Satriani at GC?

[Dino]

Originally Posted by chone

I went to the Phoenix one, it was awesome! Dino, I was going to ask if you were going, but I wasn't sure if I wasn't going...I decided to ditch class at the last minute and drive from Tempe :O

He signed a back plate and I asked if he could doodle on it for me. I'll get a pic later!

I was there! I had two of my kids with me.


It was fun, but there were over 400 people. Did you know one of the GC geeks said that Satch was going to do a specail show just for employees after everyone was gone? first time I ever wanted to work at GC!

[chone]

Well if you ran into a goofy looking guy with bright yellow basketball shorts, it was me!

Here's what he signed...should've brought my RG3120!


I overheard two guys talking behind me. One of them summed up how awesome Joe is:
Guy 1: (talking about how long everyone had to wait for a signature) It must suck for Joe, he has to sit out here and wait for all these people.
Guy 2: Joe doesn't have to do it.

Fun night.

[southpaw_lefty]

^that's awesome man. Congrats!

[Dino]

yeah, that's cool!

[jb4674]

That's looks pretty cool Chone!

Next time I see him, I'll get him to sign the cert for my crystal planet and put something in the cover for it.

Jimmy

[zhound]

Well I got it signed last night. Joe held my JS and said "Nice guitar". It was a great experience. My buddy took some pics, when he sends them to me I'll post them. Unfortunately the battery in his camera died right when he was signing my guitar though. :-( Well next time.

[Emericavox]

I was the first one in line (which screwed me in the end!!) did ya see me zhound?

[zhound]

Hey man I got there about 5pm. The line was already wrapped around half of the building by then. I did remember one of the redondo/hermosa GC girl in the front, she must've gotten there way early. LOL

So we still got ok spots inside, my buddy left the show a little earlier to get in the autograph line, then he txted me to meet him quickly when the show was over. This worked out great we ended up almost at the front of the line. Sorry I missed you buddy, we should hook up and jam or something.

Oh BTW the guy right behind me busted out a donnie for Joe to sign. I almost passed out. That thing was just amazing we took a pic.

Originally Posted by Emericavox

I was the first one in line (which screwed me in the end!!) did ya see me zhound?

[jb4674]

Originally Posted by zhound

Hey man I got there about 5pm. The line was already wrapped around half of the building by then. I did remember one of the redondo/hermosa GC girl in the front, she must've gotten there way early. LOL

So we still got ok spots inside, my buddy left the show a little earlier to get in the autograph line, then he txted me to meet him quickly when the show was over. This worked out great we ended up almost at the front of the line. Sorry I missed you buddy, we should hook up and jam or something.

Oh BTW the guy right behind me busted out a donnie for Joe to sign. I almost passed out. That thing was just amazing we took a pic.

You do realize you're likely to get banned if you don't post pics right?

Jimmy

[zhound]

LOL I know I'm waiting too, they're coming as soon as I have them.

Originally Posted by jb4674

You do realize you're likely to get banned if you don't post pics right?

Jimmy

[andy7jem]

Originally Posted by zhound

Oh BTW the guy right behind me busted out a donnie for Joe to sign. I almost passed out. That thing was just amazing we took a pic.

WOW, did you hear or see Joe's reaction???? Bet he was impressed

[GuiltySparc]

i went to the one in maryland, it was so awesome...he signed stuff for over 500 people.







Now i'm looking for someone to spray a coat of clear on my JS.

[Emericavox]

Here are a couple of pics that i took guys<--

http://s303.photobucket.com/albums/n...ericavox/JSGC/

For the 6 hours i waited, i say ultimately it was worth it. A damn shame tho that i didnt get to ask him a question because some GC employee hogged the spotlight and let us commonfolk only ask 3 questions (WHICH WERE THE STUPIEST *and if its anyone here shame on you*). One other prob that annoyed me is that every1 had to stand because only a select few were privileged to sit down on chairs. BUT HEY, I got a free JS Strap so im not gonna complain anymore =) =) =)
-Brian

[CHAOSREX]

Satch Sessions in San Francisco...Prelude (before I get inside GC)

It started off as a light and warm day Wednesday April 9th. (holy crap I haven’t done my taxes yet.) I let my house the same time I always do for work, 6:20am. But today I was not going to work. I got a ride from my closest friend to BART (that’s one of SF Bay Area’s transportation options, kind of an upscale subway). Anyway I rode into SF with her and got off a Montgomery street, walked her to work and started my venture to Guitar Center in San Francisco.

I got there way early. I think I was waiting outside at 9:30am. They opened at 10:00. I had my mini-duffle bag (it’s not a man purse) stuffed with last night’s cheese pizza, a couple of 12oz bottles of diet Pepsi, a book and a couple of other miscellaneous things. I entertained myself by reading news on my cell phone, every once in a while looking up and down the street to see who else might join me that early. About 9:45 the paranoia got to me and I took my place as the 1st person in line to see Joe. The only big group to pass me was a group of 10 older people of mostly Asian decent carrying cameras and signs. Off to where the Olympic Torch and Flame were going to be. I thought to myself, should I be down watching for the torch instead of standing in like to see Joe? I’ve seen him like 20 times in concert, been to every CD signing in the last 15 years…I resolved to go see the torch the next time it shows up in SF. Then I mused to myself how cool it would be if the Torch route did get changed and came by here. That would be so awesome.

10:00am rolls around and I join the 5 or so people standing outside the front doors of GC and go in. I wanted to spend the $90 in GC…GCs I had. I got some Red Devil DR strings for my Gibson Voodoo X-Plorer and then asked for a couple of sets of Daddario for my 3 week old NOS 2004 JS1200. They asked how many sets I wanted. I said 2. They said, they are on sale since Joe is coming. $2.99 a set. I said 4 please. I then got a couple mini stands and a regular full length single stand and cruised for straps. Did he say all of Joe’s stuff was on sale? I went back to the counter where they had about 8 of his straps. $9.95 each. I grabbed 2 red ones and 2 black ones (with skeletons). I was rung up to something like $108 or something, grabbed my stuff and went back outside to retake my place as fan # 1. I looked at my phone’s time…10:20. Wow I have a long way to wait.

Back to reading news and texting my friend. I chatted with Earl, a guy from the south bay for a while. We talked about Joe, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin and the state of protests around the world concerning China and the Olympics. I made a point to Earl that when the Greeks started the Olympics it was when they were having wars. During the Olympics everyone was suppose to stop fighting and have their athletes compete. Ah well. A dude from GC came out and talked with us a bit. Earl asked how many people were expected and the dude said Hollywood GC got 1,100 people last night. We talked a bit more then Earl left to go see the Rolling Stones’ new movie on the iMax and I went back to my phone. The sounds of sirens made me look up and I watched a line of about 10 police officers on bikes drive down Van Ness. I think it was 11:30 before the next people showed up. A cool Indonesian dude named Rama and his girlfriend. She left fairly quickly, standing in the sun in line obviously not her first choice of the day. I asked him how it was going and he said “I just bought a 1200.” Nice. We started talking about JS models and other Ibanez artist. Another guy showed up around noon or so. Conversation waxed and waned. I asked Rama if it was cool if I left my guitar stand and coat to save my place while I ran back into GC. He said no problem.

So I went back in and wandered around a bit watching the people set up for the show. I never saw a GC main room that devoid of guitars and amps. I had a goal going in there for the second time. I stopped one of the reps and said “Hey I want to play a Custom 24 but I wanted to tell someone before I just grabbed a three thousand dollar guitar off the wall. He said no problem and gave me a green flamed 10 top which I plugged into the closest amp, a Mesa Boogie Road King. Wow what an awesome guitar and amp for that matter. I played it for a while then put it back on the wall (deciding I had to get one) and headed back outside.

I maybe off on my timing but I’d say it was a little after one. I talked with Rama more, his gf wandering back to him every now and then and suddenly there were lots of sirens. The 3 of us in line looked up and say coming up the street lots of police. The officers on bikes drove in pairs and stopped at intersections stopping through traffic. Cop cars and other police vehicles drove further along the road passed us with sirens blazing. There were lots of cops. They were clearing Van Ness of traffic going from downtown to the embarcadero. Could it be that the route of the torch did get changed? Some while later two huge busses stopped just down the street on the other side and … two guys got out wearing very Olympic looking jump suits. I saw them holding something that looked like a …torch, though unlit. I walked between the stopped cars on our side of the street to the center divide and took a bunch of pics (that will be added this weekend, I know if there’s no pics it didn’t happen). There were 5 helicopters and a few prop planes in the air and the streets started to crowd with onlookers. I ran back to my sport as most of us from the line (that being 4 of us at this point) had run to the center divide with our camera phones working furiously to capture low res pics. Rama stayed behind with my stuff. As I headed back towards my #1 spot and my stuff I thumbed over my shoulder to him to go and check out the scene closer. After a while some cop got his panties in a bunch and ordered everyone from the center divide. So the rest of the guys returned to the line (of 4 people).


Ten minutes later, more sirens and a big procession came up Van Ness. Then I saw it as the procession got closer I saw the Olympic flame. I didn’t have a great vantage point but it looked like the torch bearer came up with the escort, stopped and maybe handed the flame to the guys who’s gotten off the bus. Then They ran by up Van Ness and towards the embarcadero. Holy Satchafunkilus that was cool.


Conversation started up again and the day grew on. I got more and more sunburn but was eventually saved by shade and more and more people showed up. Every hour at least one people decided to stand in front of me. I had no problems with directing them to the back of the line. Rama and I continued to talk about guitars. Rama doesn’t frequent the jemsite but an Indonesian forum instead and who’s on that forum? Yes it’s you Rich.

[CHAOSREX]

Satch Sessions in San Francisco...Continued...The Session

Finally the excitement grows. The GC is closed to the general public and we can hear Joe doing sound check. The come out, collect our bags and guitars and then we get to go in. I warn some guys as I go in that my friend is on her way but they say she doesn’t get a seat. The first 50 people got to sit. I went and took my beloved #1 spot all the way in the front on the left side and after they let us 1st 50 in that was it. 5 minutes later they hadn’t let anyone else in and my friend showed up. I got her in no prob and it was gravy from there. They brought the other people in and a dude from Guitar Player magazine introduced Joe.

Joe came up with his 1200 being handed to him by turkey man and Joe started talking about ideas and theory. The first 2 songs he played were from the new Album. They were both very cool, complex and grooving as to be expected. He talked a lot of theory and gave us examples and went into song number three, Flying in a Blue Dream. As usual he nails all the opening feedback pitches. After the song he starts talking about positions on stage how there are a few sweet spots and everything else kills you. He tried to duplicate the opening feedback but could not get all the tones. I thought it a little funny how while playing he just gets in the zone so quickly but when trying to give an example it just would happen. More theory talk and Joe played Always. A very special song for me, and so many other people I’m sure. Another awesome rendition where he tries some new stuff on parts of the song that were very cool. He talked about how he liked giving the clinics because as it was in front of a bunch of musicians (right, we were all there cause we play guitar) that he could try new things. After Always he started talking about throwing out theory and just playing something that rocks and grooves. So he played song number five…Satch Boogie.



It was extremely cool to hear Joe talk about how he constructs some of his music. He talked theory but backed it up. I am not too up on theory, I just pick up the guitar in play so some of what he was saying was a bit over my head but the setting was awesome and his talking gave you food for thought while listening to and watching him play. The QA session was pretty short. Did you know Joe played drums for a couple of years and his three biggest motivators to move to the guitar was…he felt he sucked at drums (and so did his family) his sister played guitar and he loved the mobility of it and then he heard Hendrix for the first time.

There were a couple of stories and other questions but not as exciting as previously mentioned. As we got ready for the signing portion and I took the lead of the line I passed by turkey man putting away Joe’s 1200. I asked him what kind of bridge was on their and he said over his shoulder “Edge”. I’m sure most of you knew that but I didn’t. I got up to Joe and mentioned that since we were both going to be in London on the 20th maybe he could get me on the guest list. Shameless I know but I had to ask. Unfortunately he said it was a trade show and there was no guest list. I reminded him that he and I share the same birthday and he said we’d have to go for a pint to celebrate together. I’m going to hold him to that. Thought I don’t drink I’ll make it work.

Over all a great day. Again, pics will be posted before Monday. I took a short video too got him playing one song. I don’t know how big it is yet but it was taken on my camera phone so it won’t be great quality. If you’re interested PM me and I’ll see about possibly getting you a copy.