The planets have aligned… Mars is in retrograde, a lunar eclipse is in full force, and an unidentified flying object has lowered to the top of Detroit’s legendary Masonic Temple… From high above, a piercing beam of light slowly begins to lower a cloaked phantom to the ancient stage below. A mere mortal, you say? An alien… a God… or something even more sinisterly divine perhaps? Make your choice… Quickly! For tonight, we shall stand at the crossroads, face-to-face with the Almighty Steve Vai. It’s been nearly four years to the day since the Motor City has had a visit from this guitar guru and tonight the entire state of Michigan has arrived to attend this once-in-a-lifetime moment. A night spent within Vais’s musically metaphysical “Ultra Zone” and quite possibly a chance to watch Vai battle (or tame) the mythical Hydra in an ultimate Clash Of The Titans. Guitar geeks, shred freaks, and all genres of concert-going music lovers are here this evening to watch the master, to listen, learn, and witness Vai’s latest offerings from his newest album Inviolate (released January 28, 2022, by Favored Nations Entertainment).
Fast forward to go time…..
A blue mystical fog begins to envelop the stage, swirling about the crowd as an alien-like guitar greeting begins to screech to the fans through the venue’s bellowing sound system. The unseen composer is lurking in the shadows nearby. The “VAI” symbol on the jumbotron comes to life, silhouetting drummer, Jeremy Colson, standing tall with hands outstretched. Colson drops to his throne and begins to pound out a slow thunderous backbeat. Seconds later, a phantom-like demigod glides across the stage, cradling a mysterious glowing, Ibanez guitar… Steve Vai has arrived, and his first notes send bolts of lightning into an electrified crowd.
The night is underway, and Mr. Vai starts the set with the grinding crunch of “Avalancha.” The fans grab the grinding groove and begin to headbang to the driving beat as Steve quickly goes to work, floating across his fingerboard. Next up are “Giant Balls of Gold,” followed by the funkalicious new track, “Little Pretty.” Vai steps to the microphone and says, “How you all doin’ tonight? You guys look beautiful… Isn’t this great? To be out and enjoying live music again!” A front stager sneaks in a “We love you, Steve!” Vai continues to say, “You notice that we don’t have any microphone stands? That is so your view is not obstructed… and sooooo I don’t sing!” The audience roars with laughter as a grinning Vai gives a little wink and then says, “And now, here is something tender to surrender to!”
The band proceeds to roll into the feel-good, chill-vibe tune “Tender Surrender,” followed by “Lights Are On,” and the twangin’ hybrid picker “Candlepower.” Vai’s performance is on point, focused, driven, and full of all those little dive bomb, pinch harmonic Vai-tastic guitar faces that these fans love. Steve gives a nod to his bass-playing prodigy, Phillip Bynoe to take center stage and bass-tify the audience. Bynoe proceeds to dish a groovalicious bass solo that digs deep into the pocket for a roller coaster ride of thumps, bumps, slaps, and pops that receives a standing ovation from the Motor City. “Building the Church” is next in the set followed by Vai’s support guitarist, Dave Weiner, taking center stage to unleash a guitar-a-saurus rex solo that gets a smile and a knuckle bump from the Vai-ster himself.
Steve steps to the mic and says, “My Wife said I should talk to the audience a little more so blame her for this!” Vai goes on to explain that when you make a new record, you have to talk to the press and they ask you questions. And it’s pretty much the same question or questions for 35 years. “It’s my job to make it sound fresh and new every time they asked me the same question. Like this one… What’s Frank Zappa like? I’ve never heard that one before….” Vai beams a boyish smile to the audience… ” I love Frank and I miss him every day.” He then explains that he is asked a lot about the new song called “Greenish Blues” and if he wrote this for the great blues player Peter Green. Steve gives a humble smile and says, “Well, no sorry I didn’t, and I don’t play blues like that but I can play you some ‘Greenish Blues.'” The crowd roars in response and Steve proceeds to oblige, hitting the audience with this spacey, soulful, and deeply expressive track off of his new record. As the song fades to an end, we see the jumbotron hanging above, come to life. Here we see the oh-so-familiar scene from the movie Crossroads, introducing Vai’s alter ego, Jack Butler. As the scene plays out, Vai plays along with Butler, right down to matching guitar faces. The clip cuts short with a patented Vai whammy dive-bomb that leads to the track “Bad Horsie.” The song ends with drummer extraordinaire Jeremy Colson taking over the stage. JC pounds out a solid five-minute drum solo that gets a roar of satisfaction from tonight’s musical mob.
And theeeen… the lights begin to dim and the sounds of thunder and lightning begin to stir through the ancient Temple. Vai emerges from stage right walking slowly to a large monolithic shape, covered by a tapestry that is now centerstage. Stage lights ignite, and Vai rips away the tapestry to reveal the ominous three-necked hydra. (12 String Guitar/seven String Guitar/ half fretless bass). He grabs a hold of the beast and launches into his new track, “Teeth of the Hydra.“ Vai works all three necks with the surgical prowess of a pure musical genius. This crowd is awestruck and nearly everyone is holding their phones up to record the man versus beast encounter. As the tune comes to a close with the slaying of the proverbial beast, Steve drops another God-like frolic across the fretboard with the new track “Zeus In Chains.” The tune is very well received by the audience and Vai responds with a double offering of Passion and Warfare classics, “Liberty,” followed by classic opus, “For the Love of God” (with a little live performance Easter egg that you will need a ticket to witness!). Steve brings the night to a close with the deeply cerebral favorite, “Fire Garden Suite Taurus Bulba.”
Annnnd just like an amazing trip to all of the cultures of the world in two hours and 13 minutes, your journey has come to an end. The parting thought… Steve Vai, performing live in the prime of his superpowers, with 40-plus years of growth and evolution as a musician will prove to be one of the boldest musical memories inside that concert-going head of yours. If you have not witnessed a Vai-tastic performance, head over to Steve Vai’s official website, pick a date from the current tour that is underway and get goin’!!!! And while you are there, be sure to pick up a copy of his latest work, Inviolate (also available on limited edition vinyl).
