On Saturday night, the MGM Northfield hosted guitar greats Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, who have united for the “Satch-Vai” tour this Spring. For the first time ever in their 50 years of friendship the duo have embarked on this co-headlining tour in tandem with a new single entitled “The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1” that brought us a comical hair-raising 70s era video that you’ve just gotta see!
This is the first time the two guitar shredders have hit the road together outside of their iconic G3 project with Eric Johnson. Pushing and challenging each other since a young Steve Vai first approached Joe Satriani for guitar lessons half a century ago, the two not only perform their own sets during this showcase but also come together with Satriani’s band to jam on their new single as well as two well known covers from The Kinks and Metallica!
As I recap this celebration of the electric guitar, a quote by Georgia Cates comes to my mind. Georgia said that “Music is what feelings sound like,” and when you look to instrumental music, that sentiment rings even more true. From the sorrow and the emotional pleas that irrupt during Steve Vai’s “For the Love of God,” to the floating carefree melody of Joe Satriani’s “Flying in a Blue Dream,” the duo took us on a journey that we could feel in our souls.
If you’ve gotten this far and aren’t familiar with Steve Vai, he is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer best known for his work with David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Alcatrazz and his extensive solo career. Vai is a three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee. We had the great pleasure of interviewing the humble Vai for our radio show prior to a local appearance of his Generation Axe tour back in 2018, which featured Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme), Yngwie Malmsteen (Alcatrazz), Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society), and Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders). You can listen in here.
Vai’s one-time teacher, Joe Satriani has most recently released The Elephants of Mars, his 19th studio album and his first for earMUSIC (the label that is also supporting their collaboration), which is the child of the unexpected global pandemic that put his life on hold following the release of his then-current album Shapeshifting.
Prior to this tour, he and Vai were part of the G3 reunion tour with Eric Johnson and he also performed on the Monsters of Rock Cruise in February treating fans to two performances which included jams with Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake) and Richie Kotzen (The Winery Dogs), and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme).
The night began with set from Steve Vai’s band which includes longtime bassist Philip Bynoe, who first performed with Vai back in 1996 and returned to the ensemble in 2012 and has been with the guitarist ever since (picking up three Grammy nominations and an Emmy Award along the way).
Philip is joined by drummer Jeremy Colson and guitarist Dante Frisiello. Colson is also known for his work with Michael Schenker Group, the band Forbidden, and Sebastian Bach’s solo band. He is also the owner of Colson Drum Lab. Interestingly, sideman Dante Frisiello took the leap from a promising career as a lawyer to playing with his hero. The guitarist and composer transitioned from attorney to tech in 2021 working for Dave Weiner before taking his role as the band’s rhythm guitarist.
Satriani’s band hit the stage next. He was joined by bassist Bryan Beller of the rock/fusion super-trio The Aristocrats who has been his touring bassist since 2013. Bryan can be found performing on tracks for the latest Vai album along with Philip, Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, The Winery Dogs), and Henrik Linder (Dirty Loops). Bryan was also Steve Vai’s choice for the Where The Wild Things Are CD/DVD combo that was released back in 2009, and has been a musical partner of Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai) for ten or so albums.
On drums, sought-after session drummer and touring drummer, Kenny Aronoff who has worked with John Mellencamp, John Fogerty, Jon Bon Jovi, and countless others. And, behind the keyboards, on rhythm guitar, and fronting the band for their epic jam with Steve Vai, was one of Australia’s most respected musical talents, Rai Thistlewayte (Thirsty Merc).
Fans can expect Steve Vai’s set to rely heavily on his 10th and latest album, Inviolate, which was released on Favored Nations in 2022 with cuts that included the opener of “Avalanche” as well as “Zeus in Chains” and “Teeth of The Hydra.” So, as one might guess, the show included a show stopping appearance from the Hydra, a triple-neck guitar, designed by Vai and Ibanez that was unveiled mid-set.
He also included “Tender Surrender” from the Alien Love Secrets EP and “The Lights Are On” from Modern Primitive, as well as the aforementioned finale of “For the Love of God,” which was all that much more emotional with the song’s classic video on the big screen behind the band.
After a very brief break that quite honestly didn’t even allow fans time to make it through the chaotic venue lobby to scoop up some merch or get a drink, Joe Satriani hit the stage.
He kicked off his set with “The Extremist” and continued to hit us hard with more notable favorites that included “Surfing with the Alien” and “Satch Boogie” before introducing us to a new cut “Sahara” from his latest album The Elephants of Mars and “Nineteen Eighty” from its predecessor Shapeshifting while we continued to be entertained by a vivid video centerstage (which coincidentally is also the name of the MGM’s venue), as well as an up close look at his fretwork on two jumbo sized video screens on either side of the expansive MGM Centerstage hall.
Satriani closed out his set with “Ice 9” before they rolled in an amp in front of Kenny’s drum kit and his former student greeted his teacher with a respectful mutual bow as one might do in a karate match. They performed their new song together naturally, and then, my followers is when the real fun began. Even those who just came along for a Saturday night out would recognize the band’s jam on “You Really Got Me” from The Kinks, which Vai’s former bandmate David Lee Roth hit with in Van Halen, and the finale of “Enter Sandman” from the ultimate thrash band, Metallica, where Rai left his instruments behind and truly fronted the band from stage left as the duo hung close to Kenny’s kit along with Bryan jamming on bass. As everyone took to their feet as the full band took a bow, which was followed by Joe and Steve taking a bow together (like you’d see in a theater performance), and the cheering only grew louder until the lights came on and it was time to say farewell.
Satriani/Vai Tour Dates:
For those that aren’t in their path, we here that in addition to his tour with Vai, Satriani will tour with Van Halen’s Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, and drummer Jason Bonham in 2024 and dates for Vai’s collaboration with Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, and Danny Carey in an ensemble entitled BEAT have recently been announced. The supergroup promises to resurrect the iconic sounds of 80s King Crimson, under the guidance of Robert Fripp himself.
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Watch for continued coverage of local shows and regional shows with Gus G’s Firewind, Faster Pussycat, Judas Priest and Sabaton, Queensryche and Armored Saint, and more. And in May, you’ll find us at the M3 Rock Festival in Baltimore.
Coverage by Editor and founder Kara Marie Uhrlen posted on 4/15/2024. All event photos by photographer Kara Uhrlen and The Pure Rock Shop.
