show review
bogdan_bele Sun Jul 11 '04
Petofi Csarnok
Budapest, , HU
Rank: 10 Posted: Mon Jul 12, '04 8:38 am
We went all the way from Oradea, Romania to Budapest and were very happy we did. I didn't really understand what Mr. Fripp wanted to say (although he showed us during the jam that he can play his guitar when he wants to), but Joe and especially Steve were absolutely amazing! Thanks for a great show; can't wait to see you both again!

jencsi
Sun Jul 11 '04
Petofi Csarnok
Budapest, , HU
Rank: 10 Posted: Mon Jul 12, '04 5:13 am

Look, this is what I've just found at Steve's homepage. I think it's worth reading. Maybe the people who had problems with Robert's performance will change their mind and admit that the only problem is that they neither know him nor his music. I belive that Robert is such a great musician that we just can't understand him.

July 11, 2004 A Note From Steve.

Greetings All,

So sorry I have not sent more updates. I’m working on a big one that covers the Metropole project, the new CD and the G3 tour but at this time I want to tell you a little bit about the influence that Robert Fripp has had on me. As a youth I used to hear a lot about this guy but wasn't introduced to his music until I went out and bought “Exposure” when I was about 18 years old. This record had a profound impact on me. It was completely different from anything else that was going on at the time. I felt I was hearing a real musician that was using his guitar as a tool to create his art.

His music was unique. It was obvious to me that he could play just about anything on the instrument but playing the guitar was not the only thing he was doing. He was creating sounds and atmospheres that sounded like nothing else. There was such an aggressive edge and yet at other times it was profoundly beautiful. It was also obvious that he was a guy who was doing EXACTLY what he wanted and what he was hearing in his head, regardless of what any genre or trend was dictating. That is the epitome of musical integrity. This was inspiring to me and gave me the courage to make a firm resolve that I would do the same thing with my own ideas. Then I finally was introduced to King Crimson and…. Game over!

If you try to consider the coolest band that you have in your collections right now, that’s what King Crimson has been since the 70’s to many. It’s impossible to quantify the effect that this band (Robert's vision) has had on contemporary rock musicians. There would be no bands like Tool, Dream Theater, Mudvayne, Rush and so many others including Steve Vai the way you know him. There are treasures beyond measure in Robert's catalog and I sincerely suggest you take the time to discover these jewels.There are not many musicians I consider a true genius of the art and he is one of them. His musical intuition is real without any excuses. We can only hope to have that kind of honesty in our art.Now, G3 is a celebration of the guitar in all its permeations, and it will continue to be so, with or without me. I believe that what Robert is doing with his Soundscapes is cathartic Divinity. It’s about restraint and patience. If you attend one of the G3 concerts with Robert, I suggest you open your mind and let go of what you may be expecting and let the beauty of this man's sonic tapestries just wash over you. Joe and I will fill the air with all the violent Mongolian string abuse you can possibly handle for one evening.

By the way, If you are fortunate enough to dive into Robert's catalog for his guitar playing, you may discover that the man can shred Joe and I if he wanted to.Robert is a total gentleman, a lovely man and all of us have bonded nicely on this tour and Joe and I feel a reverent honor in having him with us.

Warm regards, Steve.

Anyway, the whole show was simply fantastic. I can't say anything else but thank you Joe, Robert, Steve and everyone working on this project for making my dream come true.

Vlad The Impaler
(Vlad Borlea)
Sun Jul 11 '04
Petofi Csarnok
Budapest, , HU
Rank: 10 Posted: Mon Jul 12, '04 2:42 am

This was definetely the best concert I have ever seen and I doubt I will ever see a better one, unless it will be with some of these guys. First of all, I went to see Billy Sheehan, my greatest model in what bass playing and music in general is concerned. His technique, stage presence and creativity are at the very top for me.

Robert Fripp may have not fitted very well into the G3 idea, but his avant-garde musical experiments with the "Soundscapes" prove great inventivity and skill. I am almost certain that the improvisation was inspired by the wind and the rain clouds that were in the sky. There was a lot of feeling in it, and philosophy, as a friend said. Unfortunately he played only about 15 minutes, probably because of the negative feedback I see he is receiving or because of the rather indifferent attitude of the public. Steve Vai also played some parts in the background, including the interlude from "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson.

Vai's show started with an unaccompanied improvisation that cleverly made the connection between Fripp's show and his own. And then he went wild! Giant Balls Of Gold, Answers, The Attitude Song and so on. Vai and Sheehan seem today as young as they were twenty years ago, especially Vai, whose face shows no signs of aging. Tapping and shredding, solos at unison, a heavy drummer and a killing improvisation by all four guitar players (including Sheehan) at a time. Words can say no more. I can only hope for a Mr. Big reunion with Vai as a special guest...

When Joe Satriani began playing, there was phisically no room left in the place: literally overcrowded. His show was very dynamic, with the same cool look and moves of his and with songs such as Satch Boogie, Always With Me..., Up In Flames and Flying In A Blue Dream (my favourite) but also with some new material from "Is There Love In Space?", which sounded excellent. At first, I thought that the rhythm guitarist didn't fit in there, but I soon changed my mind, especially that he played live the Flying In A Blue Dream background theme. Jeff Campitelli ripped everything apart and Bissonette was good, but I kinda missed the presence of Stu Hamm. Again, a killing show!

In the jam session, they played Ice 9 by Satriani, The Reaper by Vai and a fantastic version of Red by King Crimson. Doubling the rhythm of the drum pounds in the second part of the main riff was an excellent idea. I was disappointed that Fripp sat down in the back and didn't join Vai and Satriani's stage movement show, but that's his trademark, I guess. Anyway, he surprised me with some very interesting shreds. And, finally, the anthem Rockin' In The Free World by Neil Young ended four hours which had actually seemed much less. I stood in the front row, and even if I heard the bass a bit too loud and I couldn't hear very well the vocals or Fripp's guitar, this doesn't stop me from considering it the best concert I have ever seen.