show review
js1200ca Mon Aug 23 '04
231
Marcus Amphitheatre, Milwaukee,
Rank: 10 Posted: Wed Aug 25, '04 4:44 pm
On August 23, 2004 I witnessed the talents of the best guitarist known to this planet. About a year ago I first heard Satch's Summer Song on WLZR and I immediately became a fan. It was a great experience to see him play. He opened up with Hands in the Air off the ITLIS album and backed it with the ultimate Satch Boogie. The concert could have ended there and I would have went home happy! Some may criticize Joe as being "boring" because he domiates the left side of the stage and doesn't move around much, but I'm afraid they do not know what they are talking about. A few songs into his set, Joe played Always With Me, Always With You with an extended improvised ending to the song. This was by far the best version I have heard of that song. I can play the song flawlessly on my JS1200, but I can't come close to Joe's emotion. Thin Lizzy was alright to start the night and they got better every song. They played The Boys Are Back In Town last and it just rocked! I ended up getting the bassist's autograph and he even gave me his last pick which was just so cool! Joe played second, but I was dissapointed not to see him between sets to shake hands. Deep Purple finished the night off. It was a pretty good show. I have heard from many that Deep Purple puts on a good show, but I wasn't overly impressed. Honestly, Satriani blew the "smoke OFF the water" with his playing. Over all though it was a great concert. I was a little disappointed not to hear Joe play Summer Song, so I will just have to see Satch again when he returns to the Pabst Theatre here in October! So for a first time witness of a Joe Satriani concert...I was very impressed! See ya in October Joe!

immortal5150 Mon Aug 23 '04
231
Marcus Amphitheatre, Milwaukee,
Rank: 9 Posted: Tue Aug 24, '04 10:49 am

i've been going to satch's shows since i was 15 (i'm 28 now) and have been a fan since surfing with the alien first came out. i remember first hearing "always" and "echo" on the steve dahl and gary meier radio show back in the late 80's (it was the're intro and outtro music) wondering who could create such sounds from a guitar. and now i've gotten to the point where i get as much enjoyment out of him as i get out of bringing new people to see him. and tonight was no exception. i brought a friend from my work who claimed to be a "huge rock guitar fan". he has seen eddie van halen, kirk hammet, and even SRV all in the're prime. and when i asked him if he knew who joe was he said" yeah he's that guy who play's all those instrumentals, he's not bad but i doubt he could hold a candle to EVH or SRV". so i asked him to join me on one condition. that he be willing to give satch a shot at the title as "best" in his opinion. now understand this is not the first time i've done this, and each time satch has won the "non believer" over.........well tonight joe continued his undeafeated streak. i'm was sooo excited to hear the all the new stuff. ITLIS was amazing live. it has a very cool vibe live, up in flames was heavy as hell. and flying in a blue dream makes me forget about the everything in the universe for a while. but the song of the night for me was "always". now understand that this song has a little more meaning for me than the average fan, considering it was the first dance at my wedding for me and my wife. not to mention its the reason i first went out and bought a guitar 15+ yrs ago, i had to learn it (but i still can't play it with joe's feeling) the way he ended it seems to finally give the song a proper "live" ending. the only regret for joe's set i had was the hope that he would play searching, i know it was a long shot but i pray he play's it on his solo tour. that being said, anyone who reads this stupid little review that lives in chicago or milwaukee, please ................PLEASE!!!......request it for his set list when he comes back in october. this is a song that would be KILLER live.

now on to the rest of the review: THIN LIZZY: not bad. they had a good energy level and the drummer was kick ass. but i think they fall into one of those bands that survive on the nostalga of the past and don't really try to move forward. now granted this is a re treaded lineup and a shadow of the old gary moore / phil lynott era. but as artists they seemed like they were there for a paycheck and to be the center of attention (for the small crowd still filing in).

DEEP PURPLE: .......the thing i love about bands like deep purple is that they still feel like they are progressing as artists, yes they played the majority of the're set using the old catalog of classics they are known for, but the few cuts they played off the new album "bananas" was freakin cool. it sounded like a natural progression that fits right in with everything that they are known for from decades ago. the title trak is reason enough for me to go out and (gulp!!) buy the're new album(i don't buy much new music). i would also like to add that ian gillian is one of the best old school front men around, ya gotta love a guy that walks out of stage wearing what looked like white baggy pajamas and no shoes, and proceeds to strut around stage like he own's the place., and funny enough......by the end of the night he did!.......at least in the fans eyes.

ohhh one last thing.....ya know my buddy from work who thinks eddie van halen in god......yup ....you guessed it.......he admitted to me that joe could "wipe the floor with eddie, stevie and kirk....plus still have enough energy left over to run a marathon"

thanks again joe !!!

ps.....rest in peace SRV....for what its worth, i think you were a gift from god.

thedancer Mon Aug 23 '04
231
Marcus Amphitheatre, Milwaukee,
Rank: 10 Posted: Tue Aug 24, '04 6:52 am
I went to the show last night after winning the backstage passes... I'll admit I can't hold a candle to you Satch fans. I got into him a year ago when I started dating my fiance'. He played "Always" flawlessly and I lost it... The first thing he said to me was "My dream is to meet Joe Satriani, but it'll never happen." I suprised him in Schaumburg to get his guitar autographed... and last night getting an autograph and picture. I just want to say, Ive seen dozens of concerts of every genre, but nothing speaks like him on stage. You can see what he's seeing with every note he plays. Last night, in 45 minutes I got more out of it then any other instrumentalist or band... He is breathtaking.... He was a million times better on stage then on cd and you can't find that anywhere else. I loved it... It was a surreal honor to get those pictures back, standing next to the god of guitar. This man's talent is not normal, he is beyond prodigy. I will never miss a concert... He's the best out there.