Concert Reviews

Roth brought his bevy of backup singers to House of Blues last month, while the Red Rocker lit up Mansfield Wednesday night.

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David Lee Roth at House of Blues, Boston, May 21; Sammy Hagar at Xfinity Center, Mansfield, June 24.

In the latest chapter of their rock and roll rivalry, Sammy Hagar earned a hard-fought split-decision over David Lee Roth when he played Wednesday night at the Xfinity Center, just a month after Diamond Dave played House of Blues in Boston.

As the two former Van Halen vocalists blitzed the Bay State in recent weeks, they covered an amazing array of hits from their former band.

Hagar stood tall during his tremendous two-hour, 19-song set. The Best of All Worlds Tour included 11 golden nuggets from the singer’s time in VH. 

Sporting dark sunglasses, a black “Cabo Wabo” t-shirt and white pants, Hagar energized the near-capacity crowd with an array of hits spanning his entire career. The Red Rocker reigned supreme. From the ruckus thump of set opener “Why Can’t This Be Love” to the euphoric serenade of “Top of the World,” it was clear the singer was in great spirits and on top of his game.

“Boston’s a great city,” said Hagar. “It’s F—ing clean. People are nice and s—. That s— ain’t normal. If you ask me there are some up tight mother f—ers in the world, fighting and s—. We’re not doing none of that here. This is a f—ing lovefest.”

His backing band supplied the love as well as the heavy artillery. Guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani showcased his fretboard wizardry, covering Eddie Van Halen standards like clockwork. The guitarist navigated his way from the twists and turns of “Runaround” to the soulful sway of “Summer Nights.”  

But it was Satriani’s take on the riff-fueled rant of “51/50” that was utterly Herculean, channeling Eddie’s intense ferocity.

Not bad for a guitarist who admittedly went out of his way not to sound like EVH earlier in his career. Joe also did what he does best, shred. The six-stringer sizzled on his signature instrumental “Satch Boogie,” much to the delight of all the air guitarists in the audience.

Former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony added instant credibility. The bass player with the cannon mouth roared on VH foot-stomper “Good Enough,” before shifting into crooning mode with sharp backing vocals on “Cabo Wabo” and “Love Walks In.” 

The chemistry Anthony and Hagar still share is undeniable. Their familiar stage shuffle on “Best of Both Worlds” was a nice throwback. The bassist also put his pipes to good use handling lead vocal duties on the DLR-era classic “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love,” strumming his infamous Jack Daniels bass.

Journeyman drummer Kenny Aronoff was a great musical foil. The former John Cougar Mellencamp skin-basher showcased his versatility covering the Montrose-era classic “Bad Motor Scooter,” and Hagar signatures “Mas Tequila” and fan favorite “I Can’t Drive 55.” 

Keyboardist Nathan Mercado got his time to shine on the piano-driven rocker “Right Now,” complemented by Hagar’s searing vocals.

At age 78, Hagar’s voice remains in incredible shape. He’ll never be confused with the Stephen Tylers or Robin Zanders of the world, but he’s not that far behind. 

Hard rock’s version of Jimmy Buffett, Hagar was truly in his element. When he wasn’t singing, he roamed the stage collecting banners thrown from the audience, signing the occasional autograph during his in-between song banter, and even handed out tequila shots.

Roth and roll over

Just five weeks earlier, original Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth held court in the cozy confines of the House of Blues in Boston, May 21.

Playing to a more intimate crowd, the Atomic Punk unleashed a furious dose of arena rock during his own devastating two-hour, 18-song set.  Dave didn’t just cover Van Halen, he dwelled on it. The singer skipped his solo catalog, giving the fans a heavy dose of pure, unadulterated VH. 

Dressed in black leather overalls and a matching jacket, Roth appeared in phenomenal shape. The 71-year-old singer brought the crowd to its feet, fueled by the sizzling riffs of set opener “Panama” before segueing into another “1984” buried gem, “Drop Dead Legs.” 

Although they may not have the type of pedigree of Hagar’s current outfit, Roth’s band didn’t mess around. They maintained a crisp matter-of-fact edge, letting the music do the talking. 

Guitarist Al Estrada replicated Eddie Van Halen’s licks note-for-note.  From the frantic boogie of “Romeo Delight,” the added guitar gristle of “I’m The One,” to the bluesy swing of “Little Dreamer,” Estrada made it all seem like child’s play. The rhythm section of veteran bassist Sean McNab and drummer Francis Valentino also held steady. Valentino is well versed in VH101. He provided the Latin-tinged rumble of “Jamie’s Crying” and tribal thump of “Everybody Wants Some,” while handling Alex Van Halen’s magnum opus “Hot for Teacher,” very effectively.

Meanwhile, Dave remained Dave. He’s not jumping off drum risers or wheeling crescent kicks like he once did, but the veteran rocker’s stage presence and tongue-in-cheek persona remains a formidable force.  

Roth’s whiskey-soaked vocals have waned over the years, drawing plenty of criticism as of late. However, he’s managed to overcome these obstacles by enlisting an arsenal of backup singers to bolster his sound. Kurt Lykes, Juneau Lake, Andre Washington, and Stevie Notes provide Roth with ample vocal firepower, from the Kinks cover “You Really Got Me” to signature Van Halen sing-alongs “Beautiful Girls,” and “Dance the Night Away.” This gang-vocals approach is unique, and enhances Roth’s overall sound, while keeping everything authentic.

With all due respect to the Hagar-era, the bedrock of the Van Halen catalogue remains firmly embedded in Roth-era material. “Unchained,” “Mean Street” and “Atomic Punk” still sound fresh and vibrant. Dave brought it all home with set closer “Jump.” 

Those classics are as recognizable today as the Nike swoosh, packing a punch too heavy to ignore.

“I don’t really see that there’s a whole lot of comparison,” said Roth in a documentary covering the Sam and Dave Tour of 2002. “Sam throws a party. I am the party.”

Of course, the fans remain the real winner in this rock and roll battle royale. They got to see both legends perform in close proximity, covering a great American songbook of classic guitar rock. And as long as there’s a thirsty audience, you can expect Sammy and David Lee to continue to serve it to them … with a shot of tequila and Jack Daniels, as usual. 

Setlist for Sammy Hagar at Xfinity Center, Mansfield, June 24, 2026:

• Why Can’t This Be Love
• Top of the World
• Runaround
• Best of Both Worlds
• Summer Nights Love
• Bad Motor Scooter
• 5150
• Love Walks In
• Cabo Wabo
• Mas Tequila
• There’s Only One Way to Rock
• Right Now
• Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love (Michael Anthony vocals)
• Satch Boogie (Joe Satriani cover)
• Good Enough
• Heavy Metal
• I Can’t Drive 55
• Eagles Fly
• Encore, Thank You, Goodnight

Setlist for David Lee Roth at House of Blues, Boston, May 21, 2026

• Panama
• Drop Dead Legs
• Romeo Delight
• Little Dreamer
• Blues Jam
• I’m the One
• Beautiful Girls
• Dance the Night Away
• Ice Cream Man
• You Really Got Me (Kinks cover)
• Jamie’s Cryin’
• Unchained
• Mean Street
• Atomic Punk
• Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love
• Hot for Teacher
• Everybody Wants Some!!
• Jump