Sammy Hagar and Firehouse made it safely to the official Middle of Nowhere and rocked the Midwestern Crowd at the First Council Casino on December 17, 2010. Sammy even exclaimed from the stage, “You guys know I tell it like it is. We were driving here on the bus and I was like, “Where the fuck is this place? Where the fuck are we going?’ This is my first time in Newkirk, Oklahoma but I gotta tell you that you guys rock.”

The night started off with Firehouse opening the show. While the band is best known for, and performed on this night, the ballad “Love of a Lifetime” they also rocked hard with fan favorite “Reach for the Sky” and pop hits “All She Wrote” and “Don’t Treat Me Bad.” C.J. Snare sounded good on vocals and is the focal point of the show, however, the magic behind this band is lead guitarist Bill Leverty. While some may believe Firehouse is just another Hair Band one need only pay attention to the lead guitar skills of Leverty to realize that he is a class player with loads of talent.

Leverty may have short changed himself a bit by getting his shot at fame and fortune with a pop band as one could easily see him in a Led Zep/Bad Company/Van Halen type band rocking hard. In fact, if that had been the case he would be mentioned in the same breath as the great guitar players of his era. As it stands however, he brings Firehouse’s brand of electric rock/pop to a new level. The crowd enjoyed Firehouse and the band responded by giving back a lot of energy from the stage. However, 99% of those on hand looked at Firehouse as simply a bonus, a good band to open for their hero, The Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar.

Hagar took the stage and the Waborita’s smashed into “There’s Only One Way to Rock” from the album Standing Hampton. Sammy’s band is visually entertaining as well as musically valid. Vic Johnson is a colorful character onstage with hat and boa. He is also an impressive guitarist who handles parts from all of Sammy’s past solo efforts as well as Van Hagar’s best known licks. Mona Gnadner is a unique bass player and her vocal skills compliment Sam’s. She has a unique sound, a cool look and some badass long hair. David Lauser on drums knows his place in the band and keeps things cooking along at the correct tempo. Sammy, adorned in red, is a true star onstage, a magical performer who one is simply unable to take their eyes off of.

On this night Sammy had some of the crowd cuties join him onstage to serve tequila shots between songs. One gal had downed a few shots herself and grabbed the microphone from Sammy to slur something about nothing to the crowd. Sam smiled in disbelief and politely ushered her offstage. The band threw the usual set list to the wind and played “I Can’t Drive 55” early in the set. The Wabo’s and Sammy then pumped out three classics from Hagar’s first famous band Montrose. The Red Heads in the crowd cheered loudly as hearing “Space Station #5,” “Rock Candy” and “Bad Motor Scooter” back-to-back-to-back gets the blood pumping.

Van Halen was well represented in the set as “Best of Both Worlds” “Why Can’t This Be Love” were well received. However, this was a solo Sammy crowd as “Your Love is Driving Me Crazy” and “I’ll Fall in Love Again” had everyone on their feet and singing along. “Heavy Metal” ended the regular set on a high. Sammy brought the energy level down with a mellow, sing-along version of “Dreams” before kicking everyone’s ass with “Mas Tequila.”

Sammy Hagar loves what he does and, even though he has slipped into his 60’s, he looks good and sounds great. He gives 110% on stage and performs a high-energy set that would wound a man half his age. Hagar plays rock n’ roll with the same intensity as a boxer in a prizefight or a running back approaching the goal line. He loves to win, he loves his fans and he loves to invite everybody to the party. Sammy Hagar is, plain and simply, one of a dying breed: A true Rock Star and on this night he put on one hell of show leaving no one disappointed.

www.redrocker.com
www.firehousemusic.com