The Jones Beach Theater concert schedule ends on a high note this weekend with a return to summer-like weather, the late Gregg Allman’s Laid Back Festival Sunday and Sammy Hagar tonight.

Sammy Hagar is a rocker. I first saw him at the Brendan Byrne Arena at the Meadowlands when he fronted Van Halen (with opening act Bachman Turner Overdrive), Now I was always in the David Lee Roth camp during the Van Halen wars and while this version of Van Hagar had some good tunes, I did not fully appreciate Sammy’s talents. 

A few years ago I picked up a ten dollar ticket to see Hagar’s band Chickenfoot at Webster Hall (formerly The Ritz) with Joe Satruani on guitar and VH banished for Wolfgang bass player Michael Anthony (who will perform tonight with The Circle).

The band Chickenfoot kicked ass; a completely unexpected great old time rock and roll show. I would expect the same tonight. Jason Bonham, who was at the Beach this summer with his Led Zeppelin tribute band, will be on drums.

Collective Soul had hit or two back in the day and should be a fine opening act on what should be a beautiful evening.

Tomorrow the Laid Back Festival takes over the Northeell Health at Jones Beach Theater. I was supposed to see Gregg Allman at City Winery before he passed so it turned out the last time I attended a Gregg Allman performance was st his festival a few years back. A great classic rock line up with Jackson Browne, Steve Winwood (supporting n excellent live greatest hits collection just released) and the incredible, (hopefully) soon to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, J. Geils Band singer, Mr. Peter Wolf taking the main stage.

Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakemam will play the Tilles Center tomorrow night on a football Sunday.

5150

Rock on!

GQ