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The Pittsburgh G3 Concert
was set to begin as a few hundred fans anxiously waited in the cold to enter the
already crowded venue. But, since enough were left waiting they slightly
delayed the concert, which began with an opening performance by Yngwie Malmsteen.
Later, Steve
Vai began much differently than in past years…By pulling up a chair, he had the
opportunity to focus on an intricate solo opener on his tri-necked Ibanez before
he was joined by Billy Sheehan on bass, Tony MacAlpine on guitar and keyboards,
Jeremy Colson on drums and guitarist Dave Weiner on guitar. As things soon
picked-up speed, the full band pulled out an older and perhaps lesser known
piece called “The Reaper” which made its debut on the soundtrack of Bill & Ted’s
Bogus Journey, but can now also be found on Vai’s more recent Favored Nations
release Elusive Light & Sound Vol. 1. With such unexpected inclusions so early
in the show, fans were noticeably pleased and eager for more.
Other crowd pleasing moments
included what appeared to be an impromptu bass solo by Billy Sheehan and then
some unique and obviously carefully practiced interaction among the band
members, which can only be described as some sort of guitar “twister” game
during which everyone flawlessly assisted their neighbor with some
hand-over-neck fretwork.
Luckily, unlike the opening
performance from Malmsteen, Vai as always had much more to offer beyond the
flash. His performance was instead driven by powerfully emotional compositions
that need no words to express the joy, humor, pain, or sorrow, they portray.
Perhaps the best illustration of his expressive style can be found in the always
emotional finale of Passion & Warfare’s “For the Love of God,” which tugged at
our heart strings and then left us speechless as Vai concluded the song with a
few cranks on his wammy bar and a few licks on his guitar strings.
Vai was followed by a high
caliber performance from Joe Satriani, which concluded with the traditional G3
jam session featuring Satriani and band, along with Vai and Malmsteen. The trio
traded off vocals and solos as they tour through a fun filled finale of Jimi
Hendrix covers and a unique rendition of Neil Young’s “Rockin In the Free
World.” If anyone didn’t walk away wanting more, they must have been at the
wrong show.
For more information on
Steve Vai and the G3 tour visit
Vai.com.
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