all the solo gems in between.
     For people who have never had the pleasure of basking in  the crystal blue water and sandy white beaches of Cabo San Lucas this is your chance to get a taste of what “Livin it Up” Red Rocker style is all about.
     Be sure to arrive early at the Casino, this isn’t just a concert it’s an event with a myriad of pre-show festivities to wet your pallet, including the world famous WABORITA drink made with the equally world famous CABO WABO Tequila.
     The NIGHTLIFE Rock Rapport caught up with the SAMMY as he was getting set to head into his final rehearsal before hitting the summer tour circuit which kicked off with a weekend at the Tahoe Wabo earlier this month.
     Ross CAT-Hey Sammy, as always thanks again for being so gracious and taking time out for the Rock Rapport; what can Western New Yorkers look forward to this Friday night as the Cabo Wabo Cantina Caravan sails into town anchoring at the picturesque Seneca Allegany Casino.
     SAMMY- No problem at all Ross, great to talk to you again. As you know it’s always a party when we take the Cantina out on the road, I can’t think of a better way to kick off my Memorial Day Holiday then sharing a Summer Night with my friends in Upstate New York.
     Ross CAT-Once again limited Cabo Wabo stage seating is available at the shows this summer.  I had the pleasure to savor the show from the Cantina seats at Darien Lake; it really is a concert experience like no other.  Will that be a mainstay on the Hagar shows?
     SAMMY-That really has been a blast the last couple of tours, the band and I really enjoy hanging with the hardcore Redheads on stage.
     It’s something we’ve been talking about in rehearsal; I’ve been thinking this might be the last year for the Cantina Stage Production but until we come up with something better I’d feel like we where cheating the fans.  I can’t imagine going out on the road with just a stripped down stage without the bar, the props and most importantly my waitresses to bring me my Cabo Wabo tequila.
     That being said Ross keep in mind this is me we’re talking about, I don’t sit still for very long, I’m all about reinventing myself,  my music and the way I present it, so “Get Ready” you just never know what’s next.
     Ross CAT-Will we see premier Rock ‘n’ Roll bassist and all around party animal MICHAEL ANTHONY on the road with you again this summer?
     SAMMY-Mike will be popping in and out of the tour for sure. He really wants to play with us at the stadium shows that we are doing with KENNY CHESNEY.
     At this time I’m not exactly sure when he’s going to be playing; one things for sure knowing MIKEY he can’t stay home when SAMMY and the WABO’S are out on tour, we’ve found that out over the last ten years. He’s played on about 90% of our gigs since the last VH reunion; he’s usually around by hook or by crook.
     I have to say that having MIKEY on stage makes it so much easier to play the VAN HAGAR material, when I’m singing “Why Can’t This Be Love, “Top of the World”, or “Poundcake” and I hear his harmonies I can close my eyes and feel like it was 1990 again.
     Hands down MIKE’S backing vocals and bass playing are as big a part of the VAN HALEN legacy as me, EDDIE, ALEX or DAVE. It has been and always will be an open door policy for MIKE in any band I’m in.
     Ross CAT-Last month saw the Redheads sail off to meet up with SAMMY and friends on the 3^rd annual Cabo Wabo Cruise which is highlighted with a private concert at the Cabo Wabo Cantina (www.cabowabo.com), sounds like one helluva party?
     SAMMY-That’s an understatement I’m just recuperating from that damn thing. Every year family, friends and fans try to get me to go on the boat; it’s hard to convince everyone that if I got on that cruise ship it’s all over for me, I couldn’t perform. As strange as it sounds being the sunshine stalker that I’ am, I’m just not a boat guy, I get sea sick within twenty minutes, that’s just about the only kind of Rockin and Rollin I can’t handle.
     That’s another thing we are looking at, the cruise line has been terrific to us but being on such a tight schedule is really difficult. The Carnival Cruise ship arrives at 7am in the port, by 11am we’re pounding out a two hour set; as you know I hold nothing back on stage so the Cabo Wabo is flowing and by the middle of the afternoon everyone is shipwrecked.
     So I’m thinking this may be the last cruise for a while, I’m looking at something where people can spend more time at the Cantina as opposed to just a six hour port stop.
     Ross CAT-Speaking of the Cruise concert it was broadcast live for the very first time on the very cool totally FREE Cabo Wabo Radio Network (www.cabowaboradio.com). Tell us about this awesome music venture?
     SAMMY-It’s really been flourishing since we started the concept, it’s gone through its growing pains but now it’s really coming together. I just heard that we are rated in the top 15 internet radio stations in the world out of a possible 3000. Like most things I do I try to bring my fans along for the ride, having a good time and listening to music turns me on.
     As of May 15^th we started a contest for fans to compete to become a permanent DJ broadcasting live from 6pm to midnight inside the Cabo Wabo Cantina. Everyone who’s ever been there knows it can get “Wild ‘n’ Crazy”, and for those who haven’t you can get a real feel of the outrageous atmosphere.
     It’s unique because it’s organic, we offer live shows, new bands, Classic Rockers and you just never know when me and some of my buds are going to show up for an impromptu jam. Fans should give it a listen and vote for their favorite personality, like you said it’s FREE, just like FUN should be.
     Ross CAT-Let’s get into the summer show schedule, as mentioned earlier the Red Rocker will be part of the KENNY CHESNEY “Poets and Pirates” tour featuring acts like LEANN RIMES, KEITH URBAN, GARY ALLAN to name just a few.  How did that come about?
     SAMMY- That’s some kinda talent your talkin bout there. I can’t wait to see what happens when I get on stage in front of all those folks, most of whom may have never seen a HAGAR & WABOS show.
     First off Rockers and Redheads not to worry I’m not goin country or anything like that. This is really based on my close friendship with KENNY CHESNEY, we got the idea when I joined him onstage at a few shows and the place went absolutely crazy.  So we thought his fan base would be a great crossover crowd for us to have some fun with.  I’ve really had a blast partying and jammin with guys like KENNY and TOBY KEITH; I respect them as performers, most importantly they’re great songwriters and I’m all about playing great music.  I’m really looking forward to the challenge that this tour package brings me and the WABOS.
      Ross CAT-The Rock Rapport will be heading to Cleveland on Saturday to your first stop on the “Poets and Pirates” tour any chance we’ll see you perform a duet with LEANN RIMES?
     SAMMY-If she wants I’m game; I’ve never been one to turn a pretty lady down. Seriously everyone involved has been great to deal with it seems the skies the limit as far as how this is going to play out.
     BROOKS & DUNN have a new song where they talk about CABO WABO, they want me to come out and sing on that one, sounds like it’s going to be a real user friendly situation so just about anything is possible at one of these shows.
     Ross CAT-Let’s put the “Heavy Metal” heads mind at ease as you’ll be doing some shows later in the summer with the SCORPIONS.
     SAMMY-We’ve been friends for a long time, great group of musicians and guys. They actually opened for me on my first ever headlining tour in 1979, we where on the road together for nine months it was awesome.
     Ross CAT- SAMMY your website www.redrocker.com has a couple of new songs posted, “Open” has been up for a few months, now just this past week a brand new song “I’m on a Roll” is available for download at your site. Will we see a new SAMMY HAGAR album in 2008?
     SAMMY-Yeah, the brand new single is about NASCAR it’s another drivin song (laughter), I guess you could say it’s the new “I can’t Drive 55”. We’ve been opening rehearsals with it everyday and it’s feelin really good, there’s a pretty good chance we’ll take it out for a test drive in the pole position in the summer setlist.
     We also did a video for “I’m On a Roll” with a little help from our NASCAR buds, look for that to open up the shows this summer as well.
     Ross CAT-In our previous interviews you’ve always made it clear about how much you respect ALEX VAN HALEN and that you thought that the VAN HALEN fans deserved a chance to see the original line-up tour with ROTH. Any desire to check out the current VAN HALEN tour which is getting primarily positive reviews in its second leg?
     SAMMY- No I just can’t do it, after the last VAN HAGAR tour EDDIE became my enemy, he wasn’t the same guy he was when we started the VAN HAGAR era of the band; he made what should have been a great experience just down right miserable. Now when I say that I’m talking about the EDDIE VAN HALEN that is struggling with his personal demons, they’ve been pretty well documented.
     I will say this, the fact that they are doing the tour with DAVE is awesome, they have owed the amazing VAN HALEN fans that for a longtime; but not taking MIKE out isn’t doing the ROTH era justice and it’s just wrong.
    If you’re finally going to go out and bill yourself as the original VAN HALEN, then MIKE should be playing with them for GOD sake, that’s just my two cents. I understand EDDIE wanting to play with WOLFIE but he should just go out and start there own band.
     That being said it seems that some positive has come out of this whole thing, last time I saw EDDIE he was in really bad shape a few years back; but I did see a recent photo and he looks healthier then he has in a long time.  That to me is a great thing, EDDIE has all the support on the planet from me if he is finally getting his shit together.  If this tour has helped him get himself together and clean up I’m so happy for that.
     Ross CAT-Lastly, you toured with DAVID LEE ROTH back in 2003 any chance you’d be willing to set aside differences and give VAN HALEN fans the “Best of Both Worlds” with all 5 guys touring together?
     SAMMY-As far as that goes that’s just not something I’m really interested in doin again right now, EDDIE would have to be able to bring himself back to ground zero; by that I mean he’d have to be completely clean.
     Right Now I’m having the time of my life and looking forward to seeing all the Redheads on tour this summer as well as making some new friends on the “Poets and Pirates Tour”
     The Rock Rapport would like to thank our bud SAMMY HAGAR for sharing his valuable time.  We would also like to once again thank Jessica Erskine of Rogers & Cowan for hooking us up with SAMMY.
     Also check out the SENECA ALLEGANY CASINO site @ www.senecaalleganycasino.com for more great summer shows including THE GOO GOO DOLLS, BOSTON/STYX and BROOKS & DUNN to name just a few.

**************PEACE & HARMONIES*****************