When the Best of All Worlds tour was announced back in November, there were many questions asked. Two of them that stood out were, could Joe Satriani pull off playing the songs and notes that Eddie Van Halen did with ease and also what would the setlist consist off?
Well, both of those questions were answered in spades on Saturday in West Palm and on Sunday in Tampa as I attended both of the shows in different capacities but as a fan at both.
Opening night in West Palm, Loverboy opened the show with a 8 song set of their greatest hits. As they took the stage at 7pm sharp at the I Think Amp, a sweltering heat engulfed the band and the fans in the packed outdoor venue. The feels like was 105 degrees with zero breeze.
Loverboy started their set with “Lucky Ones” and afterward, singer Mike Reno said hello to the crowd. Reno was solid under the conditions and seeing that it was opening night he and the band were superb and had the fans dancing and singing in their seats during “The Kid Is Hot Tonight” & “Loving Every Minute of It.”
The “Boys” from Canada continued their set with “Hot Girls in Love” & “Turn Me Loose” with drummer Matt Frenette kneeling on top of his kit and keyboardist Doug Johnson wailing on the saxophone. They concluded their set with their biggest hit in “Working for the Weekend” which gave everyone a reprieve to go get water and some towels for their drenched faces.
It was great to see Loverboy once again and unfortunately for the fans in Tampa the following night, they would not perform. This was due to another weather situation as a monsoon came across Hillsborough County and drenched the whole area which almost caused the whole show to be cancelled. A positive occurred from this as the temperature was near 80.
Thankfully as they say “The Show Must Go On” with the Tampa performance starting at 8:45 instead of 8:20 in West Palm. “Stand Up and Shout” played over the house speakers with many in the crowd not realizing this was a Sammy Hagar song and only knowing it from the Rock Star movie soundtrack with Jeff Scott Soto on vocals.
A collage of videos of Sammy’s illustrious career played on the video screens which got cheers, a tear and a laugh from the crowd especially when the Simpson’s Sammy character was shown. They also included a picture with Vinnie Paul who last performed with Sammy at Sammy’s 70th Birthday Bash before passing away a couple months later.
The lights dimmed across the venues as Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony and Jason Bonham donned their respected instruments. Sammy then grabbed the audience’s complete attention as he addressed them with “Hello Babyyyyyyy” from “Good Enough.” This was also the first song from 5150 which was Sammy’s debut with the band in 1986.
Sammy then addressed the crowd in West Palm and welcomed everyone to the first show of the tour and how the band was pacing with anticipation in their dressing room.
Joe Satriani then broke out the electric drill for you guessed, “Poundcake” which had only been played by Sammy a few times at special events since 2015. Joe passed the drill to Sammy and pointed it at the crowd and at his groin which got another big laugh from both crowds.
Pink neon images of the words “POUNDCAKE” and “DOWNHOME” accompanied a female silhouette on the video screen behind Jason Bonham’s elevated kit.
After “Runaround” from Van Halen’s FUCK release, the band played the first of four Sammy Hager solo songs in the set with “There’s Only One Way To Rock” as Sammy joined Joe Satriani on guitar. Other solo material played throughout the evening included the fan favorite “Heavy Metal” “I Can’t Drive 55” and the emotion grabbing “Eagles Fly.”
Getting back to the setlist question, the band then performed 4 songs that hadn’t been played live in many years. These included a personal favorite in “Judgement Day” (2015), “Summer Nights (2006), 5150 (2010) and a first time performance by Sammy’s solo band in “Panama.”
Hagar then took a jab at David Lee Roth and introduced the “second best singer in Van Halen in bassist Michael Anthony. In West Palm, Anthony broke out his signature Jack Daniel’s bass and took center stage to sing “Ain’t Talkin About Love” with Hagar taking a break off stage. Funny thing is that in Tampa, Anthony used his “We Don’t Fuck Around” (WDFA) bass.
Anthony was amazing vocally during both performances with Jason Bonham and keyboardist and guitar player Rai Thistlethwayte assisting him with the harmonies.There is no doubt that without Anthony, Van Halen might not have achieved their legacy as one of the best American bands of all time.
Joe Satriani fans in attendance got a big surprise when Sammy got another short break when Joe busted out “Satch Boogie” from his ground breaking and highly influential introduction album in Surfing With The Alien. This album has always brought smiles to my face and is the reason I put Joe on my list of favorite guitar players.
After another deep cut in “Seventh Seal,” Sammy and the boys played “Right Now” which has always been very special to so many and showcased Rai on keyboards. They have played this in the Circle and with Sammy’s solo band but usually not with a key board player as they used tracks. As the song concluded, Sammy said that they were “keeping it alive” meaning Eddie and Van Halen’s legacy.
Throughout both performances, Hagar put on various clothes, banners and hats thrown on the stage by fans and then signed all of them. In West Palm he put on a Panthers jersey etc. In Tampa, a Derrick Brooks jersey and even a red “Sammy Hagar Makes Van Halen Great Again” hat.
I have never seen a performer do this before and if you have a seat near the stage, grab a hat and toss it up there to possibly get yourself a special piece of memorabilia.
After the aforementioned “Eagles Fly,” Sammy and Michael got the party officially started by breaking out the Santo tequila for the Wabos “Mas Tequila” song. Sammy’s guys passed the cups out to the fans to have them join in the party. Joe Satriani played a red and white EVH Frankenstein guitar during this and also during “Heavy Metal.”
They also performed ‘Space Sation #5 from Sammy’s time in Montrose then went into “Jump” from 1984 and finished off their set with “When It’s Love.”
“Thank You” lit up the video screen as the band took a bow and left the stage. It was perfect as Led Zeppelin’s “Thank You” played over the house system as a tribute to John and Jason Bonham as the crowd departed.
Before I close, let’s address the elephant in the room. Was this tour initially supposed to be a celebration of Van Halen and Eddie or more like a celebration of Sammy Hagar’s career? I guess It really all depends on what interview you read or heard and when it occurred. Judging by the past two shows I attended, it was both. Sammy said “It was a celebration of his career leaning really heavy on the VH” during “Best of Both Worlds.”
Sure, most of the people that prefer the Dave era over the Sammy era left a bit disappointed by them only playing 3 songs from that time period. I myself was a bit surprised at the set especially with the amount of Hagar’s solo material near the end but I loved hearing the VH deep tracks that I haven’t seen throughout Sammy’s solo career and with the Circle.
If the set list keeps you from seeing this tour then I believe that you are doing yourself a disservice if you are a fan of Van Halen. Satriani plays Eddie’s material flawlessly and doesn’t stray from the original material (that I was able to notice) and Jason Bonham crushes the drums and is perfect to play Alex’s drum parts.
The band has said they have rehearsed many more VH songs and have them in the vault ready to go and once again are primed to be standing on “Top Of The World” once again at least for a little while.
1. “Good Enough” 2. “Poundcake” 3. “Runaround” 4. “There’s Only One Way to Rock” 5. “Judgement Day” 6. “Panama” 7. “5150” 8. “Summer Nights” 9. “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love” (Michael Anthony on lead vocals) 10. “Top of the World” 11. “Best of Both Worlds” 12. “Satch Boogie” 13. “The Seventh Seal” 14. “Right Now” 15. “Why Can’t This Be Love” 16. “Eagles Fly” 17. “Mas Tequila” 18. “Heavy Metal” 19. “I Can’t Drive 55” 20. “Space Station #5” / “Oh Yeah” / “Jump” 21. “When It’s Love”
Virgin. I knew that would catch your attention and in full transparency, I have been on the Beach Boys Cruise but never on the Monsters of Rock Cruise. They both have some similarities but The Monsters of Rock Cruise is a whole different animal. A gorilla comes to mind but imagine one on steroids ala King Kong. 35 plus bands, comics, and all sorts of events to keep you busy from sunrise to sunset and beyond.
This was an eye-opener and for those who haven’t been on before, I hope after you read this, you will think hard about going on MORC or a music cruise in the future. The following is what a newbie experienced and some tips if you decide to go on a MORC in the future.
People from all over the planet (no exaggeration) traveled to Miami for the 5-day Saturday departure but kicked the party off early as Larry Morand and his crew put on a pre-cruise concert at the Magic City Casino on Friday night.
A few thousand people got their drink on and said hello to people they hadn’t seen since last year. It was a good time as Y&T headlined the show with HardCore Superstar, Rhino Bucket, and others hitting the big stage. The outdoor venue was great, and the weather was even better and was a perfect primer for the festivities to come.
Saturday morning for the cruisers requires patience as the lines to get through security and check-in are damn long and can take a while to get on the boat. I do suggest parking at the cruise terminal, especially if you are local to Florida and you drove to the port.
It costs $110 bucks, but the convenience is worth it especially if you are splitting costs. Park the car, check your bags (if needed), and get in line. Many will park at a hotel and take a shuttle or uber etc, but when the cruise is over, the last thing you will want to do is take multiple avenues to get to your final destination.
After we got checked in, the party had already started as food and booze were available, Glen Hughes did a Q&A with Eddie Trunk and Quiet Riot hit the Theatre Stage at 1:45 to kick off the lineup of bands that concluded with Tuff at Midnight.
I can go through all the bands and their sets but that’s not the basis for this article. It’s more about the actual cruise experience than the bands but I will point out some stand-out performances.
What is cool about cruises in general and this one specifically is that it has price points that seem to be affordable especially if you are coming with a friend or multiple friends. Sure, you can book a cabin that has a balcony and be a Silver or Gold VIP, but even if you book the cheapest cabin, you’re going to have a great time.
Most of the people that I talked to spent minimal time in their cabins other than sleeping and showering. I know that was the case for us so even 3 people in a interior cabin was feasible.
Don’t get me wrong, gold and silver vip cruisers have benefits. A couple of those are first entry into the venues for the shows and first in for the Photo Experience with the bands.
These benefits are considerable as you are guaranteed up-close access to the two primary stages in the Royal Theatre & Studio B. The other two venues were the Pool Stage and the Star Lounge, and both were first come, first serve no matter what cabin you had.
Also, getting into the photo experiences with the bands early saved you a lot of time as the lines were long, especially on the day when photos with Ace Frehley, Extreme, & Queensryche were being taken. Even if you didn’t have VIP status, everyone was able to get their pics taken with the bands but once again patience is needed.
Everyone wants to talk to the artists and have their “moment” with the band and I get that completely as that is probably the only time you will have that access.
Keep in mind though that the staff truly have their hands full as a thousand people are going through the lines each shoot and they are required to keep the lines moving and be professional while doing it.
If you are a drinker, the alcohol package might be good for you and it costs about $100 a day for each person in your cabin, but there are discounts available prior to boarding that you can take advantage of online.
Just take into account that even though you have the package, It doesn’t mean you should drink yourself into oblivion by 4 pm every day and miss out on the bands you want to see. We witnessed plenty of people passed out around the ship in precarious positions unaware that there pictures was being taken.
There are also scheduling decisions that have to be made and band times will and do change for a variety of reasons. Thankfully each band plays 2 sets with most of them playing at different venues.
If there’s a band playing later in the week on the pool stage, I highly suggest seeing that band at one of the different venues that might not be affected by the rain. This happened to us specifically with Armored Saint who were scheduled to play the pool stage on the last night and couldn’t perform.
Every night as the bands finished up their sets, the party continued as karaoke took center stage in the Viking Crown on the Independence of the Sea. The room was packed with artists and with Armored Saint getting rained out, it led to a couple of the coolest things I have witnessed on any stage in my life.
But If you were in that room, you witnessed something that I highly doubt will ever be seen again and that was when Ritchie Kotzen along with Justin Hawkins from the Darkness, joined Glen Hughes for “Fooled Around and Fell In Love.” Saying it was epic is an understatement. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=419297110586594
This was just one of the surprises that you might experience on the MORC. Another was being able to hang out and chat in the Irish pub with Steve Harris from Iron Maiden and British Lion. Steve walked through the Promenade Deck (5) numerous times and stopped and had a pint.
At any time of the day or night, you would run into musicians walking around or in or near the elevator or getting a slice at the pizza place.
Deck 5 was always buzzing with cruisers, musicians and new friends. That’s what really makes the MORC so special. I met so many people from all walks of life and from different countries that I now call friends.
You may bump into the same couple over and over again, even in the ports, and think they are stalking you but timing sometimes just works out that way and I’m still looking over my shoulder wondering if they are nearby.
You will see and talk to many people all the time on that floor and get caught in what Larry David likes to call “Stop and Chats.” If you are in a rush to get to anything, avoid this floor even if it means going past the staterooms above or below you. It’s a pro move that may be needed at some point.
Speaking of the ports, we stopped in Cozumel and in Nassau with Cozumel with both being tourist traps. There is a spot in Cozumel outside the port that has a great Mexican restaurant that put on a show that concluded with an artist putting out a fire with his lower region and 5 men swinging from their feet from a pole 100 plus feet in the air. It’s called the Dance Of The Flyers and it was worth getting off the boat just for that.
If you decide to stay on the boat while in port, there are bands playing and activities still going on along with food available 24/7. Some love the food, and some hate it but that’s normal with cruises and you can’t make everyone’s palate happy.
The crew also hides plastic ducks throughout the ship and if you find one, it has an entry ticket for a raffle for a free cabin for next year’s cruise. They also have numerous theme nights like Heaven & Hell & Battle Vest night to show off your best gear for prizes etc and a “So You Think You Can Shred” contest with guest judges.
Another tip: Come with your A game and make sure you can play at a high level because after you get judged, you might not want to pick up your guitar again. Brutal honesty and I’ll leave it at that.
Everyone had a great time and I only witnessed one event between cruisers that might have led to fisticuffs. That was in the Star Lounge when people were standing up near the stage watching an awesome and heavy performance by Kaliedo.
I guess the unspoken/unwritten rule is that everyone is supposed to sit in the Star Lounge to not block people’s view and that was happening and a large man was pissed.
The situation was quickly defused by security and people went back to their seats where headbanging commenced. Yes, seeing massive headbanging while people sat in white leather chairs was another first for me.
There was a buzz amongst the people who are serial cruisers on the MORC and that was about the swap meet. People were talking about what they brought with them to share with fellow cruisers.
From guitar pick holders to custom branded metal straws to everything imaginable with different logos etc were laid out on tables on the Promenade Deck (5.) People swarmed the area to chat and browse and came back with a variety of different swag.
There were also multiple Rockstar Painting Classes that you could sign up for to paint. On this year’s cruise, you had the option to paint David Bowie, Angus Young or Ace Frehley. We did Ace Frehley and 3 members of Ace’s band were in our group with Bassist Ryan Cook sitting directly next to me.
I highly suggest it if you haven’t done it before as Ron provides a template and walks you through it. Even a super novice like myself was able to do it and I can’t paint a circle.
Be prepared to walk and walk and walk. You will get acclimated to the ship in a couple of days but one of the statements you will get used to is: “It’s on the other side of the boat.” Everything throughout the cruise will be on the other side. It just works out that way but I highly suggest taking a look at the layout of the ship before heading on the cruise.
You will also have to wait for bands to start their performances as previous bands might run long or their sound checks get extended. This led to Justin Hawkins calling Ace Frehley a “cunt” for doing an extended sound check but it was a combination of that and KK’s Priest running their set a bit long.
It was pretty hilarious and along with The Darkness’ pool stage set, it was one of the more fascinating moments of the cruise. The comment by Hawkins has grown legs with a back and forth between Ace and Justin online.
Lead singer Justin Hawkins went and joined the cruisers in the hot tub while he played his guitar and during their set in Studio B, he did a handstand and flailed his legs on stage. Some say the pool stage performance was the highlight of the cruise but I disagree. I base it more on personal preference as KK’s Priest was simply outstanding.
Both their Theatre set and their Studio B sets just crushed with Tim “Ripper” Owens’s vocal performances proving once again that he is one of the best along with Queensryche’s Todd La Torre. Queensryche also played two different sets with their pool set another highlight for me.
Unfortunately, I missed both of Accept’s sets but once again, decisions have to be made but like in a festival setting, you will get to see bands that you have never seen before. For me, it was H.E.A.T., Dangerous Toys and Bad Marriage.
All three were great and H.E.A.T.‘s singer was one of the nicest guys I’ve met. We also talked and took pics with Gary from Extreme in the coffee shop. These are just a couple of examples of you never know who you’re going to run into on the MORC.
After seeing 40 plus sets of music, I can go on and on about the bands, but I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about Faster Pussycat and Lizzy Borden. Both are MORC veterans with FP playing a midnight pool stage set that was simply amazing.
Taime Downe and the boys lit up the stage and the sky with their hits and non-stop energy as Jenna And Rachel from Paradise Kitty joined them on backup vocals.
The band has a combination of veterans while mixing in some youth in guitarist Sam Bam Koulton and Ace Von Johnson. Sam Bam is a can’t-miss player if he’s hitting a stage near you. He’s that good.
I’ve been a fan of Lizzy Borden for decades but they rarely play in Florida. Thankfully they played twice within 24 hours in Studio B on the last day of the cruise.
What a visual experience with Lizzy changing costumes every song and wiping blood on adoring fans’ faces during “There Will Be Blood Tonight.” Both sets were fantastic, and I highly suggest seeing them at least once if you get a chance.
In closing, The Monsters of Rock Cruise is not only about the music but it’s also about the experiences and the people you will meet. In just a few days, I have made lifelong friends from different countries and already look forward to seeing them again.
I asked some of them if the lineup matters and many said “not at all” and look forward to the following year as soon as the “cruise hangover” concludes.
This is a real thing and I experienced it firsthand. Getting back to “your reality” takes a few days and I suggest not going back to work if you can fit it in your schedule.
Bookings for next year will start happening soon and it’s never too late to join the other previous virgin passengers who have now become veterans and an integral part of the MORC family.
“Wow” was the only word that came to mind as I exited Ruth
Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Monday night. I was one of many who witnessed
arguably the most diverse and talented group of guitarists and musicians to
grace the stage during the 2019 Experience Hendrix Tour.
Satriani, Pinnick & Aronoff (Photo-Travis Failey)
The Experience Hendrix Tour has been an annual/semiannual event
since 2002, with the idea spawning from the 2000 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
tribute to Jimi. The Experience Hendrix
format consists of mega-talented musicians taking turns performing Jimi Hendrix
songs throughout the evening. This
year’s lineup of musicians included some new additions, like Megadeth’s Dave
Mustaine and Dug Pinnick from Kings- X, naming just a few. Pinnick joined
drummer Kenny Aronoff and Experience veteran Joe Satriani in a rousing six-song
set prior to the encore.
Dave Mustaine (Photo-Travis Failey)
Dave Mustaine expressed his excitement about being part of
the tour. “Jimi Hendrix. The name that comes to my mind as one the
‘Premiere American Guitarists Of All Time.’ An Innovator, and legendary
musician, I am beyond honored to do my part in this tribute to the immortal Jimi
Hendrix, and want to thank [EH Tour producer] John McDermott for inviting me to
play along such mind-blowing guitarists as Joe Satriani, and a personal
favorite of mine, Eric Johnson.”
Janie Hendrix (Photo-Travis Failey)
The night started with Janie Hendrix saying “Hello”
and thanking those in attendance for coming out and then proceeded to present a
very lucky young man with a beautiful new green guitar sponsored by Yousician.
The young man accepted his new instrument with tears of joy in his eyes. As the
two departed, the first set of musicians took the stage: Dweezil Zappa, Billy
Cox, (from the original Band of Gypsies), along with Chris Layton from Double
Trouble and The Stevie Ray Vaughn band.
Billy Cox (Photo-Travis Failey) Dweezil Zappa (Photo-Travis Failey)
The trio kicked the show off with “Freedom,” and then a huge
Hendrix hit: “Foxey Lady,” with Zappa
being replaced by Mato Nanji, and Henri Brown. The track was the catalyst for
audience participation that continued throughout the night.
Ana Popovic (Photo-Travis Failey)
Blues guitarist Ana Popovic took center stage for the next two songs, “House Burning Down” and “Can You See Me,” with Ana just crushing the slide guitar during the latter song. I wasn’t familiar with Ana’s style or sound prior to the night, but her performance was memorable due to her own artistic flair and the style in which she played the Hendrix classics. A guitar jam/duet with Ana and Lzzy Hale from Halestorm would be epic.
Chuck Campbell (Photo-Travis Failey)
The slide guitar continued as the Slide Brothers performed
“The Sky is Crying,” and at 48 years old, I don’t think I’ve ever seen two guys
playing slide guitar in unison on stage before. Then again, I’m sure it happens
all the time in the Blues scene, just not so much, or ever, at a rock or metal show.
Calvin Cooke (Photo-Travis Failey)Eric Johnson (Photo-Travis Failey)
Experience Hendrix Tour veteran and fan favorite, Eric Johnson, joined bassist and producer Kevin McCormick, and drummer Chris Layton on “Bold as Love,” with Johnson finger-tapping in a bluesy fashion. Johnson also incorporated his signature style, reminiscent of his landmark song, “Cliffs of Dover.”
Zakk Wylde (Photo-Travis Failey)
Then Zakk Wylde cozied-up to a piano to assist the others on “Are You Experienced.” Visuals of Jimi Hendrix alone and with his band, The Band of Gypsies, played in the background throughout the show. Green, blue and red psychedelic imagery also danced on the screens to match the tone and tempo of the music. Wylde deferred to the others until it was his time to shine and finish off the first act of the evening.
Wylde, Layton and McCormick got the whole crowd at Ruth
Eckerd Hall on their feet for the first time during “Rock Me Baby,” and “Like a
Rolling Stone,” with Zakk asking everyone “Can You Dig It?” as he introduced
Chris Layton and said, “On the bass and the pasta, Kevin McCormick.”
Zakk Wylde (Photo-Travis Failey)
Zakk Wylde then masterfully performed the classic “Little
Wing,” behind his head, while he walked up the side aisle and across the 65-seat
row through the heart of the crowd. Wylde finished the song in the front row
with the fans. Woman and men alike were taking selfies with Zakk in the
background. It was an enormous finish to the first half of the Experience Hendrix,
and I’m glad they took a break, because no one could have followed Zakk Wylde
after that performance, well, except for maybe Jimi himself.
Doyle Bramhall (Photo-Travis Failey)
Act two kicked off after a fifteen-minute break with Doyle
Bramhall II taking center stage. Bramhall II is an incredibly accomplished
guitarist and vocalist who has collaborated with Roger Waters, Eric Clapton and
BB King just to name a few. Bramhall II was joined on stage by Chris Layton and
Kevin McCormick with both of them playing the brunt of the music throughout the
show. The three of them performed “Come On,” “Izabella,” and
“Angel,” while blue and white lights streamed across the venue and with
blue angelic-like visuals on the big screens.
Jonny Lang (Photo-Travis Failey)
One of the many highlights of the show was next when Zakk
Wylde joined Jonny Lang for Lang’s first song of the evening, a classic hit in
“All Along The Watchtower.”
Watching these two musicians shredding onstage at the same time was a
sight to behold. As Lang’s set continued
with “The Wind Cries Mary,” and “Spanish Castle Magic,” I
realized what makes Lang so special: every note that he plays is with emotion
and soul and you can hear it in his playing and see it on his facial
expressions. Lang does not just “go through the motions” and I think
that the audience recognizes it and appreciates it. If you haven’t seen Jonny
Lang play before, like I hadn’t before tonight, I implore you to take in his
mastery of the six string. You won’t regret it.
Johnson & Lang (Photo-Travis Failey) Dave Mustaine (Photo-Travis Failey)
The fans in the crowd that were waiting to see their thrash metal hero take the stage had to wait no longer when Dave Mustaine joined Lang and others for a heavier version of “Fire” with Henri Brown on vocals. Mustaine was sporting a new axe on stage as Dean Guitars made Dave a new version of Mustaine’s Signature Flying V specifically to play the 2019 Experience Hendrix Tour.
(Photo-Travis Failey)
Mustaine only took part in two songs with “Stone Free” being the other, but one thing was certain: Dave truly looked happy and honored to be there. Mustaine even broke out an uncharacteristic smile when he addressed the crowd.
Dave Mustaine (Photo-Travis Failey)
On a side note, after the show, Mustaine went to the World
of Beer in Tampa and met a packed venue full of Megadeth fans to promote his
Tout Le Monde beer. Once again, Dave was in a great mood and signed everything
the fans brought with a smile, and even poured a few beers for some thirsty
patrons.
Mato Nanji (Photo-Travis Failey)
Another great moment in the night was during “Hey Joe”
as the whole crowd stood and sang along
with Billy Cox and Mato Nanji. Hendrix’s “Hey Joe,” was, and
still is, a staple on classic rock radio, and will continue to be played even
after we all pass.
Joe Satriani (Photo-Travis Failey)
The Experience Hendrix stage took on another face when Joe
Satriani, bassist Dug Pinnick, and drummer Kenny Aronoff crushed Ruth Eckerd
Hall with a six pack of songs. The trio started off with “Crosstown
Traffic,” and then “Manic Depression,” with Dug Pinnick on vocals.
Satriani was vintage Satch, as he incorporated his signature sound and style
while still staying true to the original songs as performed by Jimi Hendrix.
All three performers were in perfect synch and looked like they have been
playing together for years. The trio concluded their set with a perfect, audience
grabbing, sing-along-song and arguably the biggest Hendrix song in “Voodoo
Child.”
Dug Pinnick (Photo-Travis Failey)
As Satriani, Pinnick and Aronoff left the stage to a roaring
standing ovation, some of the audience started to leave but quickly returned
when Billy Cox, Mano Nanji and others got together for one more salute to the
late, great Jimi Hendrix, turning Ruth Eckerd Hall into the “Red
House.”
Kenny Aronoff (Photo-Travis Failey)
Tonight’s Hendrix Experience was an extreme example of
talent and humility shown by amazing musicians. Most of them can headline their
own shows with their bands but put their egos aside to commemorate and
celebrate a legend in Hendrix. Even
though Hendrix left the world at the very young age of 27, his music and songs
will remain to influence the young and the old for decades to come.
(Photo-Travis Failey)
The Hendrix Experience continues through April 6th and is a
can’t miss tour for 2019.
For dates near you: http://www.experiencehendrixtour.com/dates.php#undefined1
More Photos From The Show By Travis Failey
Ana Popovic (Photo-Travis Failey) Chris Layton (Photo-Travis Failey) Jonny Lang (Photo-Travis Failey) Joe Satriani (Photo-Travis Failey) Ana Popovic (Photo-Travis Failey)
With over 10 million albums sold, 15 Grammy nominations, and pupils such as Kevin Cadogan, Steve Vai, and Kirk Hammett, it’s safe to say Joe Satriani not only is an amazing musician, but he knows talent when he sees it. Accompanied by John Petrucci and Phil Collen on the US leg of the G3 tour, these three guitar legends tolled into Saint Petersburg, FL on the 3rd of February.
While in the eyes of many, the Mahaffey Theatre is a venue to take in plays, or more ‘classical’ forms of music, these three shredded their way through a three and a half hour show cranked up to 11.
With Phil Collen (of DefLepperd) taking the opening slot, this show was kicking off with a lot of promise. Chipping away at the chords as if they were kindling, and accompanied by some of his bandmates from Delta Deep, including Debbie Blackwell-Cook, they blistered through a half hour set. This set was nothing more than an appetizer of what was to come. Very limited actual singing, just face melting chords, that left the crowd simply mesmerized.
John Petrucci is literally a legend in his own right. A graduate of the Berkley School of Music, he is also one of the few guitarists to utilize a seven sting guitar as his average axe. To say he takes full advantage of the seventh string would be the understatement of the century.
With some of the fastest picking fingers in music today, an ear for rhythm and arrangement John brings a taste of the riffs of the 80’s back to life. Accompanied by some of his bandmates from Dream Theater including drummer Mike Mangini, John showcased why he has been asked to join G3 almost every tour. Highlights from his set included the main theme from Hans Zimmer’s “Wonder Woman” and “Jaws of Life”
What can I say about Joe Satriani? This is a man who regularly picks his guitar strings with his teeth. A man who is considered to have a PhD in “Whammy Barology”. Suffice to say, when it comes to playing the guitar, Joe is the textbook definition of ‘the man’.
With keyboardist/guitarist Mike Kenneally, bassist Brian Beller and drummer Joe Travers backing him up and keeping up with his jaw dropping tempo changes and riffs, this set left no stone in the jamming spectrum unturned. Going from speed metal to simple melodies, this set completed everything you could expect to end the evening.
The set included 6 songs from Joe’s new release What Happens Next and was closed with 2 fan favorites and classics in “Always With Me, Always With You” and “Summer Song”
But wait! There’s more!! Rolling almost seamlessly right into the full G3 jam session, Joe and his band were rejoined by John, Phil, and Debbie. With the entire audience on their feet the whole time, they played back and forth, while utilizing the incredibly broad vocal range from Debbie.
These three covered a broad spectrum of tastes while keeping up with one another. Yet the most sensational part would be a rendition of ‘Superstitious’ that lasted well over 10 minutes. For such a variety of playing styles and musical backgrounds, they play together like a well-oiled machine. If you only decide to see one tour this year, this would easily be in my top 5 choices. It’s truly hard to beat this type of musical variety, and quality of entertainment on one ticket.
In the early 80’s, there were a few guitarists whose names were synonymous with the instrument that they played and the bands they played with. Iommi, Page, Perry and of course: Van Halen. These axemen not only contributed greatly to the next generation of standout guitar players in Lynch, Mustaine, Wylde and Dimebag, to name a few, but they also opened the door for a new breed: the guitarist who developed his own sound, was able to produce albums, and tour as a solo act with his guitar playing and composing at the forefront. Many tried and only a few were successful which led them back to utilizing the band formula that was tried and true.
Joe Satriani (Photo – Travis Failey 2016)
One player though really stood out and 30 years later, Joe Satriani still remains relevant. Satriani brought his Shockwave Supernova Tour to Ruth Eckerd Hall last Thursday night. Satriani and his band performed two sets and an encore, totaling over two and a half hours to an appreciative packed house.
Initially it looked like the crowd was going to be considerably smaller than usual for this show at Ruth Eckerd. Many thought that there was an opener as in previous tours, but this was billed as an “Evening with Joe Satriani,” celebrating 30 years of music after he released his debut album, Not of This Earth, in 1986. His next release, Surfing with the Alien, put Satriani on the map and he was no longer known as “just an instructor” of guitar heroes in Steve Vai and Kirk Hammett.
Joe Satriani (Photo – Travis Failey 2016)
Surfing with the Alien attacked multiple senses by initially capturing the eye of the concertgoer by utilizing a flashy comic book character on the cover and then by taking the listener on a journey with the Silver Surfer. The album has an uplifting effect and Satriani has continued to utilize a lot of the same tones and themes 30 years later. Some music provides aggression, some sadness, some angst. Satriani…smiles. Tonight at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, the smiles remained.
Joe Satriani (Photo – Travis Failey 2016)
Satriani took the stage a in a flashy silver jacket and the band opened up with the title track from Shockwave Supernova and then took the crowd back in time to another title track, this one being from the 1989 release, “Flying in a Blue Dream.” I was hoping he would play more from this album as Joe sings quite a bit on it, more so than any other album in his career. Satriani sang once tonight: during the encore track “Big Bad Moon.” He also broke out the harmonica and played slide guitar during “Big Bad Moon” and the blues beats got the people grooving in their seats. Satriani removed the jacket and gave thanks to Fozzy frontman and WWE star, Chris Jericho, and then donned his patented black shirt and jeans throughout the night.
Joe Satriani, Mike Keneally & Brian Beller (Photo – Travis Failey 2016)
Satriani’s production team did an amazing job as the music was accompanied by breathtaking graphics on the big screens, which included mountaintops, skylines, and roadways that were perfectly in sync with the music throughout the show. Joe and his crew took you on a rollercoaster ride of sights and sounds. You almost thought that you were in a flight simulator traveling on an intergalactic journey, as Joe likes to use his alien and space background imagery to create visual perfection.
The first set included another title track, “Not of this Earth,” and his highest charting single in the U.S., “Summer Song,” which closed out the set.
Marco Minnemann (Photo – Travis Failey 2016)
After a fifteen minute intermission, Joe and two of his band mates, guitarist/keyboardist Mike Keneally (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai), and bassist Brian Beller, took an extended break as drummer Marco Minnemann put on a display behind the skins. The drum solo set the tone for part two of the evening as Beller and Keneally also got a chance to show their soloing skills on their chosen crafts. Mike Keneally proved himself to be an invaluable part of the band equation by playing multiple instruments. His outstanding work behind the keyboard and switching seamlessly to the guitar, helped keep a musical balance without the main tones becoming stale. He also dueled with Satriani while playing the keyboard during, “If I Could Fly.”
Joe Satriani (Photo – Travis Failey 2016)
The second set also included an odd love song called the “Butterfly and Zebra” and a surf infused track from Shockwave Supernova, “If There Is No Heaven.” There was an interesting occurrence during the song as cold blasts went through Ruth Eckerd Hall. It was strange in that this was the only time it happened throughout the night, and yes, I verified with others at the show that I wasn’t the only one getting hit with the sequenced cold blasts.
(Photo – Travis Failey 2016)
Satriani closed out the second set with “Satch Boogie” and took a quick break and encored with the aforementioned “Big Bad Moon” and “Surfing With The Alien.” The tri screen backdrop provided ample space for the “Surfer” to patrol the galaxy and battle his foes like they were Thanos and Mephisto. It was an amazing display of audio and visual synchronicity and a perfect ending to An Evening With Joe Satriani.
For tour dates and other information: http://www.satriani.com/
Clearwater, Fla. — Guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and his bandmates played to a packed crowd at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Wednesday September 11th in support of his “Unstoppable Momentum” release and gave the crowd everything they could have hoped for.
Not only was Joe Satriani touring on “Unstoppable Momentum” but it’s also the 25th anniversary of the release of “Surfing with the Alien.” “Surfing with the Alien” is the cd that put Joe Satriani on the map and made him a household name at the addresses of most rock guitar players and fans of music everywhere. Prior to the release of Surfing with the Alien, Satriani was mostly known for instructing some of the biggest names in rock/metal guitar playing history in Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, Testament’s Alex Skolnik and Steve Vai. “Surfing” takes you on a non-stop journey that makes you feel like you are the comic book character, The Silver Surfer, which dons the album’s cover. Placing this image as the album art was a stroke of genius. Not only in a marketing aspect, but it made you believe that you were listening to a guitar superhero.
photo by Travis Failey / RSEN
I was introduced to Satriani at this stage of his career and Surfing made a lasting impression on me that remains to this day. Whenever I’ve been down in my life, I have always found that listening to “Surfing with the Alien” or my other favorite release, “Flying in a Blue Dream,” have always lifted my spirits and made me look at things in a different light. Like many others, music is my sanctuary and I find comfort and release in it and through it. After suffering two family tragedies in the same week, I was hoping that seeing this show in Clearwater might brighten my spirits, and let my mind and heart go to a different place, at least for a little while. The show didn’t disappoint.
When Satriani opened the set with “Jumping In” and ”Devils Slide” then into “Flying in a Blue Dream,” the audience knew that we were in for a special night of music from the guitar legend. The music was accompanied by breathtaking visuals on the big screens that included mountaintops, skylines, and roadways that were perfectly in sync with the music throughout the show. Joe and his crew took you on a rollercoaster of sights and sounds. You almost thought that you were in a flight simulator traveling on an intergalactic journey, as Joe likes to use his alien and space imagery to background visual perfection.
Playing for two hours with his bandmates, which included guitarist/keyboardist Mike Kenneally (Frank Zappa, Steve Vai), bassist Brian Beller, and drummer Marco Minnemann, they cruised through 20 songs that made you feel like you were there for only 20 minutes. Marco Minnemann was a master stickman throughout the night and provided an unbelievable drum solo. After years of witnessing drum solo after drum solo at 90 percent of the shows that I’ve attended, I have come to despise this part of the concert and I find it to be boring and a waste of valuable set time. I would prefer more songs & less solos.
But tonight was different. Marco brought a jazzier flair and style to his approach during his solo. Instead of the usual, “I can hit the skins faster and harder than anyone” solo that we are accustomed to in the rock/metal community, Marco played his drums with poetic movements and sounds that are not heard frequently. Instead of “Is he almost done with this so we can move on?” I was wondering “ where is he going next with this?” If other drummers would take this type of approach, I believe more of the audience would remain in their seats and not head to the closest concession stand.
Marco Minnemann (photo by Travis Failey /RSEN)
Other highlights from tonight’s set included “Ice 9”, “The Crush of Love” and the goose bump inducing “Always with Me, Always with You.” You would think that two hours of instrumental music might get a little redundant but the guys keep the pace moving and the crowd engaged with their smiles and showmanship that shines through and provides a carnival like arena atmosphere.
Closing out the show with the title track from “Surfing With The Alien” and encoring with “Summer Song,” Joe and his bandmates provided a great night out for all the fans in attendance and provided me a well needed escape from the realities of life. Throughout the performance Joe smiled on stage, not only with his face but with his guitar and through this I was able to look back on the last 25 years of being a fan of Satriani’s music and know that I need to remember that through the trials and tribulations of life, it’s imperative to remember the good times and to smile, once again.
