This was my third attempt at seeing Quattro.  Fortunately, I was successful this time.    Quattro is a seriously talented band that plays excellent music and is one of the best groups I’ve come across in a long time.   The first time I heard their music, I was immediately drawn to their unique style.   They fuse together elements of classical, jazz and Latin music with great results.   They were the early opener at The Canyon for Jose Feliciano, so I made it a point to get there in time for their performance.  They played an excellent set of music and I was glad to be able to see their entire show.   It’s safe to say that each member is a virtuoso on their respective instruments.   Their compositions and ideas are fresh and original.   

They do a song using a typewriter to keep the beat.   It’s pretty impressive.   I hadn’t even heard…

I get a little sad every time I go to this venue knowing that the Gibson’s days are numbered.  It’s only a matter of time before it’s absorbed into Universal Studios. 

The current schedule of events here has me rather disappointed.  I’m not paying over $100 to see No Doubt or $200 to see Rush in November.    Every other show besides that one (and the Smashing Pumpkins tonight and Brian Setzer’s Christmas show) isn’t exactly anything I’m interested in or even familiar with.  The concert season is starting to dull out.

I saw about 10 minutes of the Pumpkins concert the last time they played here in December of 2008.   I was in Downtown LA for an event and then had dinner in Universal City.  I lost track of time, took way too long to get there and ended up walking in during the encore.     What I saw of it…

I got home from Steve Vai’s show at the Club Nokia about 1AM this morning.

It was truly a cosmic experience of guitar wizardry, pyrotechnics, special effects and a fierce display of phenomenal musicianship.  I found myself listening to his music all day long trying to relive the nearly 3 hour show.  The unique and gifted electric harp player, the great bass playing, the incredible drumming and the out-of-this-world guitar playing sold me on immediately seeing this show again.   And I was really curious to see if they could pull the same show off and play as well in a smaller venue.  It was so good, I just had to find out for sure.     By the afternoon, I was fully prepared to witness his show again at The Canyon Club in Agoura – a wonderful, local venue and the last stop on the continent for this tour.   

Unfortunately, I wasn’t…

STEVE VAI CLUB NOKIA 10/12/12

Beverly McClellan opened the show with a good set of solid tunes.  She was discovered on the show The Voice and was invited to be on this tour.  

She did a great job singing and playing some tunes.

15 minutes later, Steve Vai and his band came onstage.

  

They played most, if not all, of the new album- The Story of Light.  

Steve Vai’s Band

Guitarist Dave Weiner

Electric harpist, Deborah Henson-Conant  (that was quite an experience to see)

Philip Bynoe on bass

Jeremy Colson on drums

They clocked in at just under 3 hours as they tore through 20 songs, some incredible featured solos, and even made up a song on the spot with some audience participation.

The band covered a bunch of songs throughout Vai’s solo career – Passion and Warfare, Fire Garden, etc., etc.  They did a funky, yet crushing version…

STEVE VAI CLUB NOKIA 10/12/12

STEVE VAI CLUB NOKIA 10/12/12

 

Guitarist Dave Weiner

Electric harpist, Deborah Henson-Conant (that was quite an experience to see)

Philip Bynoe on bass

Jeremy Colson on drums

1. Racing the World

2. Velorum

3. Building the Church

4. Tender Surrender

5. Gravity Storm

6. Dave Weiner Acoustic Guitar Solo

7. Weeping China Doll

8. John the Revelator

9. The Moon and I

10. The Animal

11. Whispering a Prayer

12. The Audience Is Listening

13. Harp Solo

14. Rescue Me or Bury Me

15. Sisters

16. Pusa Road

17. Salamanders in the Sun

18. Angel Food

19. Drum Solo

20. The Ultra Zone

21. Frank

22. Build Me a Song

23. For the Love of God

Encore:

1. Taurus Bulba