Joe Satriani rolls out more G3 dates with Vai, Malmsteen by Jon Zahlaway, liveDaily Staff Writer
Axe slingers Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen have stretched the itinerary for their fall tour into early November. The outing, which kicks off in Phoenix on Oct. 9, now runs until Nov. 6.
In keeping with the format used during previous G3 tours, the show will feature an individual set from each guitarist and his respective band, after which Vai and Malmsteen will join Satriani and his band for a jam session. Guest guitarists will join the jam session on select dates, according to a press release. Past guests have included Neal Schon (Journey), Gary Hoey, George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) and Brian May (Queen).
To help launch the tour, Satriani, Vai and Malmsteen will make an Oct. 1 appearance on the syndicated radio program Rockline. A list of radio stations that carry the program is posted at the official Rockline website.
This fall, Epic Records plans to release a DVD version of Satriani’s The Satch Tapes, which first surfaced in 1992 on VHS. Satriani, meanwhile, is writing and recording material for a new album due out next spring, according to his publicist. His most-recent set is last year’s Strange Beautiful Music.
Satriani is also considering putting together a 25-track, two-disc Essential Joe Satriani compilation, according to his website. The guitarist is asking fans to chime in on the potential set list by posting their suggestions at the site.
Vai–formerly a student of Satriani’s–plans to release this fall a two-hour concert video recorded at the Astoria Theatre in London, and Malmsteen plans to issue in the U.S. his 22nd solo album, Attack!!, which he has already released in Europe and Asia.
Satriani assembled the first G3 tour in 1996. Vai has been a mainstay over the years, while guitarists such as Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Fripp, Uli Jon Roth, Michael Schenker and John Petrucci have rotated through the roster.
G3 2003 TOUR DATES (as of September 11, 2003)
[Note: The following tour itinerary has been provided by artist and/or tour sources, who verify its accuracy. Changes may occur before tickets go on sale. Check with official artist web sites, ticketing sources and venues for late updates.]
October 2003
9 – Phoenix, AZ – Dodge Theatre
10 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
11 – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s
12 – Reno, NV – Reno Hilton
14 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum Theatre
15 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
16 – Portland, OR – Portland Art Museum
17 – Concord, CA – Chronicle Pavilion
18 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
20 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
21 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theatre
24 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater
27 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
29 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
30 – Clearwater, FL – Ruth Eckerd Hall
31 – West Palm Beach, FL – Raymond F. Kravis Center
November 2003
1 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues
2 – Pensacola, FL – Saenger Theatre
4 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
5 – Glenside, PA – Keswick Theatre
6 – Toronto, Ontario – Massey Hall
GUITAR WIZARD STEVE VAI TO RELEASE 2-DVD SET Live at the Astoria London ON FAVORED NATIONS ON NOVEMBER 18, 2003
BONUS FEATURES INCLUDE BACKSTAGE FOOTAGE, INTERVIEWS, DISCOGRAPHY AND COMMENTARY TRACK
Steve Vai is on the short list of the greatest guitarists ever, and his musical vision is captured on this two-DVD set Live at the Astoria London scheduled for release on November 18, 2003, on Favored Nations.
Live at the Astoria London is Vai’s first-ever live performance DVD, and it clocks in at more than 2 1/2 hours. It was filmed at the Astoria in London, England, on December 6 and 7, 2001, while on tour promoting Vai’s Alive in an Ultra World album.
Vai’s all-star band includes bassist Billy Sheehan, drummer Virgil Donati, guitarist/keyboardist Tony MacAlpine and guitarist Dave Weiner.
The 21 tracks on Live at the Astoria London, many of which were performed live for the very first time at this concert, include: Shyboy, Giant Balls of Gold, Erotic Nightmares, Blood & Glory, ’dave’s Party Piece, Blue Powder, Crying Machine, The Animal, Bangkok, Tony’s Solo, Bad Horsie, Chameleon, ’down Deep Into the Pain, Fire, Little Wing, Whispering a Prayer, Incantation, Jibboom, For the Love of God, Liberty and The Attitude Song.
When I go to a show, I’m hoping to see it all. Great musicianship, nice songs, some kind of theatrical entertainment value etc. Since these are the things I like to see when I go to a concert, these are the things that I like to have in my set, Vai says. To me it’s important to perform familiar things and some new things too. There are several songs on this DVD that are first-time performances such as Blue Powder. I added the Jimi Hendrix songs because of my deep respect for him and the familiarity level of his stuff with the fans.
Vai loved the challenge of preparing this different set with the band, especially the guitar interplay with Tony MacAlpine and Dave Weiner.
Most of my songs have some deep intricacies in them. Two- to four-guitar part harmony, written keyboard melodies and such, so it takes quite a lot of focus and attention to the construction of the performance of many of my tracks. The idea is to make it sound accessible and entertaining, he says. Good thing the guys in the band are both tremendously talented and patient.
Much of my music has rhythm guitars and many harmonies so it’s advantageous to have musicians that can play the stuff so we can reproduce it live. If I want things to thin out I just request it. It’s always an advantage to have another great guitarist in the band and in this case it’s especially nice because they are such cool guys too.
A great deal of work went into the preparation of Live at the Astoria London, and it all started with the two concerts themselves and the attention to detail. The excitement and energy generated by a live performance provide that special spark.
Special DVD features include a 5.1 Surround Sound audio mix, backstage footage, interviews, a commentary track by Vai and band members, band member biographies and Vai’s discography.
The audio commentary is interesting because I have basically the whole band with me and we are discussing the show, the songs and each guy gets to talk a bit about their solos, what they were thinking etc., says Vai. The backstage footage is just hilarious. We worked out a few skits and there are interviews with some of the crew.
Vai, a native of Long Island, NY, is known for his astonishing diversity and his fluid, seemingly effortless, guitar lines that often accelerate like a rocket blasting off at light-speed. His usual axe of choice is his own signature model Ibanez Jem.
At the tender age of 19 Steve Vai joined Frank Zappa’s band. Vai played on many albums by the eccentric, incredibly prolific genius during his main 1979-1984 stint including Shut Up N Play Yer Guitar and You Are What You Is. Vai released his first solo album, Flex-Able, in 1984 and it was a sensation in the guitar world. After five years with Zappa, Vai joined the heavy metal group Alcatrazz, which featured former Rainbow vocalist Graham Bonnet, for 1985’s Disturbing the Peace.
1986 was the year Vai broke through into mainstream consciousness. He made a very memorable cameo appearance in the film Crossroads which starred Ralph Macchio. Its plot was partly based on the Robert Johnson myth and Vai played Jack Butler, the devil’s guitarist, in a six-string showdown with Macchio’s character. Macchio’s guitar parts were also played by Vai (except for the slide guitar licks played by Ry Cooder). This scene’s music was later released on Vai’s 2002 best-of album The Elusive Light and Sound, Vol. 1 as Head-Cuttin Duel.
His god-like stature in guitar circles was further cemented in 1986 when he earned a high-profile mainstream spot in former Van Halen vocalist David Lee Roth’s first solo band, which also included Billy Sheehan. Vai was integral to Roth’s first two solo albums: 1986’s Eat Em and Smile and 1988’s Skyscraper. The most notable songs from these albums include Yankee Rose, Goin Crazy! Just Like Paradise Stand Up and ’damn Good. Vai joined Whitesnake for 1989’s Slip of the Tongue and played all the guitar parts on the album himself due to an injury suffered by Adrian Vandenberg.
It was time for Vai to step out on his own as a solo artist and between 1990 and 2001 he released a string of acclaimed albums: Passion and Warfare, Sex & Religion (technically a band project called Vai featuring vocalist Devin Townsend), Alien Love Secrets, Fire Garden, Flex-Able Leftovers, The Ultra Zone, The 7th Song: Enchanting Guitar Melodies Archive and Alive in an Ultra World. He also contributed to various soundtracks and made several album guest appearances during this period.
Vai toured with Satriani and Eric Johnson on the first-ever G3 tour in 1996 and will promote Live at the Astoria London this October and November with the latest G3 North American tour with Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen on board. Billy Sheehan, Tony MacAlpine, Dave Weiner and new drummer Jeremy Colson will be playing with Vai on this fall’s run of G3 shows.
G3 Tour Wrapup note from Joe Satriani:
I would like to thank all of you for making our latest G3 outing a great success. A great time was had by all. I’ve been home for less than 24 hours and it feels like the tour just flew by at warp speed.
The mixing of the forthcoming double CD and DVD of the Kansas City and Denver shows will begin in a few weeks in the hopes of an early 2004 release. I ll keep you posted from the studio of our progress.
And, just as one thing wraps up, another is launched; November 18th is the release date for The Electric Joe Satriani, An Anthology . A collection of 28 essential tracks compiled by… you guys, the fans at SATRIANI.COM. Plus two bonus tracks from the Strange Beautiful Music sessions. I wrote the liner notes and included, for every song, a short story about how the compositions were started and where they took me creatively. And… finally the release of The Satch Tapes on DVD. Yes, the original collection of made for MTV style videos, plus, out takes, old studio footage, interviews and of course, actor Christopher Guest’s special appearance as Spinal Tap’s Nigel Tufnel making sure we don’t take ourselves too seriously!
Joe
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2004 update from Joe Satriani:
Greetings,
It’s time for a few new releases and news on touring, and other things…
The Rockin In The Free World 2-CD set and the Live In Denver DVD come out February 24th (see below). These shows were hot and heavy and the two packages offer two different shows and set lists to get into. My hat’s off to the fans for making these shows so memorable.
On the the 26th of this month I will join Buddy Guy, Paul Rodgers, Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Jerry Cantrell and more for the Jimi Hendrix Tribute at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco. This should be a very special night. I can’t wait to jam with these guys!
We have an April 13 release date for my new solo CD Is There Love In Space? . It will be preceded by an April issue Guitar Player Magazine cover story that gives a blow by blow description of what’s on the new disc. I’m very excited about this new CD, it really rocks, and covers a lot of musical ground too. It’s got a big and wide mix from top to bottom! Check the Guitar Player Magazine website for additional story info.
I’m thrilled to announce the European G3 summer tour slated to start around June 10th will present yours truly, along with, Steve Vai and Robert Fripp. This is going to rock! Me and the guys will be playing quite a bit of the new CD along with a few songs we’ve never done live before.
More info on touring and the new release will follow soon…
Joe
As Joe mentioned in his message (see above), 2003 had Joe Satriani and G3 alumni Steve Vai teaming up with Yngwie Malmsteen. The shows ran from October – November 2003 and covered most of the U.S. and now there is both a double-CD (G3 Live: Rockin in the Free World) and a DVD (G3 Live In Denver) to let you rewind time!
This double-live CD was recorded at The Uptown Theater in Kansas City, MO on October 21, 2003 and the DVD was recorded at the Fillmore Auditorium in Denver, CO on October 20, 2003. Each features different songs and the DVD also includes a Fretcam feature, biographies, lighting plot diagrams, and more.
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Hi everyone! First post here… rather than talk about me, I will talk about MUSIC! I picked up both the double CD and the DVD of the new G3 release. I bought them at Best Buy. $18.99 for the 2 CDs and $12.99 for the DVD… NOT BAD! One thing that is cool, the setlists are different on the CD & DVD! The CD rocks and to hear some of the fret work from these gods are intense! The DVD blows me away! To see fingerwork like that makes me out of breath! The fretcam is cool. The additional bonus features are so so. But the 3rd song that Vai does… I’m The Hell Out Of Here , is a surround sound dream! Steve, Billy Sheenan (bass) and two young guitarist, all stand side by side and totally rock! Each guitar/bass on a different channel, and then the 4 of them still side by side, play the guitar next to them! A truely great sight to see. Joe leads the Rockin In The Free World, Steve leads Little Wing & Yngwie leads Voodoo Child. … I highly recommend this DVD & CD! Thanks! – said theloudestrock on Mar 03, 2004
Ive got this CD and it is sooooo Cool!! Malmsteen, Vai And Satch. Masters Of The Craft đŸ˜‰ They Kick AXE and take names đŸ˜‰ – said trekman on Mar 03, 2004
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