G-3 Concert
Satriani, Vai, and
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
& Guests

The G-3 show rolled into Orlando on October 15, 1997 at the House of Blues. As during the Eric Johnson show the Gestapo camera cops were out in force grabbing everyone they could and taking their cameras away from them. (That sucks big time!!) Anyway the picture quality is not great due to the fact that I had to take the shots without a flash and the digital camera is not that fast. (sorry...but I got something!!) The photo above was taken at an autograph session earlier in the day. The G-3 show is really organized well with set changes taking only about 5-10 minutes and over four hours of music was provided. Again the sound at the House Of Blues was great, but the Gestapo Camera Cops were a pain. They have two guys, one on each side of the stage, watching for cameras and he directs the security types on the floor to the to the people with cameras via radio headsets. They then escort the people outside and they can't get back in until they turn over the camera. They do get it back after the show, but its a pain.

The show opened with Robert Fripp playing "whale sounds", really weird. He would plunk away for about ten minutes. He then would set his guitar down on his stool, and then would go over and stand in the corner and let his guitar make more "whale sounds" for about five minutes. He must have gotten into some really bad drugs in the 60's. I would have rather listen to real humpback whales actually!!!

Kenny Wayne Shepherd came out next and put on a really hot set of Texas Blues. At 20 years old he can really burn the fretboard. Noah Hunt sang lead vocals, reminding me a lot of Jim Morrison. He played several songs from his new CD "Trouble Is...."

Steve Vai was next, putting on a great show. He really enjoys working with the crowd and really seems to enjoy the interaction between the audience and the musicians on stage. He spent some time making his guitar talk with the audience responding to his vocal guitar sounds. Of course the highlight was his version of "For the Love of God". Additionally Vai's keyboard and rhythm guitar player was Mike Keneally who kept up with Vai note for note on harmonized lead work. Vai always has fantastic guitar players back him up.

Joe Satriani was next, looking like an alien escapee from the X-files or Roswell New Mexico with his shaved head and alien sunglasses. He also did a smoking set to the enthusiastic crowd. Stuart Hamm on bass put on a great solo performance also.

One thing about all these guys is that they make their awesome fretwork look so easy, they do not look like they are working hard at all.

The topper of the evening was the encore where Robert Fripp, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and special guest Steve Morse came out and played, "I'm Down", "My Guitar wants to kill your Mama", and "Red House", Fripp, Shepherd, Vai, Satriani and Morse traded off leads and really put on a show. At $25 bucks for a ticket, it was a real bargain. I'm a big fan of all Shepherd, Vai and Satriani, but Steve Morse added to the mix was a super surprise and fantastic and only added to the value of the show.

For a guitar lover like me, it was a great evening. For a real good representation of the show (with Eric Johnson instead of Kenny Wayne Shepherd) , pick up the G-3 - Live in Concert CD and Video.

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G-3 Concert Satriani, Vai, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Guests

G-3 Concert
Satriani, Vai, and
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
& Guests