Wow.
I was lucky enough to get EVO tickets for this show.
We were told to line up in front of the office at 3:30. Of course everyone camps there like a theater line for Star Wars. So at about 3:40, a guy in a suit and vai t-shirt hands out our goodie bags. Each evo bag contains:
* 1 tourbook - very nice pictures
* 1 autographed Real Illusions cd booklet
* 1 interview cd with Vai's take on each song
* 1 purple Real Illusions guitar pick
* 1 EVO Laminate with a picture of Evo on it
We're admitted into the venue and searched for weapons. When we're all clear (probably 15 of us), we are let into the soundcheck where the crew is still setting up. Slowly Dave Weiner and Jeremy Colson wander onstage and begin talking with Thomas and various other hard working folks about placement of equipment and microphone volume.
Tony MacAlpine wanders out and he and Dave have a great conversation where Dave asks for a recommendation for a piece of gear. Tony (being an endorser) suggests Carvin. Dave tells him that he "hates that f*ckin' company." and goes on to explain that they came out and did a bunch of shots of him in front of some gear, used his name in catalogs, but never gave him the press he was promised. But it all comes out with a smile. Dave is a really nice guy and shows even when he's talking about people who have treated him poorly.
All eyes are onstage, enjoying all of the different technical aspects of setting up. Meanwhile, someone has slipped behind us. "Hey guys!" Steve says. We all turn around to find our favorite guitarist standing 2 rows behind us, holding Bad Horsie. He thanks us for coming and hopes we enjoy ourselves.
The soundcheck was very interesting. What was amazing was that Steve talked about his own gear and was interested in his own sound for about 20 seconds. He spent most of his time correcting volume levels, drum and sitar sounds, and practicing timing between Jeremy, Tony and Dave. They would pick out key moments in a song like the interlude in "Lotus Feed" or the unison playing in "Pusa Road" and practice every minute detail. Steve would stop them and say, "Now that's a pre-bend right there. Don't bend up to it. Start with it and flutter it down." To hear that much attention to detail in one moment of a song really makes it stunning when you hear the whole thing during the concert.
The soundcheck ended about 6:55 and we were ushered upstairs into a craft services room with several tables and beverages. This is clearly a room for performers to have their bottled water and brown M&Ms or whatever is in their rider. Steve followed us up and we talked for about an hour. Just question and answer. It was really enjoyable because most of the questions were either specific to Steve "When will Fire Strings be released?" or "Why did you stop playing the 7-string?" or they were about his philosophy. I asked him this: "Your career has outlasted most of your contemporaries. Entire trends have come and gone between your albums. I've only been playing for 15 years and I constantly fight repeating myself. How do you avoid that? How do you stay fresh in your playing?" He gave a long and very interesting answer.
While he was talking, our friend in the t-shirt and suit passed EVO (yes the real one with all the battlescars) around the room. At one point someone asked, "This isn't the real one is it?" and Steve said, "Yes it is...if you drop it, I'm taking your head off!" When it got around to me, I wanted to know one thing. How it was set up. I was amazed that it was set up just like mine. The action wasn't ridiculously low. The guitar was beat to hell, but it did feel very solid.
Then there was one other secret thing, that I'll never tell about. Well- maybe in a ten years.
Then the concert started. We were ushered back down to see the concert just to see the end of Eric Sardinas' set. He played well and definately earned a few new fans.
Vai started with "Glorious". It sounded great. Throughout the night I remember thinking that Steve's tone was exceptional. Very smooth and saturated, never rough though. Here's the songs I remember.
Glorious
The Audience is Listening
Building the Church
The Crying Machine
K'm Pee Du Wee
Dave Weiner solo piece - good, but short
I Know You're Here
Whispering a Prayer
Juice
Answers
Lotus Feet
Tony MacAlpine solo - keyboards
Acoustic medly:
Cherry Blossom Suite
Melissa's Garden
Sisters
Call It Sleep
Rescue Me or Bury Me
Pusa Road - on the Euphoria
Billy Sheehan solo
Love Blood
Unbecoming
I'm the Hell Out of Here
Encore:
Liberty
My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama
For the Love of God
I'm sure I messed some of the order up, but that's pretty much what they played. For me, Vai was on the whole night. Sounded amazing. But I'd have to say that his playing on "Lotus Feet", "Whispering a Prayer" and "Love Blood" was just incredible. He added a ton of his trademarked insanely fast tapping runs and whammy abuse.
Every aspect of the concert was perfect.
A+
Sorry to ramble on ...
