Completely Unchained — Van Halen Tribute
Richey Suncoast Theatre closes out its rock-heavy August calendar the way it should — loud. Completely Unchained: The Ultimate Van Halen Tribute takes the historic downtown New Port Richey stage for a full-throttle run through one of rock’s most technically demanding catalogs, six days after The Seger Experience plays the same room.
When: Friday, August 28, 2026, 8 p.m. Doors 7:15 p.m.
Where: Richey Suncoast Theatre, 6237 Grand Blvd, New Port Richey, FL 34652
Cost: $31–$42 plus tax and fees; VIP box seating $177
The band splits the difference between Van Halen’s two eras rather than picking a lane: Gene “Little Geno” Henriksen handles the David Lee Roth-era showmanship on vocals, Jake C. Miller takes on Eddie Van Halen’s famously hard-to-replicate “brown sound” on guitar, Clint Ettore covers Michael Anthony’s bass and backing vocals, and Ronnie Sciascia holds down Alex Van Halen’s drum parts. Expect the set to move between both lineups’ hits — “Jump,” “Panama,” and “Hot for Teacher” among them.
It’s a genuinely tall order for a tribute act — Van Halen’s guitar work in particular is the kind of material that separates a competent cover band from one that can actually pull the songs off — and landing it in a roughly 250-seat historic theater rather than an arena means the guitar tone and drum fills are close enough to actually hear cleanly, which is part of why Richey Suncoast has built a reputation as one of Pasco County’s more reliable spots for this exact kind of high-energy tribute night.
Parking
No dedicated theatre lot, but three free options sit within walking distance: the New Port Richey Parking Structure at 6218 US-19 (open 24 hours, EV charging, its own downtown trolley), the Thomas Meighan lot on Nebraska Ave, and the Gloria Swanson lot on Bank St. This is the last show of the theatre’s August run and a Friday night, so expect the fullest crowd of the month — arrive well before an 8 p.m. curtain.
One thing to know before you go
Book through richeysuncoasttheatre.com rather than a resale site — a $31–$42 ticket carries proportionally steep resale fees, and the theatre asks patrons to buy direct. Box office hours are Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., plus 45 minutes before the show; call (727) 842-6777 outside that window.