STEVE VAI — LIVE AT THE ASTORIA (review)

STEVE VAI — LIVE AT THE ASTORIA album cover Movie · 2003 · Hard Rock Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
AtomicCrimsonRush
Shhhh... Genius at Work!

I caught this live DVD on a mate’s shelf when I visited him. He is a guitarist and happens to love Vai and I had to see for myself what the fuss is all about. I was gobsmacked by Vai’s dexterity as a guitarist and he loves his axe’s, even licks them and Hendrix style plays them behind his back or with his butt and of course the teeth.

He swings the guitar around his waist, rapes it, slaughters it and then exhumes it only to kill it again. The thing screams in pain and there is no mercy from Vai’s attack. He does double handed sweeps, massive riffing with speed picks, classical arpeggios and monstrous squeals.

The man is a guitar genius and is perhaps the best I have seen. The live DVD captures all that is great about the virtuoso guitarist. His lead breaks are killer and will force your mouth open in awe at times.

The crunching scratchy riff on Bad Horsie is perhaps the most unforgettable part of this DVD for me. He literally makes his axe sound like a whinnying horsie, and even at times gallops like hooves. The wah wah pedal is overkill but you gotta love that grinding riff.

Little Wing is one of the best Hendrix covers I have heard, almost as good as the original. The passionate performance Vai exudes is inspirational.

Whispering A Prayer has one of the most impressive examples of how to make a guitar cry in ecstasy or is it agony.

For The Love of God is beautifully played and has a memorable melody. There are other members of the band but they disappear when Vai hits the stage. He is indeed a virtuoso and one of the greatest guitarist on the planet.
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