Words and Photos by Bek Allegretti
The evening started with pouring rain, but that didn’t stop fans from making their way into PNC Bank Arts Center on Monday night for Sammy Hagar’s Best of All Worlds Tour. Soaked but enthusiastic concertgoers dressed in Springfield, Van Halen, and Hagar merchandise packed the venue on June 22nd, creating a sea of classic rock memorabilia. Despite the weather, the show sold out, with a handful of lucky fans still managing to grab last-minute tickets at the box office.
The limited-run Best of All Worlds Tour brought together a lineup that celebrated nearly every era of Hagar’s career. Backed by Michael Anthony on bass and backing vocals, Joe Satriani on guitar, Kenny Aronoff on drums, and Greg Phillinganes on keyboards, the group carried decades of rock history onto the stage. Anthony, Satriani, and Aronoff have shared the stage with Hagar through almost every era of his career, from Van Halen to Chickenfoot to The Circle, making the tour a perfect reunion for the band.
Rick Springfield brought an undeniable sense of fun to the evening as an opener, even with his limited time slot due to weather constraints. Starting the set in a checkered leather jacket before eventually ditching both his jacket and shirt, Springfield commanded the stage and charmed the audience with the confidence of a performer who knows exactly what his audience came for. As Springfield played his hits, including “Human Touch” and “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” he made his way towards the edge of the stage, reaching out for fans’ hands and throwing flower petals for them to catch. Closing out his set with a two-part performance of “Jessie’s Girl,” beginning with nostalgic clips and ending with his rendition of his number one song, Springfield had the crowd on their feet singing every word back to him, transforming the amphitheater into one massive singalong.
After a short intermission, the lights dimmed, and the sold-out crowd erupted in excitement. Hagar took the stage sporting a shirt with the phrase “Unification Over Demonstration,” along with sunglasses and white pants to match. He kicked off the show with a Bob Dylan cover, “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35,” playfully embracing the rainy conditions that had rushed fans into the venue just moments before. Without missing a beat, Hagar followed up with “Why Can’t This Be Love,” where he left the main stage and ventured into the audience, bringing himself closer to the fans as they cheered and reached for his hands.
Satriani’s gold chrome guitar became one of the visual standouts of the night, sparkling under the stage lights and providing a striking contrast to Anthony’s signature wooden bass. The pair frequently exchanged smiles and danced together throughout the evening as Hagar sang in between, proving just how strong their chemistry has become after being built over decades of playing together.
The crowd’s participation remained constant throughout the set. Nearly every chorus was met with thousands of voices filling the amphitheater, turning songs like “Best of Both Worlds,” “Runaround,” and “Top of the World” into communal experiences. At times, the audience was nearly as loud as the band itself, carrying choruses when Hagar turned his microphone to the crowd.
Before launching into their next song, Hagar introduced comedian and guitarist Steve Nowicki with a story that instantly had the crowd laughing. “We’re gonna bring a guy out here who lives around here. He’s been driving me crazy. Sending me letters and emails. He’s been calling my office, calling my wife… that’s how he got my attention,” Hagar explained as Nowicki made his way to center stage.
Moments later, Hagar declared, “This is the hardest fucking Van Halen song there is,” before the band broke into “5150.” Nowicki immediately rose to the occasion, delivering a stunning performance, which was no shock considering it’s his favorite song. Nowicki’s final solo drew huge cheers from the crowd, and the moment culminated in a shared hug with Hagar as Nowicki stood beaming under the stage lights.
The setlist served as a journey through Hagar’s career, blending Van Halen staples like “Cabo Wabo,” “Love Walks In,” and “Right Now” with solo material including “Heavy Metal,” “There’s Only One Way to Rock,” and “I Can’t Drive 55.” Satriani also stepped into the spotlight for a performance of “Satch Boogie,” showcasing his technical precision and stage presence that have made him one of rock’s most respected guitarists.
As the evening came to a close, “Eagles Fly” gave each member of the band an opportunity to shine as Hagar credited his talented group. By the time the “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight” arrived, the sold-out crowd remained just as energized as they were at the start of the night, proving that neither time nor rain could dampen the spirit of a classic rock concert.
Sammy Hagar
Rick Springfield
