My biggest regret of 2006 was that I missed the Sammy Hagar concert in the summertime. I had heard from loyal Hagar fans on how cool of a show it was, and the pre-show activites were to match. From mariachi bands, to volleyball games, ladies in bikinis, custom hot rod car shows, Cabo Wabo Tequila stations set up everywhere...the show was one of a kind. And I missed it!

Lucky for me and all Sammy fans that saw the show or didn't get to, a recent DVD release captures the pure magic of the day and the show. Just released is Sammy & The Wabos: Livin' It Up! Live In St. Louis. And for any fan this DVD is a MUST have for your collection.

We got the DVD, put it into the player and cranked up the surround sound. I knew we were in for a treat when the opening song of 'Mas Tequila' had streamers, ladies dancing on stage in bikinis, a pinata and 10,000 strong fans singing every song. The opening song looked as if it was a nights closing encore! So it had to get better as the show went on. It did.

Rather then break it down song by song, let me just say this was a concert DVD that I truely enjoyed watching. Each song was played strong and with heart. The crowd was in top form and the atmosphere was off the hook. The camera shots were terrific, capturing the even from every angle. The sound was as near to being there as possible.

The song selection was a testament of Sammy's long career of pre-Halen solo material, and then of course Van Halen time to the post-Halen career, as well as touching on Montrose and even throwing in some Beastie Boys in the end. Newer songs from the latest "Livin' It Up!' release remind me a modern-day Jimmy Buffet! By the way if you haven't gotten that album yet, head out and pick it up...it's one of the best albums of 2006 and one of the best in Sammy's catalog.

The inclusion of Michael Anthony for the Van Halen set proves how tight these two are, and they put on a great 'Other Half' show. The Wabos are a great band for Sammy. They have the same spirit as Sam does and the tight connection of them all on stage is a perfect example of friends playing music they love for the fans.

The entire show was for the fans. Sammy waering banners and shirts thrown on stage. Signing autographs during songs to people in the front and on stage. Bring some 50 people on stage in each city to watch the show on a special stage behind the band...and bringing them down for a conga-line dance at one point. The entourage of bikini tequila servers were a beautiful site and Sammy had fun trying to be a 'good husband'...lol!

I gave this DVD a 4.5 because I thought it would have been cooler in the extra sections to add a little more behind the scenes on what it took to make this event happen. But the extras included are enjoyable as well, don't get me wrong. 2 music videos, behind the scenes and interviews were very cool. But a little more about the making of the show I thought would have been very very interesting.

In the end...the best show on DVD yet...Sammy is for the fans...and this release proves it!