Joe Satriani is one of a handful of living guitarists who most other professional guitarists only wish they could play like. He is a guitarist's guitarist - Steve Vai and Kirk Hammet used to take lessons from the guy for Christ's sake! He is also one of the few instrumental rock guitarists who actually knows how to write a decent song.
Although his style is most closely associated with the rock and metal genres, he also infuses touches of blues, jazz, prog, and even electronica into his playing. It is a special kind of guitar fan who can sit through and enjoy an hour-long instrumental guitar album, or a two-hour concert worth of the same stuff, but many do, and they have made Joe Satriani one of the most popular instrumental guitarists on the planet.
On his 1989 album, Flying In A Blue Dream, Satriani debuted his vocals for the first time, singing on a half-dozen of that album's songs, and he most recently sang on two songs from his 2004 release, Is There Love in Space? Even so, he is still predominantly known as an instrumental guitarist. As far as his vocal skills go, let's just say that he makes Steve Vai's singing sound good. I'd rather he use the occasional guest vocalist, or just stick to the instrumentals. Happily, Satriani Live is an all instrumental affair.
Since his first album, Not Of This Earth, debuted in 1986, Satriani, or "Satch," as he is known by friends and fans, has gone on to release 10 more full-length studio albums, along with three live albums. 1993's Time Machine is a half-live, half-studio, double-CD set, so I included it in both categories. Satriani is also the driving force behind G3 - the guitar fan's dream tour he started in 1996 with Steve Vai. He and Steve have gone on to tour almost every year under the G3 moniker, with such other guitar luminaries as Eric Johnson, John Petrucci, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Robert Fripp joining them. These incredible tours have also produced three live CD/DVDs; G3: Live In Concert, Live In Denver, and Live In Tokyo.
Satriani Live is the follow up to Joe's excellent 2001 concert DVD, Live In San Francisco. It was shot live May 3, 2006 at The Grove in Anaheim, California, during Satriani's Super Colossal world tour. It is also essentially the "Super Colossal Live" show, seeing that nine of that album's thirteen songs are performed, taking up half of the entire concert.
Article comments
1 - duane
Nice review, Paul. I'm not sure, but I think the drummer wears headphones to keep right with the metronome, because there may be pre-programmed sounds coming out somewhere. I haven't seen the concert, and I don't know if Joe uses programming during his shows, but if he does, then timing is everything, and someone needs to keep track of it. Otherwise, yeah, who needs 'em? Listening to the big game during the show?
I'm a guitar fan, and Satch is technically near the top as far as rockish electric guitar playing goes (God forbid I should get into another Rolling Stone Top 100 debate, but Vai is better), but the reason I really enjoy listening to his playing is his superb tone, his precision, his control of sustain and feedback, and his tasteful use of effects. I own a JS1000 Ibanez (one of his signature series - he uses a bunch of JS1200s, which are a little hotter pickupwise), and I just love the thing.
Unfortunately, I don't think he's much of a songwriter, and I wish he would team up with someone who is fer chrissakes. I had the same problem with van Halen/Hagar -- what a waste of guitar talent. But I'm sure Joe has it just the way he wants it -- total control.
2 - Paul Roy
Thanks Duane, I figured the headphones were for timing purposes, or to just hear yourself play better over all the other noise, but why can 99% of the other live drummers do just fine without them? I agree with you about Vai, I am a bigger fan of his playing style, but, just like with Satriani, I'd love to see him work with a singer/songwriter. Neither guy can carry a whole album with their songwriting.
You are certainly correct about Eddie Van Halen squandering his guitar talent during the last 15 years. The guy is still in his prime, so let's home he comes back with a vengeance this year. Don't even get me started on Jimmy Page!
3 - jen
Thanks for a great review. Satriani is an all time favorite.
4 - An Angry Citizen
Gotta love Satch. I don't think he is a bad song writter.
Yeah, have you heard that Eddy Van Halen is now doing the music for pornos?
Jimmy Page, hah, I laugh at that tool.
5 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article has been forwarded to the Advance.net websites.
6 - Mike
Thank you very much for this review! And for the link. I will definitely buy it!
7 - Jamie
Joe Satriani is a living legend with the lead guitar community and rightfully so. The man has chops but taste at the same time and he has a very definite style, something most other shredders seem to lack.