Steve Vai - New Orleans - March 11'05

[fremder99]

Imagine, if you can, how I felt when a friend called some weeks ago, and said "Hey, I've got two EVO Experience passes to the Steve Vai concert, wann go??"

Back in your chair? Well, I gave notice I wouldn't be at work that day, and we went down to New Orleans around noon, and quickly made our way to the House of Blues. A really great guy from the road crew met us all (only about 15-20 in all) and gave us the plan for the day, which eventually began with "15-20 minutes with Steve" turning into about 30-45 minutes of sitting in a group with Steve and talking, asking questions, and being "handed" a few surprises (which I'll withhold for the rest of the EVO Experience takers-this was only the 9th of about 50 dates). Steve was great, and genuinely enjoyed talking with everyone. Questions ranged from digging for "lost" tapes, to new projects, to war stories, etc... He seemed really peaceful and laid back, and that was in spite of just getting over the flu, and announcing that he probably wasn't going to be able to sing...

From there, we headed out of the balcony down to font stage, to watch the sound check. On stage wtih Steve was his drummer (Jeremy Colson aka "Birthday Boy" who got a gift onstage that only New Orleans could deliver!), Tony Macalpine (keys/guitar) and Dave Weiner (guitars). Billy Sheehan appeared for a bit...This quickly, and very spontaneously, turned into a race to get a new idea down. Steve played a sort of bass riff that grabbed his ear. "Are you recording this?" Steve shouted to the board! He then began working out parts, and teaching them to the band. This was NOT rehersed, and was a bit of a struggle, as you could see Steve working to cling to the idea before it left him! Dave looked a bit haggard, like maybe he had recently felt the full force of New Orleans "head-on" so to speak... Tony was amazing, as he could replay the brand new phrasing after one or two "previews" from Steve. After about an hour or so of this, they had an "A part" and a "B part". It will be interesting to see if the idea makes it to the light of day, and what form it takes if it does.

Finally, after running off for a quick bite of food, we reassembled outside the HoB, and were let in ahead of the lines to stake out wherever we wanted to watch the show. By then, the EVO group was more of a "herd" that had bonded, so we pretty much all gathered down front for the show.

The opener was Eric Sardinas. If you saw the Ultra Zone tour, you probably saw him then. He plays an amped-up dobro with a slide, and uses a thumb pick, and has one finger pick taped to his index finger. He is really an agile picker, but VERY physical performer. He struts and squirms and roars through amazing blues songs, and has an arsenal of tricks that make the dobro squeal on demand. He's a very impressive performer, and frankly has a "niche" that no one else can touch. He also has an enormous tatoo of a coiled cobra on his chest...

Steve's set-list, taped to the floor, had 30 songs PLUS the encore! He played for OVER three hours!! And, he eventually came to a vocal tune, and said he would "give it a try". He ended up playing/singing the songs he had stricken from the set list (Zappa's "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama"). Then he got ready to play the "next" song, but told the band he wanted to play "Answers" because the woman (Sue Mathis) who helped him write it was in the audience. She was standing right next to me! She told me she and Steve had had a band with Tommy Mars (of Zappa's band) and Stu Hamm, among others. The song is an instrumental, but apparently she had written lyrics for it back then.

The band members took solo spots, and Steve & Billy played an extended bit with the drummer in "power trio" mode! Sheehan is an amazing bass player. He mugs a lot, at one point looking at his own right hand in disbelief, and is clearly having pretty much fun up there! I'm a sucker for Steve's big ballads, and he played "Whispering a Prayer" better than I've ever heard it!

If I have any complaint, its the New Orleans crowds... I have seen a lot of shows at the HoB down there, and every frigging show, the band plays their last song, the crowd roars for about 30 seconds, and then starts talking until the band comes back out for the encore. I wish bands would start repaying this unkindness by packing it in early... Are all city's audiences so jaded???

Regardless, an incredible, and quite memorable day in the Big Easy!! As pricey as the EVO experience might be, it is an amazing opportunity to get access to an artist, if you want it... And Steve did not seem to "endure" it at all, but clearly enjoyed it. So did we!! Thanks Steve, your great band, and your great road crew!!

[Rick and Roll]

I have to really motor to get there on time, and I see Ozrics after working all day the next day....UGGGHHHH.

Since my sister won a meet and greet after the show, I may get to ask him a few questions. Should I see if he remembers you, ric? You didn't spill a drink on him or anything like that did you?

Thanks for the review....you should do that for a living. I got more out of that than I do in 90 of the concert reviews!

[fremder99]

Originally posted by Rick and Roll
I have to really motor to get there on time, and I see Ozrics after working all day the next day....UGGGHHHH.

It'll be worth the effortt, but what a great double-dose!

Since my sister won a meet and greet after the show, I may get to ask him a few questions. Should I see if he remembers you, ric? You didn't spill a drink on him or anything like that did you?

No, I asked him if he considers his guitar "EVO" to be a woman... He assured us all that if you take the wammy bar off, she is! If the M&G includes the whole band, and you end up talking to Jeremy (drummer), ask him what Steve gave him for his birthday present. It was uniquely a New Orleans gift!

Thanks for the review....you should do that for a living. I got more out of that than I do in 90 of the concert reviews!

Thanks! I do ramble though don't I....

[Rick and Roll]

Steve Vai at the Birchmere (Northern VA) on Wednesday: I left work at 3PM, 15 minutes later cannot get on 95 South. Ramp is closed. Take an alternate route, and after getting to the south side of Baltimore, find out 95 South is closed. Accident. Take the Parkway all the way past DC, get caught in a backup for an hour. Go two miles. Listened to the entire Salem Hill "Not Everybody's Gold" CD. After repeated cell phone calls, I was able to have my sister find my friend. (We all came from very different places). So when I got there at 6:30 (90 min trip takes 210 grrrr) we had a table. A bit off to the side, usually dead center for shows there. But it was closer than I thought we'd get. LOTS of kids. Young ones, too. Place was more packed than I'd ever seen.

Opening act (Eric Sardinas) well....he can play but it was all the same. At his best, reminded me of old ZZ Top. Some smoking blues tunes, too. Had this thing he did where he cut the power off and played a solo. Did that three times, the first time a neat gimmick but got old fast. His parents must have told him to turn it down when he was young. For the last tune he decided to take his shirt off and play so everyone can see his tattoo. OOOHHHH...

For the most part, Vai was great. I'd seen him back in 92 on the Sex and Religion tour, and remember him being overshadowed by Devin Townsend (who annoyed me greatly). Not really Vai's best effort. He is so fast. The only annoying thing was his high notes. Too much, and it detracted from the show. Some highlights were an acoustic set and some gems such as "For The Love of God" (closing tune), "The Crying Machine", and a big "Flexable" medley (he said he'd recently reheard that record).

He's quite funny, and continually had fun with the fact that the Birchmere is a "dinner club". I think he's expecting a concert hall. So he introduced his acoustic songs by pretending to take orders like a waiter.

Evidence of his technical prowess was the amazing band he assembled, and his ability to shine. Billy Sheehan by himself is able to intimdate most other musicians. I can't believe this is the same guy I saw in the 80's with Mr. Big! What a player. He was doing solos in step with Vai, and I could have watched him play all night. My friend called him "The Abominable Showman". But there was this McAlpine guy who also caught my attention. Tony played much more keyboard, but when he picked up the guitar he was great. His keyboard solo was wonderful.

The drummer was awesome. Non-stop power and hit everything right. Jeremy Colson, thanks fremder, that's his name. Vai alluded to the drummer's welcome on his birthday in New Orleans, where he got a lap dance......from a transvestite! Had another guitarist (Dave Weiner) who was outstanding also.

The last tune before the encore was "My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Momma". Sardinas came out and with Sheehan out front, had 5 guitars back and forth on leads. Move over BOC!

I couldn't stick around to meet Vai. I was zonked, had a long ride home, got up in 5 hours and worked 10 yesterday. My sister was not happy I left but that's life. She got to talk to him, but he moved everyone through quick and I'm glad I didn't stay.

After work, Ozrics! I was set to go and found out I was going solo. Decided to get to the club as late as I could and timed it well, except for the 1/2 hour trying to park. I sold the tickets quickly (the guy at the venue was very cool, let me sell them) and noticed Ed Wynne walk by me with his new keys player (Harry Waters out, his sister in). I chose not to bug him he looked either focused or high (or both).

Caught the last 15 minutes of Lotus (not bad, a Philly jam band). Grabbed a beer a took a floor spot in the center. Knew I had an hour before Ozrics. Didn't know anyone, just looked around, taking it all in. I was so tired. I'd seen Gamalon, Santana and Hackett under similar circumstances and knew that I had to conserve energy. After all, I had to get up at 6 again this morning!

There were some reallllllly drunk-ass people there. I expect the stoner crowd at Ozrics, and actually find them harmless, except for the dancers. But whatever some of these people took was affecting them greatly. There was this one dude who looked like a midget Ben Stiller. Shirt undone, smelled like well....bad. Then a big guy and his equally big woman necking profusely. ANd my (least) favorite, and guy who turned dangerous when the music came on. He just wanted to slam around and raise hell. There's always one guy at an Ozrics show who is just a total ass. Had a waitress go through the crowd to take orders so people didn't have to give up their spot (she should have got battle pay for that).

Opened up with "Jurassic Shift". Love that tune - it's got all of the pieces that make their songs so great. When they played Sunscape "fake Ben" was laughing when Generator John announced it as "Soundscape". Such coherency for a total wasteoid.

Pretty much the same set as I'd seen them the past two times. Kick Muck, Astrocortex. My favorite thing about the, is the bass/drums beat. They never ever stop. Ozric drummers are demanded to be powerhouses. Be ready for 2+ hours of propulsion. Ed Wynne is always fantastic. He's very talented, and drives the band. John is just very goofy. he plays the hell out his flute, but you can't hear him sometimes for the other sounds. He's a lot of fun, and always has a nice drug reference or two.

See them if you can. Always. But stay away from the weirdos. They won't hurt you, but they are incredibly annoying.