Van Halen is a rock band from California that put out a lot of great albums in the 1970s and 1980s. The band was always led by the amazing guitarist, Eddie Van Halen, and charismatic lead singers.
This was the first album of the Sammy Hager era. He replaced David Lee Roth, bringing a different sound to the band.
Van Halen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
Here is a look at shows taking place from February 17-23, 2026 along with our featured listings and a look at some upcoming shows. New Jersey Stage offers previews of concerts throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.
On August 15, 2025, Umphrey's Mcgee announced that Scotty Zwang was officially joining the band. His addition was to replace long-time drummer Kris Myers. Ironically the last time I saw UM was in August 2023 at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. A large portion of this tour would be without Kris because of shoulder surgery. During his hiatus, UM would feature a rotation of drummers including Scotty Zwang. Umphreys was founded in 1997 and during their 30+ years change is inevitable. The arrival of Scotty to the band brought new life and on February 13, 2026, I witnessed this metamorphosis at the Fillmore in Philadelphia, PA.
Alex Dawson is full-time faculty at Rutgers University, where he teaches creative writing with a focus on folklore, fantasy, and horror; hosts Inside the Writers House, a video chat with acclaimed authors from all over the world; and leads fable-fueled Study Abroad programs to some of the planet's most mythical places.
