It’s party time for Cabo Wabo Cantina in Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort. The restaurant and bar celebrates its three-year anniversary this week in grand style. On Feb. 9, rock legend and Cabo Wabo owner Sammy Hagar and his band Cabo UNO, perform a free show, but tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis, so line up early. Las Vegas Magazine’s Kiko Miyasato chatted with Hagar about the milestone and what else is in store this year.
Q: Congratulations on three years! You’re coming to town to celebrate, right?
A: We’re bringing the band up from Cabo Wabo in San Lucas (Mexico)—I’ve probably played with them more than any other band that I’ve been in. They know about 20 of my songs and we know like 20 of other people’s songs. We’re flying them up (to Vegas) for the whole week… I’m going to come and join them on the last night. No set in mind, we just jam and play songs. We’re just going to throw a big rum and tequila party!
Q: What’s your favorite: tequila or rum?
A: Right now I’m drinking more rum than tequila, for sure, because I’m experimenting with making drinks and different ways to drink my new rum (Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum). But my love for tequila is always there. I’ll tell you, if I’m in Mexico I’m drinking margaritas and tequila. If I’m in Hawaii, I’m drinking rum. It’s the best of both worlds. But seriously, I’m sampling a lot of other people’s rums, too, because I’m trying to see where my rum is at in the industry and I think mine is at the top of the heap.
Q: You travel back and forth, and also live in California. Any plans to make one spot permanent?
A: I like all the locations. I get too bored and there’s certain things, for instance, that I can’t do in Hawaii, like rehearse with my band and do a show. It’s tough to keep my music going, which I love, and Hawaii’s hard for that, so I can’t live there full time. Mexico, my kids, I can’t put them in school down there; it would be hard for them with the language barrier. But, I can play my music there, at Cabo Wabo. …But I don’t see myself living in those places year round, so we just hole up here in California.
Q: What’s in store for you in 2013?
A: I’m in the studio right now with my band, The Wabos, and we’re rehearsing and writing songs. We’re putting something out this year and we’ll probably go out and do 25-30 shows. We’re opening another Cabo Wabo in Los Angeles at Hollywood and Vine. I would like to do a lifestyle cookbook with some of my chef friends.
Q: What is it about the beach lifestyle that you love?
A: It’s a state of mind for sure, and I just love the ocean; I love my feet in the sand. I’m a beach nut, a sun worshipper. I can’t help it. I would rather be at (the beach) than anywhere else. Man, put me on that beach with a chair and a cocktail … I just love it, I can’t get enough of it.
