PHOTOS + REVIEW — Joe Satriani & Steve Vai at Hard Rock Live Orlando 2024 ⋆ Shows I Go To

PHOTOS + REVIEW — Joe Satriani & Steve Vai at Hard Rock Live Orlando 2024

Joe Satriani & Steve Vai • March 22, 2024 • Hard Rock Live — Orlando, FL • Photos by Jacob Hayes — instagram.com/snakob_and_the_floop

LIVE REVIEW: Joe Satriani + Steve Vai “Satch Vai” Tour

Review by: Spencer Storch

As if the music scene in Central Florida couldn’t get any better, Orlando is gearing up for a visit from two of the best guitarists of all time, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, performing together!! Three time Grammy Award winning guitar virtuoso Steve Vai brings his super impressive technical prowess to the Satch>Vai US Tour. He’s warming the seated crowd up for 15-time Grammy Nominee and the best selling instrumental rock guitarist of all time, Joe Satriani. This student/teacher combo is an unreal pairing, 30 years in the making. It’s crazy to think that Satriani was teaching guitar to Vai when they were teenagers. Touring the country together for the next two months will be great, but these tow have big plans to finish the year. Joe Satriani will be teaming up with Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony and Jason Bonham to do “The Best of All Worlds Tour” in the latter part of 2024. The tour will find the Red Rocker playing material from his Van Halen days and also incorporating David Lee Roth Van Halen-era material into the set list. Vai will throw his lot in with guitarist Adrian Belew, bassist Tony Levin and drummer Danny Carey in Beat, a creative reinterpretation of three iconic ‘80s King Crimson albums —“Discipline,” “Beat” and “Three of a Perfect Pair.” These two are responsible for thirty plus years of amazing music as well as blowing my hair back at Hard Rock Live just outside of Universal Studios.

The Hard Rock Live is a great music venue in the heart of Universal Studios. This place has fantastic sightlines, a spacious floor area, seats and VIP services in the balcony above and lots of options for food while you watch the show. They even offer discounted beverages for saving your cups! I opt for a beverage and get settled in for a great night.

Steve Vai is up first and the crowd is ready. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, and played in Zappa’s band from 1980 to 1983. He embarked on a solo career in 1983 and has released eight solo albums to date. He’s played with so many bands and amazing artists like Whitesnake and David Lee Roth. An excited applause fills the room as the long haired group of musicians walks on stage in their all black attire. They begin the set with an instrumental explosion. They seem to already be in the middle of a song when the rest of the band (drums, bass, rhythm guitar) all drop out and spotlight Vai. He introduces himself to the crowd with a wah infused, sustained note that is unmistakably Vai. Next they let loose a bit of thrash and metal before slowing down for another jam section where he shows off his killer style and endless special effects. It’s here he holds the guitar away from his body with one hand. Both of his arms extended to his side and he flaps his arms while also playing the guitar. Wow! He quickly brings the guitar back to his chest and lets out a searing solo, tapping and drilling in dramatic fashion. This group loves to show off with lots of technical prowess, grandstanding, and high sticking from Jeremy Colson on drums. Vai brings out his wild looking triple neck guitar inspired by the movie “Mad Max,” he calls “Hydra.” They perform his huge song, “The Teeth of the Hydra” while Vai delivers the goods to Orlando’s eager music fans with his 18-string creation. He finishes his set with a “standard guitar” and an “Eruption” style solo that leaves the crowd howling for more.

The legendary Joe Satriani is up next and he does not disappoint. Originally a guitar teacher, Satriani has multiple successful students including tonight’s opener. He has played lead guitar for his band Chickenfoot as well as for Mick Jagger and Deep Purple. His influence on guitar and the music world is literally unending. He and his band come out in a blaze of sound, paving the way for Satch to lay down some fire with a solo that reminded me of Motley Crue’s “Dr. Feel Good.” “Surfing with an Alien” has the whole crowd hanging ten, or at least sitting on the edge of their seat while Satch shreds and carves up the killer wave of music. Then he plays “Sahara” and spotlights his drummer Kenny Aronoff. The former drummer for John Mellencamp is 71 years old and an absolute monster on the kit. Next, he tells about how he wrote “Flying in a Blue Dream” while at a great dinner party infused with a little too much wine.

Satriani’s raw, rocky style is that street vendor with the best late night food on the block. That steaming greasy goodness that fills you up and makes you so happy. We soar above the attractions as they play “If I could fly.” Another amazing song that feels like the end of a movie montage while driving along the Pacific Coast Highway. The smooth ride hits a speed bump as Satch breaks a string, but have no fear, Rai Thistlethwayte is here to save the day with a scathing solo battle. They go back and forth to bring the song in for a controlled landing. It’s here that they bring out a huge amp for Steve Vai to return to the stage. They announce that they are in fact in the studio and recording an album together! They bow to each other and begin playing a slow uplifting jam. They seem like they practiced as they flawlessly move through the piece. Next they throw in a couple of covers of Van Halen’s “You Really Got Me” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman!” Both songs feature the vocals of Thistlethwayte. Excellent song choices, execution and style! Love both of these guitarists and seeing them together is definitely a bucket list moment. The crowd and I give them all the love as they bow to their rabid fans. Oh wow, what a show!