Steve Vai

PART TWO:
OK, I’m done with my «rant» (sorry, I was «born this way»; oops, wrong artist), time to focus on the actual show.
Steve Vai was simply AMAZING! I don’t think he’s capable of putting on a bad show.
I bought my ticket well in advance, & still wish I’d done it sooner. I was in the Orchestra, about 15 rows back. Show was at the PARAMOUNT THEATER.
What a JUXTAPOSITION! Opened in 1915, The Paramount harkens back to an even earlier period, somewhere in the 19^th Century. Contrast that with some of the most technically advanced music of OUR age, & it blows the mind!
Man, if the original architects could see it now, completely restored, still every bit the JEWEL of Downtown Austin as it was, «back in the day». Pick out something YOU like, and GO! Find yourself a REASON to get inside the building! I’ve seen everyone from the late Carlos Montoya to Pat Metheny, & many others. Folks were SHORTER 100 years ago; I’m «average» height (6’1″), & the Balcony seats are cramped, but ONLY from there can ya truly appreciate the ornate GRANDEUR of the scroll work surrounding the Stage, from top to bottom. A modern movie theater is made from tilted concrete walls, & has no soul. The Paramount Theater’s truly a SHRINE to the Arts. In our clamor for «progress», we’ve lost something.
I’ll cover the Paramount more on its own page, but I had ta digress; back to «Little Stevie Vai» (what a NICE little boy!).
NO elaborate light show, NO costuming (well, there was the one «alien?» suit he wore). NO GIMMICKS! It’s all about the MUSIC.
Let’s make sure EVERYONE gets their just due. The main members of the Band for «The Story of Light» tour include:
BASS: Philip Bynoe
GUITAR: Dave Weiner
DRUMS: Jeremy Colson
And a few supporting members whose names I don’t know; sorry.
Much (but not all) of Steve’s music is complicated, poly-​rhythmic, in odd time signatures, & maybe not «accessible» for the «GAP» (definition in Part One). It’s difficult to classify what «genre» it is; I guess «fusion» would come the closest, but that label seems to conjure up images of Avant Garde Jazz. Steve Vai is NOT Jazz. You just have to hear for yourself; you’ll either hate it, or you will LOVE it. And apparently, younger folks are fans too; there were TONS of twenty-&-thirty-something’s there! He might not be the biggest «draw» in the Industry, but the age range is an indication folks will be listening to Steve Vai for a LONG time.
Most of the show (as usual) was instrumental. Steve’s got quite a bit of solo material, but many (including me) think «Passion and Warfare» is one of his best albums. Accordingly, the songs in this work are ALWAYS a major part of his shows. The climax of the concert (though not the end) is «For the Love of God».
Also from «Passion», there’s «The Audience Is Listening», a depiction of a «show and tell» from yer Grammar School days, with his ACTUAL childhood teacher, Nancy Fagan, pleading, BEGGING him to turn it down («boys, it’s getting too LOUD.»). I mean, he warned her («Just wanna warn ya; it’s gonna be LOUD»). The song is re-​enacted live, compete with Nancy’s (recorded) voice.
That’s another thing about Steve: his humor. He’s a virtuoso, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously, or seriously AT ALL, really. None of the «angst» with which too many Jazz musicians are afflicted. The music will play to your intellect, but you’ll also LAUGH YOUR ASS OFF!
As always, there’s an acoustic set, & Steve is just as mesmerizing doing «Wooden Music» as on Electric.
He brought up a coupla audience members, to «write» a song for the band. He’d have them sing or «beat box» lil’ parts, and «build» the song by adding each part, one at a time.
But we need someone else, to complete the picture; we need (Steve’s words here, I’ll not argue): «The BEST guitarist in the World!»
Well, we ARE in Austin, right? Can ya see where this is going?
Who should walk onstage but ERIC JOHNSON! Now, I’ve seen Steve before, and Eric sat in that time too. So, at a certain point, I knew what was coming, but that didn’t make it any less COOL. Of course, they played with Joe Satriani, in G3; I believe they were the FIRST to tour with him under that name (saw that too, at AMH).
Of course, there’s the obligatory Encore, & afterwards, possibly the nicest, most sincere «Thank You» to the audience I ever heard. Steve loves coming to Austin, as do many other artists, so we sometimes get that EXTRA special show the rest of the Country doesn’t (like Eric Johnson stoppin’ by). But Steve’s got other friends in Austin as well (Terry Bozzio, for one), so I know when he talks about loving Austin, he really MEANS it!
All in all, a GREAT SHOW!
Again, I encourage you to at least check out «Passion and Warfare», and you’ll see why I’m so enthusiastic about Steve Vai.
I’d ask ya to go check him out, but by now, he’s in S. America, on the next leg of his tour, so ya missed out.
larrythediner
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