Front Porch: Red Rocker wins over third choice
Some women might chafe at being their husband’s third choice.
Not me.
When Derek read Sammy Hagar was coming to Northern Quest this summer, he quickly snapped up two tickets. My husband is a fan of all things Van Halen, and Hagar famously fronted for the band during David Lee Roth’s extended absence. The fact that former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony now tours with Hagar just sweetened the deal for Derek.
I’m not a Van Halen fan, and I only vaguely remember the Red Rocker’s solo career. As for Montrose and Chickenfoot?
I shook my head when Derek insisted I must have heard of Hagar’s other bands.
You see, while my husband was rocking out to Blue Oyster Cult, The Cars and Van Halen, I got my groove on with Bon Jovi, Blondie, Billy Joel, and way too much Air Supply.
I wasn’t worried about brushing up on my rock ’n’ roll ignorance because Derek planned to attend the concert with his brother, who at 13 months his junior, enjoys the same high school musical memories as Derek.
Alas, Darrol, an emergency room physician in Pullman, had to work the night of the concert.
No worries, because one of Derek’s good friends frequently goes to concerts with him, and also happens to own a signed Sammy Hagar guitar.
I knew they’d have a great time.
Then his friend found out about a family wedding he had to attend.
Derek looked at me doubtfully.
“Zach would go with me,” he said.
Our third son inherited his father’s love of Van Halen.
“But if you go with me, I’ll spring for a couple’s massage at the Spa,” Derek continued. “And dinner.”
I grinned.
“You had me at spa.”
So, Saturday afternoon we slipped into the hot tub at La Rive at Northern Quest, and sipped some wine, while we waited for the attendants to call us for our massages.
“I like Sammy Hagar better already,” I said.
Imagine my surprise when I liked him even more once he took the stage!
Some tunes like “I Can’t Drive 55,” and “Right Now” were familiar due to radio play back in the day, but others like “Why Can’t This Be Love,” and “Mas Tequila” were fun new songs to me.
Derek was thrilled with the set list, and even more pleased that Hagar’s voice has held up so well.
“He sounds way better than David Lee Roth did in Tacoma,” Derek said.
He’d taken two of our sons to see Van Halen several years ago when they played in Tacoma, and while they had a great time, Derek said Roth’s vocals sounded strained and the band played louder to cover the weakness.
Hagar didn’t need any such help Saturday night. And in my opinion the Red Rocker is hotter at 71, than he ever was at 31. His moplike head of curls has been tamed just a bit and he’s trim, fit, tanned, and has moves better than Jagger’s.
“Must be all that tequila,” Derek mused.
Hagar founded a tequila company in the ’90s and sold it several years ago.
Whatever the reason, Hagar still has the pipes to hit all the right notes. But even better, on Saturday it was apparent to his thousands of fans at Northern Quest that Hagar truly loves what he’s doing.
His appreciation of the venue and the crowd seemed sincere. When it came time for his encore, he didn’t bother to leave the stage.
Instead, he stayed and gave the audience more of what they wanted.
Turns out I was one of those fans screaming for more.
If Hagar’s right that “There’s Only One Way to Rock,” then being your husband’s third choice is sure a fun way to do it.
Contact Cindy Hval at dchval@juno.com. She is the author of “War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation. Her Front Porch segments air Saturday mornings on Spokane Talks on FOX 28 Spokane. To see previously aired segments go to https://spokanetalksmedia.com/ and click the Front Porch tab.