I saw him about 4 months ago. AMAZING! I guess I can understand when I hear guitarists say, "I can only handle about 20 minutes of Steve's style" (I'm a trumpet player by trade and can only handle about 20 minutes of Maynard Ferguson), but it was one awesome show!
Eric Sardinas backed him up (if you have the chance to see THIS guy, DO IT!)
I saw him in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2002, and I went with my dad of all people. Now, I got alot of my music influence from him. Jim Croce, Gordon Lightfoot, Simon & Garfunkel, America, James Taylor...etc. I played him Steve Vai beforehand, and he thought it was just a bunch of noise, but admitted that it was admirable to be able to play like that. After we saw his show (during the G3 concert, he played second in between John Petrucci and Satch), he said to me on the way home that he absolutely loved his set. His quote, if I remember it right: "Man, I don't care what kind of music it is. If you can entertain, you can entertain. That guy certainly entertained me!" We liked Petrucci and Satriani as well, but Vai clearly stole the show!
shareNever seen the guy in concert, but I've got his record "7th Song" and it's totally amazing. I would recommend 'For The Love Of God' if you truly want to be blown away by his playing.
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"Oh my God, Aliens! Don't eat me, I have a wife and kids - eat them!" - Homer Simpson
Yep, saw him back in 01 at the G3 concert in DC, along with Satriani and Petrucci. Let me tell you, few things are as awesome as three bad@$$ guitar players doing their thing. It ROCKED!!!!
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I had the pleasure of seeing him live with G3(also satriani and robert fripp) and let me tell you steve vai live is the coolest thing you will ever experience, during the jam at the end, one guy ran right up to the stage(there were no barriers) and Vai handed him his plectrum, then alot of people(including me and my 2 mates) went up and vai started taking peoples cameras and taking photos of the crowd from the stage before handing them back, this guy certainly knows how to make someones day. I am also seeing him on the 21st of october,CANT WAIT!!
shareI've seen him 3 times. Twice in G3, and once as the headliner at a show. I'll tell all of you, G3 is a great show... but you have not seen Vai unless you've seen him play a headlining show. He played for almost 3 hours, and a number of times almost touched heaven... and frequently... touched hell.
He's a great performer; he learnt that from zappa decades ago.. but unfortunately his desire to be weird like zappa probably turned away alot of would be fans.
regardless, if you can ever catch vai outside of G3, do it... oh.. and bring earplugs!
Adrian Legg is *beep* brilliant!
http://www.adrianlegg.com/
I saw Vai with David lee roth in '86 in greensborough NC and again with whitesnake in '92 at jones beach in NY. I first herd of him playin with frank Zappa right out of Julliard and saw him for the first time on the peirs in Ny playing with Alcatrazz after he replaced Ynwie. When Vai did the solo that day to "Since you been Gone" I knew there was no way anyone in the history of music could surpass this genius. His tone ability, technique and sprrd are flawless. Over the years ive seen him play all styles. He dominates the stage with visual and sound. Ive never seen him in G3 and wouldnt like to because it would bother me to see him holding back for 3 hours.
shareSaw him in Argentina with G3 last december, with Satch and Robert Fripp. Simply Amazing and outta this world!
shareAnother amazing performance is the song "I'm the hell outta here" off the G3 Denver 2004 DVD. amazing stuff.
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Saw him on Saturday 31st August, 2013, on his UK The Story Of Light tour. Thoroughly enjoyable evening. His technical ability and proficiency is, as you all know, without peer. Great frontman and an affable, laid back and likeable individual.
shareI've been a Vai and Satch fan for years. Saw Vai with Zappa in 1981. I enjoy his playing but I think those guys have taken the guitar viruoso thing as far as it can be taken. I think it's time Vai joins a band. Stach is doing the Chickenfoot gig which is very entertaining. And I think Vai should do the same. I'm not knocking Vai but I think he should go in a different direction so we don't get tired of him doing the same old thing.
shareVai is quite the showman, Sardinas is a better player though.
shareSaw vai at the 2001 ultra zone tour in glasgow,he came out with his fingernails painted bright yellow,the lights went down and all you could see was the nails moving furiously around the fretboard,was sooo cool,played all my favs from tender surrender to for the love of god,eric sardinas supported him aswell,hes an awesome guitarist,he walked right by me and went to the bar,i wanted to go up and say hi but he looked pretty pissed lol great show,still got my flyers n tickets.
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Saw him in a G3 concert with Satch and Malmsteen. The guy is just incredible and had a fantastic band that included Billy Sheehan and Tony MacAlpine and another guitarist. I was wondering why the fan though, whether it was just for the hair blowing effect but then I saw a video where he later says it is because he sweats a lot.
Yngwie by the way seemed inebriated when he played. A bizarre show, I wasn't sure if it was a comedy routine or if he is serious with his act.
I saw him with Whitesnake in '90 (91?). It was a great concert, overall, but Vai's performance did not really stand out.
I saw the second G3 tour. It was amazing!!!
shareIve seen him 3 times live every time at the manchester apollo in the Uk on his own and the G3 tour,halfway threw vais set i went for a pee and when i came out eric sardenas was sat on the steps playing away on his guitar alone,i sat down and basically got a free 10 min gig from him,completely made the gig for me he was awesome and one hell of a nice guy,missed part of vais set but damn it was well worth it.
shareYeah but meh, he just kinda sounds like a lot of the other great players to me. Not a whole lot of distinctive style. I think a guy like Lindsey Buckingham blows him away. Eric Johnson, too, to stay with the blues theme. Neal Schon is another badass.
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