show review
crazycarole Sat Aug 21 '04
115
Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto,
Rank: 10 Posted: Thu Aug 26, '04 8:19 am
Awesome show, I can't even describe how much I love the feeling that I get when I watch Joe play live, his groove and the emotion that comes out of him along with all his band mates is incredible. This was my 6th time seeing him and I just can’t get enough. My fiancé has been a fan for years and introduced me to his music about 4years ago, that's when my true love for guitar started. We just booked a few days off work in Oct to go see Evening with Joe in Ann Arbor Michigan for my birthday, I'm so excited! Aug/26th/04..unfuckingbelievable....i just bought first row center tickets from the presale for the show in ann arbor MI, this is great, I love Joe

vergenka Sat Aug 21 '04
115
Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto,
Rank: 10 Posted: Wed Aug 25, '04 7:10 am
(First, a little background information about how I became a fan of Joe's music: I was introduced to Joe Satriani's music through a dear friend, Fofi, who lives and plays guitar in Cuba. He is a superb guitar player himself...but that is another story...) So, I attended the show in Toronto and I am still "a buzz" from the indescribably synchronistic musicianship of Joe and his band. I have never seen/heard a musician so in touch with the music they play, a sound so fluid it flows through him to his guitar and out via the sound system to the audience. In turn we respond and send our energy back to the band and so the cycle continues - to begin again at the start of each tune. I brought with me a friend whom I've known since 1972 - she, too, is now a steadfast fan. Thank you Joe and all the players and crew. This show is one I won't forget. I hope you return to Toronto for another G3 concert this fall/winter/spring because I was unable to attend this gig in 2003. Please come!! Sincerely - Vergenka

deek129 Sat Aug 21 '04
115
Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto,
Rank: 1 Posted: Tue Aug 24, '04 5:42 pm

Hi Joe:

I just want to offer another huge thanks to you for allowing my friend and I the opportunity to meet you back stage after the show. I was very fortunate to win the aftershow passes through your web site. For anyone who might wonder what Joe is like in person, imagine what it is like to chat casually with a friend or acquaintance that you have known for a long time. Joe is truly the most down to earth and "easy to talk to" individual on the face of this planet. Let me tell you, I am still on cloud nine after talking with you. It wasn't hard to tell that the other winners of the aftershow passes immensely enjoyed the time you spent with them as well. I only hope that you will be able to bring "An evening with..." to Canada some time soon! In terms of a review of your show in T.O., it was awesome!! You and your band mates have a very intense groove happening when you hit the stage that just overflows and envelopes the audience. To sum up - Joe, please get back to Canada soon!

Derek Illman

bearman36 Sat Aug 21 '04
115
Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto,
Rank: 9 Posted: Mon Aug 23, '04 8:09 pm
Joe you were great... I missed you last year during the G3, I was really kinda waiting to see you during an Evening With... Cuz it's more intimate and of course the fans are all satch fans that way... we all tend to get along because of that...hehe I think you stole the show... nothing wrong with the other acts there... Deep Purple was great as well... Steve Morse sure can play... I think he would make a great candidate for the next G3... just an idea... Anyways Joe. way to rock and for heaven's sake. take a break when you can get a chance... been a heck of a good run man...

vlad_the_moose Sat Aug 21 '04
115
Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto,
Rank: 7 Posted: Mon Aug 23, '04 5:48 pm
I only went there to see joe... deep purple guys are too old and i was late for Thin Lizzy Joe played great i thought, except it was too short - but i guess with so many amazing songs, it's hard to please everyone Overall, good show

nebulalex Sat Aug 21 '04
115
Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto,
Rank: 10 Posted: Sun Aug 22, '04 10:54 pm
Alright, so what can I say about Joe that hasn't already been said?...I'm not sure, but it would probably have to be spoken in some alien dialect from another planetary system for you to comprehend how awesome this performance was. Now on to the setlist and the highlights: So there i am with my two buddies, waiting for Joe to come on... I can see everything is already set-up, the Whammy and the JS's have been sound-check approved, and on comes 'Hey Joe'. Awesome, people caught on...I was not one of them until I read the review below me haha. Casually...out of nowhere, in total opposite fashion of the Rock Star entrance, walks in Joe from the left with the guys meeting him stride for stride from the right... No lights being dimmed, no unnessesarry wait times...the man was here...and it went a little something like this: MINI INTRO JAM -- got us pumped for sure-- HANDS IN THE AIR -- man this song was so heavy, and I loved seeing Joe jump from left to right, something I've rarely seen out of the previous 2 times I seen him play, this was truly awesome to see, he was feeling the positive vibes of playing the new songs, and the crowd was completely submerged in the beat, especially in the break-down harmonic squeals! Ohhh babyy.. -- SATCH BOOGIE -- straight into it, total rock, again so much energy -- COOL NO.9 -- this was one of the best of the night, with the intro and all, awesome whammy work, such diverse and unique sounds! -- GNAAH -- All summer I've been imagining of seeing this live, and this song was so energetic it was like being punched in the face with the main riff...and then breathing in the galaxy in the bass-less verses-- I LIKE THE RAIN -- Campitelli rocked Toronto on this one, this was his song -- (the order might be wrong for 2 songs or so from here on, screw the pen and paper, this is Satch!) -- WAR -- didn't grasp the intro and only realized it was War being played like 5 seconds into it, they created sounds for the intro that resembled a battle-field, I didnt know what the hell was going on until I finally clued in, this was such an awesome song to hear, and a rare one at that! -- UP IN FLAMES -- no shortage of ITLIS songs tonight! This was amazing live! The way that he changed up the rhythm of the melody line in the verses is so catchy and unique for the live show -- AWMAWY -- by far....probably the 2nd or THE best song of the night...and that's not an easy thing to say when comparing 11 Joe Satriani songs, just go and see it...the new jam in the near end of the song struck everyone with awe and-inspired astonishment that there was an uproar, a standing O when the jam ended and the lead line came back in to finish off the song... Joe literally took us on a journey in that 2 minute jam, and it was an awesome feeling when we all aknowledged him for that with the applause -- IS THERE LOVE IN SPACE -- the song of the Summer for me, his commentary on the meaning behind it was more than enough to set the tone and mood of this cosmic gem, beautiful is truly the only way to put it having witnessed it and having your brain hear it live-- FLYING IN A BLUE DREAM -- the lights dimmed...and a wave of blue just washed over us and the landscape, the atmosphere had changed, Campitelli counted it in, with the toms being the 4th count and this classic space-rock anthem had begun, impecabble musicianship from all the guys, Galen, Matt, Jeff and Joe (and Caudieux maybe?) I love what is now the trademark ending for this song -- Lastly, Joe announces he's got one more for us... -- SURFING WITH THE ALIEN -- so fast, so rockin', so intricate, no matter what age or year, he took us back to '87, and he had shred like nobody's business, the tapping, the squeals, and the speed had brought about the end of what was a remarkable, energetic, and positive vibe set. --Amidst this review, I probably spelt a few words wrong, jumped from one tense to another numerous times, and re-edited it about 12 times..but hopefully this was worth while reading for someone whos next on the Satch Gig list, because this is always a pleasure for me to write... Thanks Joe for the inspiration, the reassurance of the power of the guitar, for the new c.d., for starting off my summer and ending it. I love you man!

chadley Sat Aug 21 '04
115
Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto,
Rank: 10 Posted: Sun Aug 22, '04 8:16 pm

Well, where do I begin? This was my third time seeing Joe, and I certainly was not disappointed. Joe always puts on a terrific show, and I am always eager to see him perform live. Of all the artists I've seen live, I think Joe and his band have the most fun playing. They are always smiling and enjoying themselves.

Despite the initial poor reviews I read of Thin Lizzy's set, I enjoyed their performance. Their vocalist/guitarist (don't know his name) sounded close to Phil Lynott, I thought. You can never beat the original, but he certainly did an excellent job. My only beef was that they played "Jailbreak" a little fast, but what does that really matter in the grander scheme of things?

And then came Joe. I got a kick out hearing "Hey Joe" playing over the PA, and then him coming on stage right after. Simply brilliant. Opening with his new track, "Hands In The Air," he set the tone for his set. The new material him and the band played came off very well, especially "Gnaahh." What a killer song!

I was so ecstatic that they played "Always With Me, Always With You." This is one of my favourite Satch songs, and it sounds best performed live. You could feel the emotion he was feeling and put into the song when he extended it for an extra minute or two. I heard a man who misses his wife when he's on the road and the undying love he has for her. It was the best version I've ever heard.

And to top it all off, he played another one of my favourites, which he doesn't play live that often, "War." I screamed when I heard the intro! The band did an amazing job backing Joe up, too. Galen Henson's rhythm guitar was excellent! He's been with Joe for all the shows I've been to, and I struggled to hear his guitar in the mix. But it was coming through loud and clear, and was spot on.

Even though I had never heard much of Deep Purple before this show, I loved every minute of their set. I recognized their staples, "Woman From Tokyo," "Highway Star," and the anthemic "Smoke On The Water." Steve Morse can definitely set the fretboard on fire! My only other exposure to his playing was on "Merry Axemas: Vol. 1," where his rendition of "Joy To The World" is showcased. And what better a treat from their keyboardist to play "Oh Canada." I immediately stood up and took off my hat. And then to break into the theme from "Star Wars!" It couldn't have been any better!

This show was, by far, the best Satch show I've attended. Joe, Matt, Jeff, and Galen get better every time I hear them. As long as they tour in Canada, I will always be at their shows. Thank you, Joe, Matt, Jeff, and Galen...for providing the greatest entertainment for me and my fellow Canadians.