Sammy Hagar kicked off his Best of All Worlds tour on Saturday with Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Rai Thistlethwayte in tow, specializing in his Van Halen tenure whereas sprinkling in a handful of different hits from his five-decade profession.

Van Halen followers have eagerly awaited this trek since Hagar introduced it, and unsurprisingly, Saturday’s 21-song efficiency sparked lots of on-line chatter, each constructive and detrimental.

Now that Hagar and Co. have two reveals below their belts and a complete lot extra on the horizon, UCR’s resident Van Halen fanatics are answering 5 burning questions on the Best of All Worlds tour.

1. Hagar promised that he would go deep into the Van Halen catalog on this tour. How has he honored that promise up to now?

Bryan Rolli: I feel he is doing pretty much as good a job as anyone might moderately anticipate. Fifteen of the 21 songs throughout opening evening have been Van Halen tunes, some of which hadn’t been performed stay in many years (or ever by Hagar’s band, in the case of “Panama”). That’s about double the Van Halen you’d have gotten on a current Circle tour. The songs from the different phases of his profession have been minimal however acceptable — it is laborious to argue with solid-gold cuts like “Heavy Metal,” “There’s Only One Way to Rock” and “Space Station #5.”

Matt Wardlaw: I feel he’s completed a fairly admirable job of mixing issues up from each eras. It’s a tough job, however there are some enjoyable set checklist choices for this tour.

Matthew Wilkening: He did not go as deep into it as I assumed he would, however I’m OK with that. Hagar’s profession outdoors of Van Halen covers over 5 many years now; these songs deserve a while too. There are some nice “Van Hagar”-era songs I’d like to see them play, however I get that they should attraction to giant crowds, not simply fanatics.

2. What was the most nice shock from the present? The most obtrusive omission?

Rolli: I do not know if I’d name these surprises per se, since Hagar has been hinting at them for months, however it was nice to listen to the band revive classics like “5150” and “Summer Nights” for the first time since 2010 and 2006, respectively. I would have favored to see extra OU812 illustration; “Cabo Wabo” is tailored for the summer-shed crowd, and “A.F.U.” or “Mine All Mine” could be actual treats for the headbangers.

Wardlaw: I feel the most nice shock for me wasn’t a Van Halen tune, however as a substitute, it was Hagar’s resolution to stay a piece of “Space Station #5” in the encore from his Montrose days. It’s laborious to search out a lot fault with this set checklist, however whereas I perceive Hagar’s resolution to stay with a Chickenfoot music folks know [“Oh Yeah”], It would have been nice to listen to one thing deeper from the band. “Down the Drain” would have been my choose in that regard.

Wilkening: “5150” is the most welcome return, together with the “There’s Only One Way to Rock” guitar duel. If I bought to vote one music in, it will be “Cabo Wabo.” It’s unusual that they are not enjoying massive hits comparable to “Finish What Ya Started” and “Dreams,” however the former by no means labored as properly stay because it did on document anyway. Also, it is unusual how Hagar appears to suppose he is solely allowed to play one or two songs from Montrose — a completely wonderful album — at every present. Most different rock stars could be thrilled to construct a set checklist round “Rock the Nation,” “Space Station #5,” “Bad Motor Scooter” and “Rock Candy” every evening.

READ MORE: Sammy Hagar: ‘This Is the Thank You Tour’ for Van Halen Fans

3. Are there another David Lee Roth-era Van Halen songs you’d prefer to see Hagar add to the set checklist?

Rolli: I feel the Roth catalog is well-tread territory at this level, and there are lots of killer Hagar-era deep cuts that deserve precedence. That mentioned, it Hagar have been so as to add some songs from his predecessor, I feel he is bought the vary and the angle to promote “And the Cradle Will Rock …,” “Dance the Night Away” or “Beautiful Girls.” Alternately, the entire band might actually shine on a heavier music like “On Fire,” particularly with Michael Anthony’s vocals.

Wardlaw: It looks like “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” has been Michael Anthony’s staple music with Sammy Hagar and the Circle previous to this present tour. It could be nice to see Mikey sort out one thing like “D.O.A.” — or possibly it’s time to carry “Somebody Get Me a Doctor” again out. I might additionally see him doing an awesome job with “Feel Your Love Tonight.”

Wilkening: For perverse humor, it will be nice to see him open the present with “Yankee Rose,” however in any other case I do not suppose they want any extra. In truth, if I used to be in cost of the set checklist, I’d have Anthony take lead vocals on a pair of Roth-era songs — possibly add “Somebody Get Me a Doctor” — and never have Hagar sing “Panama” or “Jump.” But I get it, they’re making an attempt to recreate the Hagar-fronted Van Halen excursions the place he sang these songs.

4. All eyes on are Joe Satriani on this tour. How has he dealt with the daunting job of paying homage to Eddie Van Halen?

Rolli: I feel he is completed a stellar job up to now, enjoying Eddie’s elements with aplomb whereas additionally injecting his personal type. Satriani has made it clear since this tour was introduced that it wasn’t going to be solely a Van Halen tribute; he is decoding one of the most tough catalogs in rock guitar historical past, conducting in a number of months what most guitarists would battle for years, possibly many years, to attain. I like that Satch maintains his effortlessly cool exterior, however you’ll be able to nonetheless see him actually making an attempt to nail these elements. It’s proof that Eddie Van Halen will at all times be your guitar hero’s guitar hero.

Wardlaw: He’s bought the powerful footwear for certain, and I feel he’s completed an excellent job of honoring Eddie’s elements. Fans who’ve seen anybody sort out Van Halen’s licks will understand it’s not a simple mountain to scale. I assumed Joe sounded nice, and figuring out how a lot of a fan he’s, you’ll be able to hear that he actually put the work in.

Wilkening: Better than myself or anyone I do know or have ever met? Based solely on the movies we have seen up to now, he appears to be placing a stability between a wonderfully wonderful and respectful tribute with out crossing the line into precise replication.

5. Any extra general ideas about the tour up to now?

Rolli: I’m making an attempt to chorus from passing too a lot judgment but, as a result of the tour simply began and mediocre YouTube footage clearly does not do the band justice. My predominant critique up to now is that they are enjoying “Judgement Day” too gradual. Hagar’s sounding principally strong, even earlier than you take into account that he is 76 years outdated, and Anthony is completely crushing it along with his backing vocals. Hopefully the band will proceed to gel over the subsequent couple weeks and we’ll see some tighter preparations, faster tempos and extra onstage consolation. Overall, they’re off to a promising begin. Hagar is a partial steward of the Van Halen legacy, and I respect him doing his half to maintain it alive.

Wardlaw: Any Van Halen fan can spend hours dissecting the good and the dangerous about the set checklist and the present. When you take into account that it’s a set that caters to each the hardcore followers and the majority of followers who would possibly solely know the hits, Hagar has pulled off the tough job of placing collectively a present that actually does have one thing for everybody. Jason Bonham’s gigantic package is Alex Van Halen-worthy, and the addition of Ral Thistlethwayte has added some enjoyable chemistry to the combine. My favourite half of the evening up to now, nonetheless, is an easy second: Hagar and Satriani recreating the guitar duel that Sammy as soon as shared with Eddie on “(There’s Only) One Way to Rock.” That alone is price leaving the home.

Wilkening: It’s cool to see Sammy in entrance of a extra trendy stage present once more. Adding a stay keyboardist appears sensible. I at all times want he’d play extra late-’70s and early-’80s stuff — “Trans Am,” “Love of Money,” “Growing Pains” — however I get that I’m in the minority there.