Satchvai Band / Civic Hall / Wolverhampton

Jun 22

Jun 22 Satchvai Band / Civic Hall / Wolverhampton

The term legend gets thrown around a lot these days, but tonight we’ve headed over to the Civic Hall in Wolverhampton to witness not just one, but two of the most legendary guitarists around Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, who tour as the Satchvai band.

First up though we had a set from Ned Evett. Originally from Nashville, but brought up in Idaho his musical journey has been steeped in the slide guitar and roots blues music. Interestingly, Ned plays some unusual guitars, made from aluminium or titanium and some with fretless glass fretboards ! The lack of frets means that every finger position has to be precise, but the results are worth it. There’s something about the sound he generates that is familiar, but somehow more dynamic.

Ned has released a number of albums, including “Built to Spill: The Normal Years” (1993), “Village of the Unfretted” (2005), “Glass Guitar” (2015) “All American Radio” (2020) and his most recent release, 2024’s “Strange Kind of Freedom”.

Ned delivers a great set, an accomplished storyteller, his style and the unique nature of his guitars gives the songs a sonic feel unlike any other. Good News, from 2024’s “Strange Kind Of Freedom” is a celebration of live music, and seems to set the tone for the whole set. Ned interacts with ease with the crowd and builds a great rappout with the Black Country music fans.

He is a very talented musician as demonstrated on Mars River Delta 2128, a delightful bluesy number where his playing is tight and precise.

Perhaps the highlight of his all to short set was an emotionally charged performance of Message to You a song that is melancholic, human and yet, touchingly sweet.

Ned is a talented musician and there was a wonderful simplicity to his set. It was beautiful and soothing. A wonderful introduction to the night.

Setlist

Mississippi Ganges

Good News

My Old Eyes

Mars River Delta 2128

Message to You

Rockstar

And then it was time for the main attraction. The Civic Hall was packed, and it was great to see a wide age range in attendance. I thought it would be predominantly an older crowd, but there was a good mix, showing how much of an influence on new guitarists Vai and Satriani still are.

Joe Satriani started out as a guitar instructor, and many of his former students have gone on to achieve fame, including Steve Vai! Larry LaLonde, Rick Hunolt, Kirk Hammett, Andy Timmons, Charlie Hunter, Kevin Cadogan, and Alex Skolnick have all benefitted from his knowledge and experience. Satriani went on to have a successful solo music career, starting in the mid-1980s, and is a 15-time Grammy Award nominee selling over ten million albums, making him the bestselling instrumental rock guitarist of all time.

Over his solo career he has released 18 albums from 1986’s “Not of This Earth” to 2022’s “The Elephants of Mars”.

Steve Vai started his musical career in 1978 as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa and went o to play for Zappa from 1980 to 1983, at which point he embarked on a solo career. He has also toured and recorded with the likes of Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake, as well as recording with artists such as Public Image Ltd, Mary J. Blige, Spinal Tap, Alice Cooper, Motörhead, and Polyphia.

A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai has released 12 solo albums from 1984’s “Flex-Able” to 2023’s “Vai-Gash” 8 live, 12 soundtrack, 20 compilation albums and contributed to 44 other artists albums !

As Vai and Satriani step out onto the stage to huge applause, they are joined by their band. And what a band it is, as they are accompanied by session drummer to the stars Kenny Aronoff, guitarist Pete Thorn and bassist Marco Mendoza. Each is a virtuoso musician in his own right, and always in demand.

It’s no surprise that they open the set with I Wanna Play My Guitar. I mean what else could it be, right ?! On this one Mendoza takes on vocal duties in place of Glenn Hughes who sings on the single.

The structure of the show works so well. They come out and perform together, and then through the show, one or other leaves the stage to allow the other the spotlight and to deliver some of their iconic back catalogue. They perform together and then the other leaves. This works so well, allowing each time to share their classics, but then at times working together in perfect harmony.

There is clearly a personal connection between the two, as well as an almost telepathic sonic connection. The two complement each other perfectly and with the support of Kenny, Pete and Marco, they stun the crowd.

The set is one highlight after another, but the ambitious The Sea Of Emotion, Pt. 1 stands out with a Zeppelin like riff running through it. Joe leaves the stage as Steve performs Zeus In Chains and Little Pretty for us before Joe returns and the two trade licks in a mash-up of Joe’s Ice 9 and Steve’s The Crying Machine.

The set is really starting to light up now and the classic atmospheric Satriani track Flying In Blue Dreamand early breakthrough track Surfing With The Alien ignite the crowd.

Vai’s bluesy Tender Surrender is a big hit before the stage goes dark….. something is moved out and the lights return as Vai rips the cover off The Hyrda. The crowd roar and cheer at the incredible beast of a guitar before them. With three necks and four sets of strings Vai takes centre stage as be plays Teeth Of The Hydra. Technically impressive, a show stopper that shows off his skills to perfection. Joe returns and the mood changes with a barnstormin’ version of his classic Satch Boogie.

For me, I loved Vai’s beautiful and spiritual track For The Love Of God which is perhaps his best performance of the night. The set draws to a close with Joe’s Always With Me, Always With You, a beautiful song at any time, but tonight it’s built up to a rocky climax with Joe, Steve and Pete’s guitars duelling and playing off each other with precision.

Of course, the crowd was not letting the off without an encore and they return Crowd Chant which, as the name implies is a belter for any encore, before they had into a thoroughly enjoyable medley of first, Metallica’s Enter Sandman which has the fans up and singing along with gusto, and Steppenwolf’s classic Born To Be Wild.

Time just seems to fly by, and the show feels like it was over as quick as it started. What we just witnessed was some of the best rock guitar playing you could ever wish to see. Satriani and Vai has different styles and playing techniques, but they combined perfectly. A stunning performance and one that I’ll never forget.

Setlist

I Wanna Play My Guitar

The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1

Zeus in Chains (Steve Vai song)

Little Pretty (Steve Vai song)

Flying in a Blue Dream (Joe Satriani song)

Ice 9 / The Crying Machine

Surfing With the Alien (Joe Satriani song)

Sahara (Joe Satriani song)

Tender Surrender (Steve Vai song)

Teeth of the Hydra (Steve Vai song)

Satch Boogie (Joe Satriani song) (Preceded by Joe jamming a "Hydra Blues")