Author Topic: Satch In Joisey (Read 457 times)

kmh364 · « **on:** April 26, 2006, 05:48:55 AM »

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 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2006, 06:00:41 AM »

He's in Dallas Thursday, and I have free tickets (the best kind).

kmh364 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2006, 06:44:20 AM »

Good score! Enjoy!

mikedm · « **Reply #3 on:** April 26, 2006, 06:53:26 AM »

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 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2006, 07:07:14 AM »

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 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 26, 2006, 07:17:47 AM »

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 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2006, 07:19:11 AM »

Come to think of it - those friends were big Satriani fans too. That's rather weird.

mikedm · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2006, 07:57:18 AM »

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 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2006, 08:03:43 AM »

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 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 26, 2006, 08:12:07 AM »

Michael - the character's name sounds familiar. But let's resume our regular programming here!

mikedm · « **Reply #10 on:** April 26, 2006, 09:06:40 AM »

Adriaan, agreed. My appologies to you, Kevin. Satriani puts on a blistering show.
>if one note is good, 1000 is even better

kmh364 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 26, 2006, 09:43:30 AM »

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 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2006, 09:49:38 AM »

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 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2006, 10:33:23 AM »

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)

mikedm · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2006, 11:53:23 AM »

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.