| Author | Message | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1861 Registered: 9-2003 |
Pardon my delayed report, but I caught Joe Satriani on his "Super Colossal" tour promoting his newly release CD of the same name at the ubiquitous Starland Ballroom last Tues. He's touring with Eric Johnson (of early '90's "Cliffs Of Dover" fame). Celebrating his 20th year as a "recording artist", Steve Vai's and Kirk Hammett's (et al) ex-guitar instructor can still rip it up. He was way too loud for the packed gen. admission bar/dancehall that is the Starland, but at least the new anti-smoking law eliminated the next-day migraine hangover I usually get when I go there for a show. I didn't catch the band intro's as I got there late and left early. It appears that the only holdover from the '02 "JS Live In SF" DVD is the drummer, Jeff Campitelli. No keys (Joe had one there but hardly used it himself), no Stu Hamm (bummer), just rhythmn guitar, bass and drums. I didn't catch Eric's act either...he must have gone on before Satch. It's possible he went on after Satch or even during the encore, but the GF was tired (and it was a work night) and we didn't stay. As far as I know, he stuck to instrumentals...no vocals. It's all good...even the new stuff. Satch is, IMHO, the most melodic of all the '80's shredders, even if he still goes by the "if one note is good, 1000 is even better" axiom, LOL! All in all, it's a good show. If you appreciate someone who has mastery over their respective instrument (despite the egomaniacal, self-serving genre), Satch still satisfies. Even the neophyte GF was impressed by his awesome musicianship, even if she never heard of him or his music before. I made her a "best of" CD mix and and it hasn't left her player since. Joe Satch live is, therefore, "HIGHLY RECOMMENDED", LOL! Cheers, Kevin | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 267 Registered: 2-2006 |
He's in Dallas Thursday, and I have free tickets (the best kind). | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1862 Registered: 9-2003 |
Good score! Enjoy! | ||
| groovelines
Advanced Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 280 Registered: 4-2003 |
Saw him a few years ago (with Hamm) at the now defunct "Trees" in Dallas. I just love three piece bands tearing it up. He's excelent in small hall/club venues. As a bonus, EJ is well worth the trip, before or after Satch. Hey, Olie....nevermind, what am I thinking? I'm sure I've laundry to sort and fold after the kids have been put to bed. The New Millenium Man - Ayn Rand, curse her elevated, social consciousness. | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 268 Registered: 2-2006 |
I used to play at Trees, and Dadas. I saw Stu Hamm at Dallas City Limits back in the 90's on a solo tour. I like Satch ok but I'm more of a EJ fan, being home grown and all. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 874 Registered: 6-2002 |
Curse Ayn Rand indeed - I remember having heated discussions with some friends who had decided to take the hero of one of her novels as a role-model - the architect who doesn't care about other people's needs, and then is hugely successful? For some reason my friends had the impression that one can lead a fulfilling and successful life this way, and I had a hard time convincing them this was from a novel, and the author was pulling the wool over their eyes. Her reputation as a philosopher kind of blurred the issue for them. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 875 Registered: 6-2002 |
Come to think of it - those friends were big Satriani fans too. That's rather weird. | ||
| groovelines
Advanced Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 281 Registered: 4-2003 |
Adriaan, was it Henry Reardon? "Atlas Shrugged"? Olie, Club Dadas was pretty hip in the early '90s. Fever in the Funkhouse was a favorite act. | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 269 Registered: 2-2006 |
Ten Hands was another favorite at Dada's. I remember seeing then when Earl Harvin (now with Seal)was still their drummer. Earl is an incredible drummer. When he's in town he'll play with his Jazz quartet. If you ever get a chance to see them you should. | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 876 Registered: 6-2002 |
Michael - the character's name sounds familiar. But let's resume our regular programming here! | ||
| groovelines
Advanced Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 282 Registered: 4-2003 |
Adriaan, agreed. My appologies to you, Kevin. Satriani puts on a blistering show. >"if one note is good, 1000 is even better"< that's a pretty fair assesment, lol. But rather that than 4/4, bar chord crunch all night long. Kevin, glad to hear the show was to your liking. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1865 Registered: 9-2003 |
Thanks, Mike. I've been a Satch fan since he hit the scene...vinyl copies of "N.O.T.E." and "S.W.T.A." did it for me. This was the first time in 20-some odd years that I got to see him live. I was dissapointed not to get some Stu Stew, but the back-up band was decent enough. I was an ardent GP reader for many years, so I got turned-on to many "unknown" guitarists (and bassists, there was no BP back in the day), and Satch was one of 'em. After Vai made it big (first with Zappa, then Alcatrazz, then DLR), he touted his teacher as the "greatest guitarist in the world", and he wasn't too far off! FWIW, EJ made the cover of GP back before "Cliffs" got big with the headline to the effect of "Who is this guy?", LOL! Anybody remember the free 45-sized 33 1/3 "records" (actually square vinyl sheets) that used to come in GP magazines? The first one was VAI I think playing the "Alphabet song" or something like that. They had Yngwie's "black star" and the two-handed Night Ranger solo from "Don't tell me you love me" amongst others. Cheers, Kevin | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 271 Registered: 2-2006 |
I remember those free GP 45's. I believe the first one was Vernon Reid and Living Colour, Cult of Personality. I may be wrong but it's the first one I remember, I still have it too. | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1244 Registered: 7-2004 |
As I recall the square sheet record insert started with Mad Magazine's "It's a Gas". A classic indeed! I saw Satriani play "The Star Spangled Banner" before an Oakland A's game a few years ago. His guitars are really a trip. We use the same luthier, Gary Brawer of San Francisco. Gary showed me a guitar he was modding for Joe that had, among other things, a built-in Fernandes sustainer. Insane electronics! (The good kind). Bill, tgo (Message edited by lbpesq on April 26, 2006) | ||
| groovelines
Advanced Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 283 Registered: 4-2003 |
The only reason I saw Satriani was because of my ever thoughtful wife - she surprised me after work with b-day concert tickets. That would explain why for about two weekds I couldn't find one of his CDs...she was giving it a test ride to see if Joe met her standards befor buying the tickets. Al DiMeola is her kind of guitar player. Although we've seen EJ about five times together. It wasn't unusual for Eric to buzz through Dallas 2-3 times a year in his post-Electromagnets days. Matter of fact, he's through this part of the country (and when I say "country" I mean Texas) often. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3709 Registered: 5-2002 |
I saw the Eletromagnets several times back in the mid 70's. Loved 'em!! | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 272 Registered: 2-2006 |
Well EJ is from Austin I believe. | ||
| jorge_s
Member Username: jorge_s Post Number: 82 Registered: 8-2002 |
I've also seen Joe live several times (4 altogether, I think). Stu Hamm payed bass every time and to me, he is as spectacular as Joe. Once he played a tribute to the Beatles with his two handed tapping technique. Just out of curiosity Kevin, is there a musical genre that is not self serving? Even a little bit? I think I know what you mean with one guy shredding on the guitar all night long seeming self serving; showing off what one can do, attracting attention. However can that also be said of jazz, classical, perhaps even folk? | ||
| groovelines
Advanced Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 284 Registered: 4-2003 |
Yes indeed, EJ was the Darling of 6th Street for long, long time. | ||
| eastcoastepic
Intermediate Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 177 Registered: 10-2003 |
Kevin, Sorry I missed you! I was there, also, and saw Joe for the third time in the last 5 years, and he is as good as ever. AND, on bass guitar, Bass Central's own Dave LaRue! Yes, Joe was a just a bit loud, and Dave was just a bit low, but Beaver's partner from Florida had some very good chops, indeed. I think he was a good fit for the band. EJ went on first for about 50 mins., and was also as good as ever, but with a "very simple, hang on one note at a time" bassist....no mistakes, mind you, but give me some fifths or eighths, or a mild run every now & then, will ya'?  Mr. Satriani is amazing...he played for a little more than 2 hours, and is well worth the $35 ticket price...don't miss him if he comes to your area. Highly recommended...... Chris | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1868 Registered: 9-2003 |
Chris, Spring Lake? I ride down there all the time...I ride to eat my way across the Jersey shore, LOL! I'll usually start with the best hotdogs in the world at Max's in W. Long Branch and then ride thru Deal, Allenhurst, Asbury on my way to Ocean Ave. starting in Bradley Beach thru Spring Lake and on into Sea Girt whilst on my way to Hoffman's in Point Pleasant to finish off that 5,000 kCal day, LOL! Sometimes the feeding frenzy starts at La Nonna Piancone on Main St. in Bradley, but you get the picture, LOL! Starland was packed that night...as is usual for a "name" act there. I usually hang near the small bar at the extreme stage right (between the bar and the water/beer girl, LOL!), near the dressing rooms (usually hugging the wall to maintain some space around me, LOL!). This way, it's relatively less crowded and I can see across the stage from stage right. It was Satch's side of the stage, so when he wasn't obscured by the front side of stage PA array, I got a good view of his technique (not that he's in any danger of being usurped by my rip-off of his style...I can't play any of that shred/speedmetal/neo-classical stuff anyway). I didn't recognize Dave LaRue and I missed the band intros. Satch and Dave did a "trading solo's" thing during one of the tunes (name escapes me at the moment), but otherwise, he just pretty much stayed in the pocket like Stu does. My apologies for not recognizing and giving props to Dave, but he doesn't still look like the publicty still that's posted on Bass Central's site, LOL! Cheers, Kevin | ||
| groovelines
Advanced Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 285 Registered: 4-2003 |
Dave LaRue: saw him with the Dixie Dreggs and the Steve Morse Band (is there really a difference?)...gasp, argh he's awesome...that cat can play anything. | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 276 Registered: 2-2006 |
I saw the show in Dallas last night. It was pretty good. The mix wasn't that great. The drums sounded super and the guitar was LOUD!!!! (too loud IMHO) but the bass was very muddy and too low in the mix. Dave did a small solo that was probably real good but you couldn't really hear it that well. Joe's new song "Super Colossal" was pretty cool. (Message edited by olieoliver on April 28, 2006) | ||
| groovelines
Advanced Member Username: groovelines Post Number: 286 Registered: 4-2003 |
Olie, Where was the show? Sorry to hear the mix was off, Dave is too worthy of a player to not hear live. Makes me think of acts like Ted Nugent: no matter how many times you saw them, it was nothing but he and Cliff Davies (drums). He could have left the rest of the band on the bus for all the good they were doing. "Whack 'em, stack 'em and unplug 'em." | ||
| olieoliver
Advanced Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 277 Registered: 2-2006 |
Michael, it was at the Nokia Theater in Arlington. It was my first time to see Dave live. Wished I could've heard him. I think the best venue for a great bass sound was "Dallas City Limits". Ashamed its closed. I saw Kings X there and also Stu Hamm. Both had great sounds. | ||
| eastcoastepic
Intermediate Member Username: eastcoastepic Post Number: 178 Registered: 10-2003 |
Kevin, When the band came on, I thought "boy, that bassist looks REAL familiar", but could not come up with his name at first. This was my first Dave L sighting, and I enjoyed his style very much. The band intro's were done after the last song of the set. Encore included "Summer Song", probably my favorite JS composition, and the new material is quite good. The (personally) anticipated JS and EJ jam did not materialize, unfortunately. I guess they leave that for the G3 shows.... Do you 'ride' as in Colnago, Merckx & Litespeed, or like Yamaha & Harley Davidson? If it's the former, we may have to get together for 30 or 40 miles. And yes, Max's has the country's best hot dogs... | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1871 Registered: 9-2003 |
Ride as in Harley-Davison. As much as I'd like to ride the former, limited time, and nagging injuries, get in my way. My co-worker is an award-winning fundraiser for MDA and an avid cycler so he cycles the 100+ mi bike ride to Cape May from Sandy Hook each year. He's dying to get me involved (and the girlfriend too), but I keep resisting by saying "maybe next year", LOL!. So far, I just cut him a check for a donation. DL's "solo" was very good but Satch forced it into a "duet" with him. And yes, the guitar was way too loud...after all, it was a Joe Satch show...band is optional, LOL! KX's sound was more reasonable less than a week prior to Satch. The attendance was lacking, and because of that, they closed off both wings of the venue beyond the extremes of stage left and right (first time I ever saw that). In '04 at the same venue, Rudy Sarzo was playing bass for Yngwie Malmsteen and it took a few songs and people yelling "RUDY!!!!" for me to realize it, despite the fact that he was 10' away from me and he still looks much the same way he did on the first Ozzy album cover back in '78, LOL!. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 763 Registered: 9-2002 |
Rudy's a terrifically nice guy. Maybe not quite the technician Dave LR is, but really plays to the gig. I wish I still looked like I did in 78!! J o e y | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1872 Registered: 9-2003 |
I agree. I always liked Rudy's playing....and he's a good showman as well. I didn't realize the guy is like 5'2 and very small in stature. His J-bass was as big as he is! He still has the feathered-back mane that made him famous in the 80's and practically no wrinkles! He must have discovered the fountain of youth. |
