Seeing Steve Vai tomorrow night

[Genebaby]

Tickets became available for half price so I stopped resisting and now I'm going to see Steve tomorrow night here in Canberra.

I've never seen him or Satch or any of those guys as I'm just not into them as a guitarist.

I'm sure his performance will just depress me.

[shramiac]

You'll be fine until half way through the first song when he starts smiling whilst at the same time his hands are a blur on the guitar!

Vai is an enjoyable show while Joe can get a tad boring. I couldn't get a decent flight down to see the Brisbane show sadly.

[Genebaby]

Well, he's been doing impossible things on the guitar for over 30 years, so I'm sure its as easy as ever.

I do love his performance as Jack Butler though,that was killer.

Too bad I couldn't be seeing Vinnie this year. Can Vinnie play still, like Steve and others can?

[PinkWiz]

this solo is everything anyone needs to know about the genius of Vai... goosebump central:
[youtube][/youtube]

[poserboy71]

Great song !!!!

[PinkWiz]

Great song !!!!

yes indeed!

[Genebaby]

That was pretty cool.

[shramiac]

Geez Louise Vic! Go and buy Eat 'em and Smile tomorrow! 33 minutes of Heaven!

[Genebaby]

I've heard a few songs off it, that was enough for me. It's no Lick It Up or VVI....lol....

[birnie]

have fun vic!

[FREDDYB3]

Have a great time tonight Vic. I have seen Vai twice, once with Eric Johnson opening. I know it's not your favorite type of playing, but Steve is an awesome talent and hopefully you'll enjoy it and have a great time.
Not sure sure how close you will be, but pics would be cool to see. Enjoy !

[Genebaby]

I'm going to try and video tape it, otherwise I'll just take pics.

I'm in Row A, but it's a theater and there is an orchestra pit in front of me too, but I'm pretty close.

[Genebaby]

Ok, Steve Vai is quite the showman, and seems very nice and down to earth, from what I could see and what I've also been told.

There was an usher who wouldn't let me even use my phone for pics or video, but I managed to sneak some pics in, though they are not up to the standard of some here. I just don't have good gear for band shots. Video I can do though, ha ha.

During the show it seems his main Evo guitar went out of tune and he stopped the song. He wasn't going to continue, but then he did finish it off as he said he enjoyed playing it. I have no idea what that song was now, ha ha.

He called that guitar Evo, and I could see it had a hand written sticker that said so. This was the white Jem with black hardware. I did also think his other white Jem, with gold hardware, was also called Evo? Maybe it's Evo 2?

He talked to it about going out of tune and letting him down, and that he forgave it, ha ha.

He does abuse the crap out of his guitars, you can see they are work horses, and it's obvious how he finally destroyed his Green Meanie Charvel from extreme Floyd work.

His keyboard player was some 18yo wiz kid, who seemed "ok" until his solo spot, and then he showed us he could play!!! I'm thinking I could have played most of the parts he did during the regular show, lol.

Here are some crappy pics.



He played the 7 string Jem for one song.



Being a Guitar God.



He let this guy play his guitar!! He did the Floyd bar first, then he played the strings!!! Right after this he threw a pick which landed in the row behind me, spewing!!



I think he's been doing this for a while, but it's his robot light suit, as I call it. The guitar is also alien shaped and has lasers coming out of it, as do the fingers on his gloves I'm thinking. Was pretty cool.



His drummer came out with a strap-on drum kit covered in lights. It was pretty crazy. I think the bass player is playing is tiny, short scale fretless bass here too. I was wondering what it was in the earlier part of the show.



He got two audience members up to help write a song on the spot and called out the young son of a friend of mine who works at our local guitar store. He knows the family for a few years now and asked for this kid by name, which was really cool. You can see him on the left here rocking out afterwards as they got to watch the rest of the show from the stage. As Steve was finishing he came up and mucked around with Steve's strings which was so funny.



The new Steve Vai band!

[poserboy71]

[shramiac]

Still got the "scary tatt" drummer! He's pretty good actually! As all would need to be to play in Stevie's band. Weiner has rounded out into a nice guitar player and Phil is an awesome bass player!

[FREDDYB3]

Looks like a good time Vic...thanks for the cool pics. I haven't kept up with who all is in his band, but much different than the 2 times I saw them. He had Billy Sheehan and Tony MacAlpine with him both times I saw him.
Cool pics.

[1031]

He is so crazy good, and one of the best at keeping what is "niche guitar style" relevant and himself to the front of the pack. He does a great job of letting his fans know he appreciates them . Pretty humble dude from all accounts I have heard.