any steve vai fans here

i saw him at the state theater in minneapolis a few days ago and he was amazing as always. he filmed a dvd here too. but we met him after the show and hes a really nice guy and he talk to us for awhile. any other vai fans here?

im on the right.

I'm a Vai fan, I've got a handful of his CDs - Passion & Warfare, Sex & Religion and Fire Garden. I'm not going to lie, I'm not too huge on P&W - it's good, but it's a little hard to digest. I'm far more keen on the other two, probably because they're not purely instrumental. Also, Devin Townsend makes some of the more average S&R songs rock.

I'd really like to catch Vai live, unfortunately I missed my opportunity this summer due to a lack of funds.

Yes!!!....I own at least five of his cd's. "Passion and Warfare" is probably the one that gets more play. Steve is uniquely in a catagory of his own. He is definitely in my top ten of guitar gods.

Smindas wrote:

I'I'm not going to lie, I'm not too huge on P&W - it's good, but it's a little hard to digest. I'm far more keen on the other two, probably because they're not purely instrumental.

I actually agree. even though im wearing a p&w shirt i like his others better. Reall Illusions Reflections and Fire Garden are my favs right now. Alive in an Ultra World is brilliant too. Whispering a Prayer gives me goosebumps every time i listen. and it was sooooo good live. but since you didnt get to go you could always fork out 20 bucks when the dvd comes out and you can see the show i went too haha

Yes! One of my favorite guitarists!

I've never seen him live, but I'd love to.

I like Vai.Though im probably a bigger fan of his work with DLR,Alcatrazz and Whitesnake.I tend to enjoy him alot more when he's with a "band".He's also another one of these guys who helped Ibanez sell a gizzilion guitars..............Nice pic!

Yeah, his work on David Lee Roth's "Skyskraper" album is dynamite!

I think he's one of the most talented guitarists of all time. unbelievably talented. That being said, most of his work is a bit hard to digest; weird stuff, stuff that doesnt make much sense, he tries to be strange and different just for the sake of it. I love his songs that just plain rock with great melodies and riffs. When he turns loose, he's phenominal. I wish he would do more of that. and I really cant stand the whole orchestra crap that it seems everyone is doing these days.

stepcousin wrote:

I think he's one of the most talented guitarists of all time. unbelievably talented. That being said, most of his work is a bit hard to digest; weird stuff, stuff that doesnt make much sense, he tries to be strange and different just for the sake of it.

I love the weird stuff. because its something different for guitar. playing the same stuff and playing fast can only go so far i guess.

I used to have his Flexible record and i think he is very talented.

I think one of the things that distinguishes him from the pack is the fact that he is a bit 'strange'. I like that about him though.

I used to have Passion & Warfare on cassette at one time, but I didn't listen to it that much. I did like his work with Diamond Dave.

I've actually seen Vai three times live. Twice on the G3 tour and once at Zappa Plays Zappa (Dweezil playing the songs of Frank). Steve came out to play a few songs. The guy is quite incredible to watch. Besides being an outstanding guitarist, he's quite a showman and knows how to work a crowd.

I've only got Flex-able, which is one sweet album, but I've also heard some of his Roth work. Yeah he's awesome

Very talented guitarist...but very wrong for Whitesnake in the early 90's. But that was Coverdale's doing, not to fault Vai.

Steve is a really cool guy. I used to work at a video store in Hollywood and he would ride his bike down with his son, and he was always very nice. I had like 3 of his albums put away at the store so the next time he came, i could have him sign it. I quit before I ever got the chance.

Love Vai's stuff.... His performance on the G3 Live in Denver is fantastic....

I LOVE Vai!!! I've been a fan since his Zappa days!!!

I've seen him 3xs!

Zappa '80
DLR '86
Solo '04

IronAge wrote:

I like Vai.Though im probably a bigger fan of his work with DLR,Alcatrazz and Whitesnake.I tend to enjoy him alot more when he's with a "band".He's also another one of these guys who helped Ibanez sell a gizzilion guitars..............Nice pic!

I agree, but I do like Passion and Warfare. Blue Powder is simply an awesome song. I can't tell you how many hours were spend trying to learn that song.

Yeah, "Passion and Warfare" is a great album!

I saw this old thread on Steve Vai and I am just going to comment on this one instead of starting a new one. I just watched my dvd of Steve Vai-Live At The Astoria London, excellent DVD, line up is incredible Steve Vai on the axe of course, Billy Sheenan-Bass, Tony MacAlphine on guitars and keyboards, two guys I have never heard of but excellent musicians Virgil Donati on drums and Dave Weiner on guitars.

Amazing performance, the word virtuoso comes to mind when I watch him play. I can hear in some sections of the songs his mentor Zappa's influence. These songs are so complicated you probably need a PHD just to transcribe these songs.

Although not a huge fan of his recorded work (although I'm really partial to Fire Garden), there is no denying the unbelievable talent he possesses. I had the pleasure of seeing him on the G3 tour and he was incredible.

That was really what turned me around on him, seeing him live is an otherworldly experience.

It was a nice surprise too because the main reason I went to that concert was that Robert Fripp was the opening act.

detuned wrote:

Although not a huge fan of his recorded work (although I'm really partial to Fire Garden), there is no denying the unbelievable talent he possesses. I had the pleasure of seeing him on the G3 tour and he was incredible.

That was really what turned me around on him, seeing him live is an otherworldly experience.

It was a nice surprise too because the main reason I went to that concert was that Robert Fripp was the opening act.

That is killer line up!!! I have never seen King Crimson live, Did Vai and Fripp jam together at the end of the show? Also does Robert Fripp still sit down during the entire set?

great guitarist, much love here

manny wrote:

That is killer line up!!! I have never seen King Crimson live, Did Vai and Fripp jam together at the end of the show? Also does Robert Fripp still sit down during the entire set?

The full lineup for that show was Satriani, Vai, Steve Morse & Robert Fripp. (Kenny Wayne Shepard was originally scheduled but canceled, thus Morse filled in - THANK GOD). Anyway, phenomenal show.

Fripp did sit down during his set, but that's pretty much a necessity to work all the pedals it takes to create his soundscapes. However, Vai's keyboard player (another ex-Zappa guy whose name escapes me at the moment) came out and played guitar with Fripp on two songs, basically soloing over what Fripp was laying down. It was a very memorable gig.

Fripp also participated in the jam at the end of the night, looked like he was having fun. He used some completely wacky/innapropriate guitar effects for his solo spots...which made it even more Fripp-like.

I'm a huge Vai fan. Fire Garden Phase 1 and Sound Theories are my faves.