Joe Satriani - Technical and brilliant guitar work at the Pavillion!!!

April 24th 2018

Southend, The Cliffs Pavilion, UK

*****

Joe Satriani brings 'Energy' to Southend

Joe Satriani ***** I really think their is actually no headliner for tonight's show, all three guitarists are legends in their own right. But it is Joe Satriani's G3 event. So it really makes sense that he is the last one to hit the stage. Which he comes to like the others with a huge smile, he is just so happy to be playing the UK again. Joe Satriani has always been an artist that gives his audience exactly want they want, and sets tone is with cracking opener of 'Energy'. This tone does not stop, for the whole length of his set. Backed by band mates Bryan Beller (Bass), Mike Keneally (Guitar / Keyboards) and Joe Travers (Drums). Yes this is an all star line-up of quality musicians that do their job to the extreme full of energy.

Talking about 'Energy', which comes off his brilliant brand new record 'What happens Next'. This is a really strong track, off an album that could possibly be his best to date. It is a really fast paced song, which is perfect for an explosive opening to a set. This brings perfect way for 'Cobolt' and on the waves of a riff 'Surfing with the Alien' classic 'Satch Booge'. This I am sure is a live favourite... full of memorable Blues and Rock riffs, so when it comes to a conclusion it is met with a massive round of applause. He then shows again how strong the new album is with the tracks 'Cherry Blossoms', a haunting slow track and 'Thunder high on the Mountain', one of my favourite's off the new album. This song could even have take influences from Black Sabbath, even though it is played a lot clearer and has a more Iron Maiden like guitar solo in the middle of it.

He has super confidence in his new album as he goes into Funk inspired 'Super Funky Badass', which is a song that grows on you after a while. Classic 'Circles' is as good as it always is, and 'Always with Me, Always with You' is a landscape of experimental drifting sounds. But for me being a Classic Rock fan, I took more not of 'Summer Song' which is a Bluesy Rock 'n' Roller of a song. All through the set Joehas fun with the fans and tells them that his band manager comes from Southend. Joe plays the way no other guitarist can, with ease, emotion and fluidity of a master of his craft, the stage backdrop is a huge screen playing videos. Sadly tonight the set has no 'Surfing with the Alien' or 'Big bad Moon', which for me is as shame. But the question is are we disappointed with these classics not in the set? Hell no!!! because what we heard is enough for any fan.

But we are not finished there is a surprise in store for us Joe Satriani invites Uli Jon Roth and John Petrucci on stage for what I will call "The G3 Jam" which kicks off with the Deep Purple classic 'Highway Star', which gets a rapturous applause and many people start banging heads... mine included (Sorry I just couldn't help it). After this, we are still not finished. Uli Jon Roth starts up with another classic, and the riff from Jimmy Hendrix’s 'All along the Watchtower; comes to our ears each guitarist take turns to jam some solos out Joe even plays with his teeth. Last song in this jam is another classic, Led Zeppelin's 'Immigrant Song' WOW!!!. What a night, three Guitar Legends, sharing the same stage at a seaside concert venue, which by the way had its roof absolutely blown off and all the fans minds as well.