[Rick and Roll]

I try not to compare bands as I remember them in their prime, but it's hard sometimes not to.

I've saw that show summer of last year, and have seen each band individually - DT 4 times, KX 4 or 5, and Satch 3 times.

King's X only played five songs - if you're a fanatic (as we are Spaz), it was a major disappointment. They didn't have time to set up or check well, and I'd rather have seen then do their regular 15-20 song awesome set.

Satriani was the king. The last two times I'd seen him he wasn't "all that" (Extremist and 5th record tours). The first time I saw him was in 1990 on the "Blue Dream" tour. I remember like it was yesterday. Jonathan Mover and Stu Hamm and Satch. Nothing fancy, late night, just one killer song after another. I still may be perspiring. Easily in my top five shows I've seen (approaching 300 total).

All that being said, not knowing what he had released in five years, or expecting little, he delivered. His song selection was great, and was flashy without being overbearing. He was the best of the three.

Dream Theater, it's up to you. I was awed by them the first time I saw them, but I would never go back now. The time I saw them prior was with the Dregs and what a contrast. Although I think Rudess was with them they played the entire "Scenes" record start to finish. Not a good way to run a show IMHO. As a friend of mine said "Who will wash the blood from the guitars"? We just enjoyed the Dregs, then sat in the back and drank and conversed the rest of the night. I like watching Myung on bass, but Kevin Moore was my favorite keyboardist and he's gone. The rest of them are too slick and the music's too loud.

Damn, I'm old!

How's that for a concise opinion?