I had the pleasure to attend this year’s annual Birthday Bash in Cabo. It was a fitting celebration for Sammy Hagar’s 70th Birthday. 


Sammy sums it up best himself as he writes on his website, "This was the most eclectic, crazy high energy Birthday Bash to date! I was not feeling well the first two shows but the fans were unbelievably supportive with their sing-alongs. I didn’t have to sing a damn word and they were incredible. God bless the redheads!


"Once I got my voice back on Friday, the energy was out of control and burnt through Saturday night hotter than I’ve ever felt in my 70 years on this planet. I can’t believe what the Birthday Bash has become beyond my wildest dreams and can confidently say I think it’s the best party on the planet. It is a big badass red love fest...


"I would like to thank my special guests: Toby Keith, Vinnie Paul (Pantera, HellYeah), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC), Bob Weir (The Grateful Dead), Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty Band), Eddie Money, Chad Kroeger (Nickelback) and, most of all, Michael Anthony, Vic Johnson and Jason Bonham a.k.a. The Circle - I love this band!"


See you next year!


   - Sammy 


Presented by Fathom Events and AXS, “Red Til I’m Dead: Sammy Hagar’s Rock-N-Roll Birthday Party” will feature the best of the performances and party action from the four-day rock spectacular when it hits cinemas nationwide for one night on Tuesday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m. local time. Moviegoers will also enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the music that spans the career of the one and only Red Rocker, plus birthday wishes from famous friends.
Tickets can be purchased online beginning Friday, October 27.  For more info on participating theaters please visit: https://www.fathomevents.com/events/sammy-hagars-birthday-bash


Setlist (10/13/2017)
There's Only One Way to Rock
Rock Candy (Montrose cover)
Good Times Bad Times (Led Zeppelin cover)
Poundcake (Van Halen cover) (with Vinnie Paul)
I Can't Drive 55
Sexy Little Thing (Chickenfoot cover)
Two Tickets to Paradise (with Eddie Money)
Right Now (Van Halen cover)
Why Can't This Be Love (Van Halen cover)
Loose Lucy (with Bob Weir)
Rockstar (with Chad Kroeger)
When the Levee Breaks (Led Zeppelin cover)
Heavy Metal
Walk This Way (with Darryl McDaniels)
That Girls Kitchen (with Darryl McDaniels and Kenny Aaronoff)
Mas Mezquila
 
Encore
When it's Love (Van Halen cover)


You can find my Photo Album from the show here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jschaef00/albums/72157687887048114


The Official Website is located here: http://www.redrocker.com/


 All Images © Joe Schaeffer Photography 2017

Germany's most famous hard rock exports, the Scorpions, who are entertaining us on their Crazy World Tour with a hits-packed set of their trademark melodic hard rock.  The band members are Rudolf Schenker (Rhythm & Lead Guitars, Backing Vocals), Klaus Meine (Lead Vocals, Guitars, Tambourine)
Matthias Jabs (Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Backing Vocals), Paweł Mąciwoda (Bass, Backing Vocals) and Mikkey Dee (Drums).


Three songs from their latest album ‘Return to Forever’ were featured in the night's set (opener 'Going Out With A Bang' along with lead single 'We Built This House' and 'Rock and Roll Band') and slotted in with ease alongside classics like 'The Zoo,' 'Make it Real,' and 'Big City Nights.'  The highlight for me was the ’70s tracks consisting of ‘Top of the Bill,’ ‘Steamrock Fever,’ ‘Speedy’s Coming’ and ‘Catch Your Train.’


Of course, it was the super hits that the crowd had really been waiting for the most, and the Scorpions brought them out. ‘Wind of Change’ had everyone in the entire venue singing along, while ‘Blackout’ had every head banging from row to row.


As a special tribute to Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, they performed ‘Overkill’ which led into Mikkey Dee’s Drum Solo.


Finally there was the fierce wallop of “No One Like You,” “Big City Nights” and “Rock You Like A Hurricane” that had every fist in the air and further explained exactly how Scorpions have lasted so long.


It was clear that even after fifty plus years, the Scorpions still know what it takes to deliver a big time rock show.
 
Setlist
Going Out With a Bang
Make It Real
The Zoo
Coast to Coast
Top of the Bill / Steamrock Fever / Speedy's Coming / Catch Your Train
We Built This House
Delicate Dance
Always Somewhere / Eye of the Storm / Send Me an Angel
Wind of Change
Rock 'n' Roll Band
Overkill
Mikkey Dee Drum Solo
Blackout
Big City Nights
 
Encore
No One Like You
Still Loving You
Rock You Like a Hurricane
The Official Website can be found here:
https://www.the-scorpions.com/home/


The full photo albums can be found here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jschaef00/albums/72157687053338980
 

All Images © Joe Schaeffer Photography 2017

9/30/2017


                 Accept showed why Metal is still vital in today’s download environment. Their last four releases, which include the newest "The Rise of Chaos" is as good if not better than a lot of the new metal bands that currently represent the genre.
 
               The band now fronted by Mark Tornillo, who joined Accept when they re-formed in 2009. His selection has proven to be a great decision, as his style has the power and range to make new songs his own, but also has enough similarities to former singer Udo Dirkschneider to pull off classic Accept tracks. Both guitarists Wolf Hoffman and Uwe Lulis seem to have a great time playing together and it truly shows. Wolf was in fantastic form.  Peter Baltes(Bass) and newcomer Christopher Williams (Drums) create a supremely powerhouse rhythm section.


           The set list pulled songs from the recent albums and they were delivered with tight arrangements. There wasn’t a lot of talk in between songs, instead choosing to keep the music flowing all night long. "The Rise of Chaos", “Koolaid”, “Analog Man” and “No Regrets” gave us a good taste of the fantastic “The Rise of Chaos” album. It is their fifteenth studio album and was released on August 4, 2017 via Nuclear Blast Records. (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-rise-of-chaos/id124047856) Of course gems like "Restless and Wild", “London Leatherboys", “Fast as a Shark” and their biggest hit "Balls to the Wall" which closed what was a fantastic show.
              
               The German metal legends ran over the crowd like a tank. Metal music doesn’t get better than this. It was an absolutely killer performance and surely one of my concert highlights for this year.
 
Current Line-Up :  Wolf Hoffmann – Guitar, Peter Baltes – Bass, Mark Tornillo – Vocals, Uwe Lulis – Guitar and Christopher Williams – Drums
 
Sept. 30th, 2017
Die by the Sword
Stalingrad
Restless and Wild
London Leatherboys
Living for Tonite
The Rise of Chaos
Koolaid
No Regrets
Analog Man
No Regrets
Final Journey
Shadow Soldiers
Neon Nights
Princess of the Dawn
Midnight Mover
Up to the Limit
Objection Overruled
Pandemic
Fast as a Shark


Encore
Metal Heart
Teutonic Terror

Balls to the Wall


You can find my Photo Album from the show here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jschaef00/albums/72157686777245600


The Official Website is located here: http://acceptworldwide.com/band/


Nuclear Blast Records: http://www.nuclearblast.com/en/label/index.html


 All Images © Joe Schaeffer Photography 2017