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April 15, 2024

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Two gun slingers, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani graced the MGM stage on Saturday night for an incredible evening of virtuoso guitar playing.

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Vai took the stage first for an eight song set that featured an absolutely mind blowing and string bending performance.  The man made the guitar act like it was an extension of his body, prodding and coaxing beautiful sounds from the instrument.

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He and his great backing band played four songs from his latest album, Inviolate and four others from his solo career.

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His set ended with perhaps one of the best electric guitar instrumentals of all time, "For The Love of God."

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After a quick set change, Joe Satriani and his great band that features drummer Kenny Aronoff, hit the ground running playing two of his biggest hits, "Surfing With The Alien" and "Satch Boogie" early in the set.

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"Big Bad Moon" fit perfectly in the set as Northeast Ohio got to experience totality with the eclipse earlier in the week.

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My personal favorite, "If I Could Fly" and "Ice 9" closed out Satch's eleven song set.

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Satriani told the audience that they have waited over fifty years for the two long time friends to tour together.  He recalled teaching a young twelve year old Vai guitar lessons when he was about fifteen.  He said that after a few lessons, he didn't have much left to teach him because he was so good already.  The two of them have remained friends ever since.

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So Satch invited Steve to come out and perform the first song they ever wrote together which was "The Sea Of Emotion, Pt. 1."  What a thrill to see these two guitar legends on stage together, trading licks.

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Then they decided to jam out on The Kinks, "You Really Got Me" and Metallica's "Enter Sandman" to end the show. It is clear that both artists have a deep respect and admiration for each other. 

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Photos and review by Greg Drugan

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