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Van Halen fans give a leg up to Hagar, boys in the band
By PETE TATTERSALL, Biloxi Sun Herald
Tue, Sep. 07, 2004
BILOXI - It was a mass celebration of rock 'n' roll Sunday night at the
Mississippi Coast Coliseum, as more than 6,500 hard-core fans, most of whom
remained on their feet for the duration of the show, welcomed Van Halen back to
Biloxi.
"This is a party. This ain't no rock concert. It's a love fest," said lead
singer Sammy Hagar.
It was, in fact, a mutual appreciation night. The fans gave and gave and gave.
Van Halen, meanwhile, seemed to channel the crowd's raw energy into its music,
pumping out high-volume, jubilant, in-your-face rock 'n' roll for more than two
hours.
Highlights on display by Van Halen, a T-shirt and jeans type band whose members
consist of Hagar, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, bassist Michael Anthony and
drummer Alex Van Halen, included "Poundcake," "Top of the World," "Why Can't
This Be Love," "Dreams," "It's About Time," "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" and the
romping, feel-good "Right Now."
Eddie Van Halen took center stage for about 20 minutes, demonstrating why he
remains a legendary guitarist. At times he hammered away ferociously on his
instrument, alternating occasionally to a light-finger style that could only be
described as "fluttering." He also played his guitar with an electric drill,
and while lying on the ground.
But when it came to connecting with the crowd, which ranged in age largely from
25 to 55, Hagar proved he was without equal.
At one point, he hopped down into the first few rows and began singing from
among their ranks. At another point he dropped to his knees, midsong, and began
signing fan memorabilia. One fan even passed up a prosthetic leg, complete with
a running shoe on one end, for Hagar to sign.
But the best moments involved Hagar's interaction with a boy, who appeared to
be about 4 years old, on his father's shoulders in the third row. As the child,
who at one point held a sign reading "My 1st concert," raised a clenched fist
high overhead, Hagar stood in front of him, raised his wrap-around sunglasses,
grinned ear to ear, and signaled his encouragement.
Later, Hagar again sought out the boy and, seeing he looked peaked, raced to
the back of the stage, fetched a cold, plastic bottle of water, and passed it
through the crowd to the child.
After about 16 songs, plus several solos, Van Halen left the stage around 10:20
p.m., returning a few moments later for a three-song encore, which included a
Kinks cover and the classic "Panama."
"Panama," in fact, represented something of a departure. It was one of the only
David Lee Roth helmed-Van Halen songs the band performed.
An all too obvious question, meanwhile, was posed by the band's final song,
"How Do I Know When It's Love?"
For the four members of Van Halen on stage in Biloxi Sunday night, all they had
to do was look around
"Biloxi, it took us a long time to make it back here. Check it out. Tonight,
we're going to make up for it big time!" Hagar said at one point.
And they did.
By PETE TATTERSALL, Biloxi Sun Herald
Tue, Sep. 07, 2004
BILOXI - It was a mass celebration of rock 'n' roll Sunday night at the
Mississippi Coast Coliseum, as more than 6,500 hard-core fans, most of whom
remained on their feet for the duration of the show, welcomed Van Halen back to
Biloxi.
"This is a party. This ain't no rock concert. It's a love fest," said lead
singer Sammy Hagar.
It was, in fact, a mutual appreciation night. The fans gave and gave and gave.
Van Halen, meanwhile, seemed to channel the crowd's raw energy into its music,
pumping out high-volume, jubilant, in-your-face rock 'n' roll for more than two
hours.
Highlights on display by Van Halen, a T-shirt and jeans type band whose members
consist of Hagar, guitarist Eddie Van Halen, bassist Michael Anthony and
drummer Alex Van Halen, included "Poundcake," "Top of the World," "Why Can't
This Be Love," "Dreams," "It's About Time," "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" and the
romping, feel-good "Right Now."
Eddie Van Halen took center stage for about 20 minutes, demonstrating why he
remains a legendary guitarist. At times he hammered away ferociously on his
instrument, alternating occasionally to a light-finger style that could only be
described as "fluttering." He also played his guitar with an electric drill,
and while lying on the ground.
But when it came to connecting with the crowd, which ranged in age largely from
25 to 55, Hagar proved he was without equal.
At one point, he hopped down into the first few rows and began singing from
among their ranks. At another point he dropped to his knees, midsong, and began
signing fan memorabilia. One fan even passed up a prosthetic leg, complete with
a running shoe on one end, for Hagar to sign.
But the best moments involved Hagar's interaction with a boy, who appeared to
be about 4 years old, on his father's shoulders in the third row. As the child,
who at one point held a sign reading "My 1st concert," raised a clenched fist
high overhead, Hagar stood in front of him, raised his wrap-around sunglasses,
grinned ear to ear, and signaled his encouragement.
Later, Hagar again sought out the boy and, seeing he looked peaked, raced to
the back of the stage, fetched a cold, plastic bottle of water, and passed it
through the crowd to the child.
After about 16 songs, plus several solos, Van Halen left the stage around 10:20
p.m., returning a few moments later for a three-song encore, which included a
Kinks cover and the classic "Panama."
"Panama," in fact, represented something of a departure. It was one of the only
David Lee Roth helmed-Van Halen songs the band performed.
An all too obvious question, meanwhile, was posed by the band's final song,
"How Do I Know When It's Love?"
For the four members of Van Halen on stage in Biloxi Sunday night, all they had
to do was look around
"Biloxi, it took us a long time to make it back here. Check it out. Tonight,
we're going to make up for it big time!" Hagar said at one point.
And they did.
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