Changed my mind about Steve Vai

Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

sooperunkn said:
But Vai.... HOLY SH!T!!! He NEVER misses a note... NEVER!!! It's truly amazing. I've seen him live twice and I just stare with my jaw half open at the speed and precision he plays with.

He is the absolute master of his craft.
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agreed.

i saw g3 with yngwie in concord, CA in oct 2003, and satch and yngwie screwed up a few times, but vai, no way. he's dead on on every note! and playing that triple-neck, it's the most amazing thing i ever saw!



btw, i would put "whispering a prayer" into his "essential" listenning... and "blue powder" and "erotic nightmares". :)

rock on!
 
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Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

This thread has caused me to appreciate SV a bit more also. Awhile back, a friend gave me a CD with several SV albums on it to check out. I found a couple things that I liked, but mostly, I just skimmed, or "pre-viewed" the CD. Since someone here suggested "For the Love of God" and "Tender Surrender", I made a point to listen all the way through. Those two songs were great, so listened to some others.

Now I realize that SV tends to start off a song kinda "ordinary", then build up steam as he gets into it. Whereas someone like Satch tends to hit the tarmac running.

I've definitely found some gems in here. Now I'll have to go out and buy the CD's. :)

Artie
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

Yes Steve Vai is certainly worth listening to. I scored a front row standing spot when he came to Brisbane last year. I don't know why, but I've always preferred Vai over Satriani, in terms of both technique and songwriting ability.

Strange thing is, most people would argue that Satch is the better of the two at songwriting, but I find that Vai has superior phrasing, note selection and there's an almost comedic sense to the way his songs are constructed.

Satch is good too, but at worst, he can sound like he's just playing scales very very quickly.
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

My guitar teacher went to Berklee and played beebop with Vai. My teacher was a big critic of the whole shredding scene untill I played him "Boston Rain Melody", and "Giant Balls". I realy do love Vai's stuff and Im curious what it would be like live now that some of you have reccomended it.

-muddd
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

Vincent said:
Yes Steve Vai is certainly worth listening to. I scored a front row standing spot when he came to Brisbane last year. I don't know why, but I've always preferred Vai over Satriani, in terms of both technique and songwriting ability.

Strange thing is, most people would argue that Satch is the better of the two at songwriting, but I find that Vai has superior phrasing, note selection and there's an almost comedic sense to the way his songs are constructed.

Satch is good too, but at worst, he can sound like he's just playing scales very very quickly.
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im also among those who prefer vai over satch.

i would think of satch as the straight-forward rock...and vai, the weirder stuff... satch's songs would be more easilly understood than vai's.
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

Got the Roth album when it came out. Didn't like it a bit. Everything else I've heard from the guy -- and to be fair to Vai, I haven't heard a whole lot beyond the Roth album -- just doesn't do a thing for me. I don't care how good his technique or humor is.
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

IMO: What´s great with Vai is that he´s so unpredictable. Listening to other shredders, one somewhat know what will come, but Vai (like Hendrix) goes some other way, in strange harmonics or huge intervals. Great great guitarist.

(yes, it´s a Breed in the bridge slot)
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

I also used to hate Vai's music, until I got the Live In Astoria DVD... i was totally blown away. I got more into Vai after buying the "Alien Love Secrets" album... WHEW!
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

Lewguitar said:
Vai can do it all: everything from "Shred: Guitar as an Athletic Event" to playing it simple and with tons of feeling. He's a real virtuoso...
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+1

I personally don´t really like most of it, but there are pieces that are absolutely wonderful ;)

sooperunkn said:
I'm a fan of sloppy guitar players, what can I say. My guitar influences are all (by no coincidence) pretty sloppy technique-wise. It's more the phrasing and the emotion that's communicated that gravitates me towards these guys (Page, Hendrix, Slash, J Mascis, etc.)

But Vai.... HOLY SH!T!!! He NEVER misses a note... NEVER!!! It's truly amazing. I've seen him live twice and I just stare with my jaw half open at the speed and precision he plays with.

He is the absolute master of his craft.
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My exact problem... I prefer a more EVH /Satch-ish "Is he about to lose it or did he already?" vibe ;)
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

chcjunior said:
My favorite stuff with Vai is the first David Lee Roth album. He was forced to make his playing more listenable.
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I've loved that recording and some of the stuff with Zappa, but most of it leaves me impressed for sure, but not moved. No doubt he's a technical master and his control is beyond belief.

I saw that "tender surrender" clip, and I was so turned off by his antics... I felt like I'd stumbled upon someone's home porno video! The fact that the audience is mostly a huge wooden salute freaks me out!

GS
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

Zerberus said:
My exact problem... I prefer a more EVH /Satch-ish "Is he about to lose it or did he already?" vibe ;)
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That's my preference as well. I can appreciate Vai's playing, and I have heard compositions from him that were well done and very melodic. However, my biggest criticism of Vai is on those occasions where he goes off on crazy OFR tangents - wanking on the OFR like he's beating off to naked pictures of supermodels. If there's one thing I hate to hear guitar players do it's crazy tremolo noise. I'm sure it's tough to do, but I fail to find it very appealing.
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

One of the reasons Steve Vai is so talented is that he practiced ALL day and well into the night while at Berkely. A combination of good physical attributes (his fingers are long and thin) and a motivation to be the absolute best is what makes his performances so spot on. I don't like his music all that much (although I do like several songs) but the drive that guy has should motivate everyone. Living proof that you get what you put into it.
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

plus, he started seriously playing guitar at age of.. 8? or thereabouts. at 10 he could wail and it all went up from that.

incredible talent from get go, exteme desire to master the instrument, musical education and a LOT (and i mean a LOT) of practice got him where he is now
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

Davey said:
.... a LOT (and i mean a LOT) of practice got him where he is now
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NOT... He smoked a doob at 15, got an idea, and I did the rest :deal::firedevil::laugh2::jester:
 
Re: Changed my mind about Steve Vai

I had the chance to see him live in new york for his real illusions tour. the seats werent great but the show sure was. He always comes up with new crazy stuff to do and hes definately more fun to watch than he is to listen to. I cant really listen to him for that long but i could watch him all day. i got to see satriani live too and it was a great show and i like his music more but vai's show had more energy and it was more fun to watch. dont forget that satriani taught vai for a while too

billy sheehan is phenomenal though
 
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