Vai - Ability!

There is a reason I started to write about guitarists and last night Steve Vai illustrated it perfectly. He is a virtuoso.

On his first solo tour in seven years, he played his 5th date in Charlotte NC at  the Fillmore.

For those that have not seen him tour before, it is an experience you shall not soon forget.

The audience was filled with guitarists: it was obvious, as they were glued to Vai from the moment he walked on stage...and reasonably so.  Donning a large brim cowboy hat, (in what was to be the first of several costume changes) Vai settled in to do what he does best: play guitar.  The hands of the rapt audience moved unconsciously up and down unseen guitar necks, my own fingers bent imaginary strings as I yearned, like everyone else in the room, to perhaps inhale some of the talent that floated off the stage in the midst of the smoke that swirled at times around his feet and then drifted on toward us.

I found myself watching not just his hands but his whole body as every part of him was engaged in bringing music forth: hands, arms, shoulders, back, his breath and yes,  his tongue (be still my heart) to play that final run.

It confirmed what I was thinking throughout the night: Steve Vai does not merely play guitar: he makes love to it.

He caresses it to bring forth the most pleasurable sounds imaginable, and then makes it scream.  He woos it, teases it, and makes it laugh.  The guitar is connected to him in a way that is seldom seen.

It is apparent in his eyes, his smile, his laughter....its as though the music has filled him so completely he has no choice but to let it bubble over the top, out of him and into the room

He finds humor in his playing, and pulls the audience in.  Whether it is playful scat singing as we try to mimic exactly what he throws out to us (and we do, quite well I may add) or whether its showing us how he writes a song with participation from a young child in the audience.

The child "Matthew" stood bravely on stage, and only a few words came out, but somehow Vai managed to turn an "I don't know" into a drum rhythm , "South Carolina" into a bass and harp line, and "it took 45 minutes to get here" into the melody, which of course he improvised around.

The newly created song of the night was quickly discussed with the band, and we listened and watched as his band responded...Steve thanked Matthew for helping him write it, but reminded him that he "retained all publishing rights to the new song," for he was "Steve Vai".  The crowd roared their approval.

Mesmerizing, Tantalizing, Teasing, Playful, Lyrical, Masterful and more.  Steve Vai captured me from note one, and I regretted seeing him walk off the stage.  Quite honestly, I think he did too.

For there was something that happened during that performance that made me see how he respected and loved his guitars as living, breathing extensions of his own inner self.  He opened his soul to us for a while and let us see his joy.  It was a beautiful thing to behold and hear.

He has dates lined up through mid October in the States: do not miss an opportunity to see him.  You will not regret it.  GO!  NOW  : I provided a link below to help you get tix and info more quickly!

His new album is "The Story of Light".    I for one, can tell you "It Glows"

http://www.vai.com/

In Dire Need of music

John Entwistle has this unique ability to quietly demand attention on stage simply by his stance and his mastery of the bass.  No antics were required.  It was pure music.

That is the way I think of Mark Knopfler.

I was reminded of him on a recent evening walk in my neighborhood.  One of my neighbors, a huge fan of Frank Zappa (time for that another day) and many tasteful artists, was playing one of Mark's albums while he was working in his garage.  The somewhat mournful tone that Knopfler seems to emit from the depth of his playing made me turn around, run Maxx(a sweet 14-year old mixed breed) up the hill to home.

The look on Maxx's face was "whaaaaat.....?"  until he saw me open the music cabinet.  To which he responded by grunting, turning to his water bowl, grabbing a drink, then leaping on the couch to settle in to take in some serious tunes.  If you think dogs don't listen to music too, you are not paying attention.

But this is about the guitar, not the dog (they'll get blog time elsewhere)

Co-founder of Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler is so much more than the hits we recognize from the early days.  "Sultans of Swing" , "Walk of Life", "Money for Nothing".  MTV darlings because of the latter, those who bought the albums soon dug deeper into the tracks to find that unique sound that Knopfler stylized.

I sat down next to Maxx, patted his head, then rested mine against the back of the couch as the music swept over me.

Genius.   Pure Genius.

Like the oceans, the undercurrents move through my mind and capture every fiber...its exciting, sensual, moody: just out and out fabulous.

You may have seen him play with his one of his heroes: Chet Atkins.  Watch the faces.  The joy of playing together is captured in the eyes, the smiles and the body language.  Not to mention the deep underlying respect that vibrates in the air.

With Gibson or Fender in hand, he is able to create a tone that moves from his fingertips and out through the pores.  Every bit of tissue connects to his sound. Sweet yet melancholy at the same time, his creation is beautiful and personal.


"Brothers in Arms" makes me weep.  Lyrically its magnificent, but once you add that emotional pull of the heartstrings that comes from his guitar, I am lost.


Although Dire Straits is long past, the good news is there is a new album in the wings: set to be released September 3rd, 2012 : Privateering, a double album with over 20 new songs...and not too soon for me.

There is something quite special within his music.  He moves from the playful to the yearning.  A tone so distinctive that it is recognized within the first several notes.

It is uniquely Mark Knopfler.  and yes, I will state the obvious "Oh Yeah, the boy can play..."

Living on The Edge

                                           ...U2's Dave Evans

Dave Evans, better known as The Edge, or "Edge" to U2 fans celebrated a birthday August 8th.

It was a great reminder for me to once again pick up my guitar.

Oh, I am NOT a great player.   Far from it.  
I fumble, stumble and move awkwardly at times up and down the frets.
But I love the feel in my hands, even though "I have blisters on my fingers"

OK,  no blisters, but they hurt ...in a good way.

Yup, David Evans makes me want to play.

He has a beautiful simplicity that belies the genius of what he does.

He takes a simple chord, deconstructs it and then "Wa la!"

Just like magic it becomes this mesmerizing sound that drills into my brain and makes me say "I think I can do that!"

The simplicity is the tapestry that draws me...holds me there, and never lets me go.  "With or Without You" proves that.

Listen to "Pride" distinctive and powerful. 

 That's the word "Powerful"   

Understated Power.

Strumming a chord instead of doing a searing intricate solo.

Each note has value.

There is such beauty in that simplicity.

He makes me believe that someday I may achieve the ability to carve my way through an entire song without error with the depth of my soul exposed simply by strumming a simple chord. 

He inspires me to head outside on a moonlit night, guitar in hand accompanied only by cicadas, tree frogs, and the occasional owl.  To hear those sounds resonate in the dark of night, where each note counts and each chord has beauty.  

Simple Power.  a place where two forms meet  

a/k/a  :  The Edge