Review | Chickenfoot Live!
Supergroup, Chickenfoot (don’t tell Sammy Hagar that) “We are not a supergroup, we like hanging out together and the music is a bonus” if you don’t already know is a hard rock group that features, Sammy Hagar (vocals and a little guitar), Joe Satriani (a lot of guitar and a little vocals), Michael Anthony (bass and a lot of vocal harmonies), and Chad Smith (drums and then some). The band released their self titled debut album, produced by legendary producer, Andy Johns June 5th, 2009 and on September 10th, 2009 it was certified gold by the RIAA for 500,000 units sold.
It was a warm September night and perfect for an outdoor concert in southern California, north San Diego County to be exact, not far from Fontana where Sammy Hagar grew up, at Harrah’s Rincon Casino’s Open Sky Theater. I think the word theater is pushing it a bit. This is an outdoor venue with a large stage set up on asphalt, with folding chairs and aluminum bleachers surrounded with chain link fencing, temporary rented fencing, Red Rocks it’s not. None the less, a beautiful half moon hung in the sky and rock was in the air.
I was pleased with my third row seats (which I miraculously purchased for face value from Ticketmaster). I was very close, and on the right side of the stage, although the large PA stack no more than 10 to 12 feet directly in front of me was cause for concern. The lights went down and the boys in Chickenfoot came out on stage. Sammy greeted the crowd, let out a youthful classic Hagar scream and they tore right into ‘Avenida Revolution’ a song about the drug wars south of the boarder, their opening song on the album as well.
The concern I had about the PA looming directly in front of me was founded, it was loud. Luckily the friend attending the show with me obtained some earplugs (I do want to enjoy listening to rock music for a long time ). As I placed the earplugs in it was just to muffled, so I compromised, removing the plug from the ear facing away from the speaker. Live loud hard rock music in one ear and hearing conservation in the other, perfect.
The band appeared energized as they proceeded to play, ‘Sexy Little Thing’ and it sounded good. Sammy commented during the show that they were just four musicians playing rock music the way they thought it should be played. And they were, loud, hard, and with a lot of enthusiasm, they genuinely seemed to be having fun. I saw Van Halen a few years back with Hagar when they got back together and toured, Sammy was more concerned with signing things people were throwing at him then performing, and the band did not seem to have any chemistry, they just appeared to be going through the motions.
This night was different, Sammy was focused, but at the same time loose and ready to perform these new Chickenfoot songs as if this was his first band and he was excited to be onstage. His voice was strong and powerful, never letting on that he would be celebrating his 62nd birthday in only a couple of weeks. Sammy was born to rock, and he has been doing it for 40 plus years, he really is the ‘Red Rocker.’
As Chickenfoot began to play ‘Soap on a Rope’ there was a lot of interaction between every member of the band. Sammy and Michael, forehead to forehead sharing the mic for harmonies, Sammy and Chad connecting on the drum riser, and Satriani being harassed by Hagar as he performed another jaw dropping solo on his Chickenfoot insignia guitar, and this went on through out the show.
Speaking of Chad Smith, he doesn’t play the drums, he assaults them, he is such a heavier hitter, I was blown away. Watching him play was a treat, as he would generously toss drums sticks into the crowd without missing a beat. And I mean a lot of drum sticks, three to four dozen at least. Chad must own his own forest because he was tossing out a lot of lumber, much to the crowds delight. Fun aside Smith is a drummer that doesn’t cheat, he is very busy with creative fills and beats and never seemed to lack energy.
As they broke into a catchy number called’ Sexy Little Thing’ I focused on Michael Anthony. He is truly an underrated bass player. Working hard with solid bass lines and riffs complimenting Smiths heavy handed and energetic drumming, he to was having a blast. Anthony’s legendary stratospheric vocal harmonies that have been recognizable since Van Halen first hit the airwaves in 1978 with ‘You Really Got Me’ still seemed fresh, and he was on his game tonight. His duet with Hagar on the song ‘Get it Up’ proved another element to his vocal abilities.
Never having seen Joe Satriani play live, I was really looking forward to it, and now I have a whole new appreciation for this mans amazing ability to play the guitar. Watching his spider like fingering techniques, two handed tapping, hammer ons and offs that were applied to the fret board of his guitar and the ’Satchmo’ trademark sounds that were eminating from his numerous Marshall amps as he tugged at his whammy bar, I quickly realized that I was in the presence of a true guitar legend. I knew he was talented, but watching him perform song after song, only reinforced his guitar virtuosity, I was so impressed by his performance.
As Sammy told the crowd that the next song was about NASCAR and his favorite driver #48 was Jimmy Johnson (born in El Cajon, Ca) the band broke into, ‘Turnin’ Left’ (one of my favorite songs off the album). They closed with the song, ‘Future in the Past’ which Hagar explained was about not making the same mistake twice. The band thanked the crowd and left the stage as if they were done, they weren’t.
A short time off stage, and the crowd wanting more, Sammy soon came out by himself, and said something to the effect that it was Saturday night and that they were going to keep this party going. With a small electric slide guitar in hand, he made himself comfortable and sat down on the edge of the stage and told the crowd “This was the first song I ever wrote” I knew what was coming. After a few minutes of jamming on the slide guitar he broke into the now infamous sounds of a motorcycle shifting gears as it tore down the street, Bad Motor Scooter! The rest of the band joined in to a rousing extended jam filled version of the song with Sammy and Joe trading leads during the middle section. At one point the band laid back and Chad Smith went off on a music backed drum solo. As ‘Bad Motor Scooter’ wound down the band broke into ‘My Generation’ by The Who. At the conclusion of the song, Smith proceeded to Keith Moon his drums and demolished them, which was only fitting, since he had been abusing them all night anyway. The guys thanked the crowd, came together for the traditional bow and left the stage for good.
Hagar mentioned that this was the second to the last show of the tour. With Chad Smith’s commitment to the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2010 and no more tour dates scheduled, I don’t know what the future holds for Chickenfoot. One thing I do know, I saw four highly talented musicians come together as one, set aside their egos, and play rock music the way it should be played, loud and hard!