The Hill of the Skull

[RadioFan]

Joe Satriani appreciation thread

Let's do this.



JOE SATRIANI - GUITAR, BASS, KEYBOARDS, PERCUSSION, DRUM PROGRAMMING

BONGO BOB SMITH - DRUM PROGRAMMING, SOUND DESIGN, PERCUSSION

JEFF CAMPITELLI - DRUMS, PERCUSSION

JOHN CUNIBERTI - PERCUSSION

JEFF KREEGER - PRE-PRODUCTION PROGRAMMING AND SOUND DESIGN


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ALL SONGS WRITTEN AND ARRANGED BY
JOE SATRIANI

ALL SONGS PUBLISH BY
STRANGE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC/ASCAP

PRODUCED BY
JOE SATRIANI AND JOHN CUNIBERTI

RECORDED AND MIXED AT
ALPHA AND OMEGA RECORDING AND HYDE STREET STUDIOS, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

MASTERED BY
BERNIE GRUNDMAN

ART DIRECTION BY
JIM KOZLOWSKI

http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/mus ... +Alien.htm

http://www.dealtime.com/xMPR-~PD-69505~ ... 3256409732

From the second link,

9. "Midnight"
This relatively brief piece is actually played in the Spanish guitar style (which sounds unusual, but unusually good, on an electric guitar); the background even includes castanets! Its romantic sound and tempo suggest a late-night moonlit serenade beneath a window in a hacienda courtyard.

10. "Echo"
This piece has less of the flair and imagery characteristic of most of the other pieces, but it's still a nice piece of instrumental rock. Its tempo is fairly subdued but well supported, and it's in an odd time signature (5/4, I think); the solo guitar has its stronger, more rock-out moments in the middle of the piece, but for the most part this is a relatively calm piece with which to conclude the album.

Imho, if you haven't heard these two songs, loud, in order, you simply haven't lived.

I yield the floor to Dinsdale.

[MiketheangrydrunkenCUfan]

Satch is talented and all, but he just doesn't seem to have the soul that SRV or Hendrix had. I'm sure he could play their shit flawlessly note for note, but it's not the same. I don't hate the guy, but it just doesn't hit me the same way. It's almost like he's thinking about it too hard...

[Dinsdale]

Two weeks ago, I saw Joe for the ~17th time. Pretty nostalgic, since the first time I saw him was at the same club. Back then, the setup was a little different, and in 1987, I was relegated to the underage section, stage left. It's now all-ages on the main floor(with no booze on the floor anymore.....WTF?) Now, I'm not just of legal drinking age, I'm damn near an old man. Me and two of the homies I was with at that Surfing With The Alien show went togother, and we managed to weasel up to the front of the stage left area, same spot we were back then.

Apparently, unless it's with a G3 tour, Satch and Stevie seem to want to stay away from the big places anymore, probably a trait they have in common with their aging fanbase. Instead, they sell out the smaller places instantly.

If we're discussing tracks from Surfing, which is truly one of the great rock guitar instrumental albums, mark me down as a :BIGFAN: of Circles. Lot of colors and textures to that one.

There's a reason why every up-and-coming rock guitarist on the planet seeks him out and flocks to him to hone their technique.....because he is the best player(sup maybe 'second-best,' next to his first ever student.....for those not in the know, Steve Vai was Joe's neighbor as a kid), and he's the best teacher. Half(or more) of the guys who achieved "legend" status since the early/mid 80's got that way by hanging out at Joe's house.

The guy has done more to expand and improve the rock guitar genre than anyone since Hendrix, and for that, he's the FUCKING MAN!

[BSmack]

OK, I'm going to check out Satriani on Limewire. My recolection of him back in the 80s was of yet another souless technician. But I'll give the guy another chance. Anything you think I should seek out first and foremost?

I'll hang up and listen.

[Dinsdale]

If I was recommending track for a potential fan, I'd maybe go with......hmmm --

Satch Boogie
Surfing With The Alien
One Big Rush

For a little more "soul," maybe

Circles
Alaways With Me, Always With You
Flying In a Blue Dream


Shit, my Joe tastes are stuck in the 80's, aren't they? Those are some of his more "mainstream," popular tunes, anyway. Surfing With The Alien is just a solid album, start to finish, almost 20 years later. It's kinda the one that defines his career(and his slew of disciples also defines his legacy). If I was recommending one thing, it would be the Surfing album, or Flying In A Blue Dream album. They're all good, though.

If you really want a treat, go check out one of his shows. Dude is addicted to touring, and usually makes the rounds every few months, at least on the West Coast, anyhow.

[RadioFan]

Two weeks ago, I saw Joe for the ~17th time.

I hate you.

The closest I've been is the G3 Tour, on video, with Vai and Johnson. Granted, it's been loud, and channeled through my stereo and/or headphones many a time, but it just doesn't seem the same as seeing dude live.

My bro saw that tour roughly two years ago, with John Petrucci (of Dream Theater), along with Vai and Sach, and has yet to regale me with the full tale.

I'm a huge fan of "Circles" as well. Hell, that album, albeit sacred, really starts with that song, imo., and that's pretty mind-blowing. It's like, for the first side of that record/tape, one might conclude, "yeah, this guy can play, and he's fast." But then you get to that song, and it's like ... HOLY FUCK.

Flying in a Blue Dream is pretty close to the perfect song, if there ever was one. I'd throw in "Friends," from "The Extremist" as well, for a round or two.

If you really want a treat, go check out one of his shows. Dude is addicted to touring, and usually makes the rounds every few months, at least on the West Coast, anyhow.

Working on it.

FUCK

[Dinsdale]

You're somewhere around Tulsa, are you not, RF?

I mentioned this in another thread, but if you're an Eric Johnson fan, he's playing the Oklahoma Blues Festival, which I believe is this weekend. Not sure, since their site is down, but I seem to remember it being this weekend. Get your ass down there. Make sure you make it in time for Eric Sardinas, as well.

I'm getting stoked for our blues festival, which is a pretty huge event round these parts. They've been doing it for 18 years now, and it gets bigger each year. I think they're expecting between 120-150,000 this year. It's held over the July 4th weekend, which inevitably will either be the last rain of the season, or it will be too hot. For some reason, it never seems to fall in between those two. The line up and schedule aren't quite set yet, but it looks like friday night will have Charlie Musselwhite, Eric Johnson, and Buddy Guy......

BOOYAH! Are you freaking kidding me? Pretty heavy-hitting lineup for $5 and two cans of food.

Dins will be ISSUING. Dins will be drinking. Dins will be chasing everything with boobies. Dins will probably get thrown out, but hopefully not until the end.

Last year was Keb Mo, Johnny Lang, and Canned Heat. Year before, we saw Etta James, Susan Tedeschi, and Taj Majal. Year before that, was Ike Turner, John Mayall, and Michelle Shocked. Year before was Delbert McClinton, Los Lobos, and Little Feat. Others over the years include Jimmy Vaughn, Koko Taylor, J. Geils, Johnny Lee Hooker, and a whole buncha others.

$5 well spent-imo.

I'm pretty happy with the organizers over the years, and the bigger the event gets, the more pull they have to get bigger acts. Probably the same where you are.

Go see Johnson and Sardinas. Life's too short to miss stuff like that.

Ours looks something like this --

[KatMode]

For a little more "soul," maybe

Circles
Alaways With Me, Always With You

RACK that, Dinsdale. Those are my absolute favorite Satriani songs. Circles IS fucking awesome.

RACK RF. He introduced me to JS and Eric Johnson. :D

[KatMode]

Well, the damn Jazz Festival website is still down, however I found some info on Eric Johnson's website:

http://www.ericjohnson.com/flash/news.html
7/Sat - Oklahoma Blues Festival - Tulsa, OK

Here's the OK Jazz Festival site (if it ever works again)
http://www.okblues.com

[Dinsdale]

Kat -- are you in the Tulsa area?

GO this weekend(if it's actually this weekend.....you guys are supposed to know these things). You guys pulled a couple of badasses. If you want to continue getting badasses, you need to get out there.

GO!

[KatMode]

Kat -- are you in the Tulsa area?

GO this weekend(if it's actually this weekend.....you guys are supposed to know these things). You guys pulled a couple of badasses. If you want to continue getting badasses, you need to get out there.

GO!

No, the other "major" city in Oklahoma.

No kidding about going out there to get more musicians in this state. I'm always having to travel to Dallas or Kansas City for good gigs. I may have to talk the hubby into going up there this weekend...

[RadioFan]

Go see Johnson and Sardinas.

I've seen Johnson live, and yeah, I'm a huge fan. Venus Isle and Tones are two of my favs. Saw him open for Steve Miller in KC a few years ago. EJ only played about an hour, but it was fantastic. We left after he was over, knowing that Steve Miller would do nothing but suck in comparison.

My gf has to work on Saturday, but I'm going to check out Sardinas and Johnson on Saturday night. Haven't seen Sardinas before. I'll take your word on him.

Btw, thanks for the reminder on the OklaBluesFest. For some reason I thought it was next weekend, not this Fri and Sat.

That gets a

[Dinsdale]

Haven't seen Sardinas before. I'll take your word on him.

The one thing I think really makes or breaks a performer regardless of genre, is whether or not he/she is actually enjoying themself. Like his tunage or not, he won't cheat you in this department. When he opened for Vai, although I didn't stick around afterwards, apparently he went and introduced himself to everyone left in the house and sincerely thanked them for coming. Dude seemed truly flattered that people made it out to see them, and enjoyed his show. Kind of a southern rock/blues metal/buttrock kind of feel.

And how can you hate on the Gangster of Love? The man learned guitar from Les Freaking Paul, for goodness sake. Good outdoor tunes. I catch him every once in a while, since he lives around these parts(not sure exactly where now....he seems to bump around the U&L).

Enjoy. Wish I was going.

[Dinsdale]

SWince they dropped the price of the DSL by $5, and quadrupled the upload speed, sharing this stuff is pretty painless.

Joe Satriani - Circles

[Dinsdale]

Eric Sardinas

[RadioFan]

RACK

And because I'm relagated to my older Mac tonight, and can't post sound files from here ...

And because Eric Johnson is phenomenal ...

Bristol Shore

There's a place, I dream of, far away
There's a girl living there by the bay
She works at sea, for the land propriety
It's her duty, when they call, she's got to go

Oh, now I'm waiting for you
Soon again we'll meet
Yes, I've been hoping for you
I want to retreat to Bristol Shore

The Neptune World, she loves most, with ocean breeze
She protects the Trident Coast and seven seas
'Til she returns, I must find somewhere to go
She's been delayed at the Gulf of Mexico

Oh, I've been waiting for you
Soon you will arrive
Oh, yes I'll be hoping for you
Underneath the sky at Bristol Shore
(Oh, at Bristol Shore)

There's a light shining near, off the bay
Through the siren winds I hear, that girl say
Soon we will meet, there will be another time
That we connect, let it be another time

Oh, I'll be waiting for you
Keep an open door
Yes, 'cause I'm hoping for you
There beside the sea at Bristol Shore

Soon we will meet, let it be another time
That we connect, let it be another time

Oh, I'll be there waiting for you
Yes, I'll be hoping for you
Oh, I'll be waiting for you
Lord knows, I'm hoping for you

I'll be there waiting for you
And I'll be there hoping for you
Oh, I'll be waiting for you
(Soon we will meet)
I'm only hoping for you

Down at Bristol Shore...

------------------

This is a sacred song, at least here, in Okla., in the summer.

[Dinsdale]

I'm counting on your review of the OK Blues Festival, you know.

[RadioFan]

Good time.

I waited for my gf to finish work, so we didn't get there until about 8:30 or so, when Sardinas was about halfway through his set. We brought chairs, and had to sit pretty far back ... probably about 80-90 yards from the stage. I'd say there were about 2,000 people in the event stage area alone, and there were two other festival stages, with at least several hundred at each.

Anyway, Sardinas was a wild man. Dude took a beer bottle, shock it up, and was using it as a slide on his guitar while finishing up one song, and each time he'd hit a note, beer would come spraying out of the bottle while he was playing. But then, he lit his guitar on fire and smashed it on stage -- had the whole freaking crowd standing and cheering.

EJ was next, and was phenomenal, as expected. The only bummer was that there were a few sound problems, part of which may have been caused by the wind, as it was pretty breezy downtown tonight. Perfect temp though -- about 70. He played mostly newer stuff -- several songs from his new album, which he said is going to be released in a few weeks (I didn't catch the title of it, if he said it, as he was speaking really softly into the microphone and we were pretty far back). He also played some stuff from "Souvenir." After the show, I bought an autographed CD of that for $20. I was able to walk up within 20 feet of the stage and take some pics. I'll try to post some later. We watched both encores near the stage ... shit, I could listen to that guy play all night.

The last band was Arc Angels (Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon of Double Trouble/SRV in that band). I haven't heard much of them before, but they were excellent. Had a couple of really kick-ass tunes that had the crowd into it early in the show. We were able to move a lot closer to the stage for Arc Angels ... just wish we could have for EJ as the sound was MUCH better as we got closer.

Nonetheless, a great 4 hours of music, and no drunken idiots fighting/getting thrown out for being morons, at least not near me -- probably a first at any of these festivals I've attended.

[Dinsdale]

Sardinas was in full-on wildman mode when I saw him. That bit with doing the beer bottle slide with his thumb over the end, and raking through chords so fast that it sprays beer over the first couple of rows of the audience was pretty trick. Would have been gimmicky, except he made it sound good, too. When I saw him in the club, he went out into the audience, crowded floor up to the balconies, and zigzagged through everybody in the place, jamming the whole time. I didn't take my recommendation lightly. Fun live act.

I've seen EJ a couple of times. Dude plays live with the same precision that he does in the studio.

Glad you had fun. In a roundabout way, I thank you for your attendance. I love big festivals, and this area is home to a few good ones. The more people get out and attend, the more inclined good acts are going to be to show up for them, regardless of region. By getting out and supporting them, we're helping each other out in the future.

I've got about 6-7 weeks until our Blues Festival......can't wait.

[RadioFan]

The more people get out and attend, the more inclined good acts are going to be to show up for them, regardless of region. By getting out and supporting them, we're helping each other out in the future.

Exactly.

Though I saw a few license plates from Texas and Mo., it was nice to see a fairly big crowd and people truly into the music. And this area can use all the culture it can get, considering there are more than a fair share of mensas whose idea of the arts is color-by-number pictures of cows and scuptures such as this:







Have fun when the festival makes its way up there. If EJ is there, perhaps his new album will have been out, and you'll be more familiar with the tunes than I was.

[KatMode]

Man, we had to miss the show. Sounds like it was a goocher though, eh RF?

We were so damn broke this week we couldn't afford to go to the show. Shit, we couldn't even afford to take either one of the moms out to eat yesterday. I just love it when taxes AND insurance are due the same month - we're still playing catch up. :cry:

[Dinsdale]

I'm getting stoked for our blues festival, which is a pretty huge event round these parts. They've been doing it for 18 years now, and it gets bigger each year. I think they're expecting between 120-150,000 this year. It's held over the July 4th weekend, which inevitably will either be the last rain of the season, or it will be too hot. For some reason, it never seems to fall in between those two. The line up and schedule aren't quite set yet, but it looks like friday night will have Charlie Musselwhite, Eric Johnson, and Buddy Guy......

BOOYAH! Are you freaking kidding me? Pretty heavy-hitting lineup for $5 and two cans of food.

Dins will be ISSUING. Dins will be drinking. Dins will be chasing everything with boobies. Dins will probably get thrown out, but hopefully not until the end.

Yeeeaaaahhhhhhhh buddy. Looking like friday off work. And for the first time in a couplefew years, it looks like it's not going to be one buzillionteen degrees outside for the festival -- supposed to be 80 and clear.

Once again, rulez to be me, suxorz to be you.

[Tex]

Don't much care for the guitar wizard types but Satriani has got some pretty good shit for the genre.

Circles, definitely Circles.

From Dreaming #11: Memories and Hordes of Locusts are both awesome pieces of music.

[Dinsdale]

From Dreaming #11: Memories and Hordes of Locusts

While both of those tunes were on Dreaming #11, they both originally appeared on Not Of This Earth, his first album.

Eric Johnson ruled last night-btw.

Worst. Hangover. Ever.

[Tex]

From Dreaming #11: Memories and Hordes of Locusts

While both of those tunes were on Dreaming #11, they both originally appeared on Not Of This Earth, his first album.

Yes, but the live versions are far superior. Satriani excels live while his studio work seems a little flat. Overproduction will do that.

[RadioFan]

Eric Johnson ruled last night-btw.

Worst. Hangover. Ever.

Sweet.

I guess he played a lot of new stuff, like he did when he was in Tulsa? I couldn't pick up the new CD because it wasn't out yet. It's on my order list. Thanks for the reminder.

Btw, if he played "Bristol Shore," out there, I will be seriously pissed.

[RadioFan]

Update ... my sis and bro-in-law got me tickets to see EJ, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Steve Miller on Aug. 21 at an outdoor show in OKC.

This will be the second time to see EJ in the last 4 months. I haven't seen Shepherd before.

This time, I'm not driving to the show and many beers are going to be in order. Aug. 21 will be a good day indeed.

[Dinsdale]

Did I mention dude absolutely shredded last month? His studio work doesn't do him justice. Dude just filled Waterfront Park with beautiful sounds.

Next up on the Waterfront, is Violent Femmes and the Decemberists. Not a bad deal for $5. Although I'm sure they'll more than compenstae for the cheap admission by gouging me on beers, which after showing up drunk (got thrown off mass transit going to the last one) will be irresistable, as will all the yummy smelling food. Plus, I'm sure it will be quite warm out, and all the sundresses and bikini tops and stuff will make me even more hungry. The city has a clever way of working me out of my cash.

I'm just debating whether to bring this new chick I met, or see what I can chum up at the show. I hate to miss a good opportunity to score some deece tang, but on the other side of the coin, it's nice to have a pretty safe bet going in. Come to think of it, she's not exactly new -- I met her a couple of years ago (also at a Waterfront deal). Brought two chicks to the bar, and being drunk dude, I naturally went with the one that I thought was more willing to give it up that evening...I mean, I'm a dude. If you're not single now, you were at one time, and my money says you guys all did the same thing. Anyhow, rack me for mellowing with age. In the past, I might have been tempted to tell the chick "sorry about blowing you off and leaving you hanging two years ago. If it makes you feel any better, I ended up sleeping with the chicked I gaffed you off for." But, I didn't say that. And chick didn't seem too bent about it. Decisions, decisions...

Anyhoo, what the hell were we talking about again? Oh, EJ. Rack you RF. Get out there and dance in the isles and make a fool out of yourself. I would.

[Dinsdale]

Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson next month. Tix were a total gouge, and the Roseland leaves much to be desired.

But I'll still collect my BODE here. Should be quite an evening.

[RadioFan]

Sweet.

What number time will this be for you seeing Satch again?

Despite various outside chances of driving to Dallas or Minneapolis (when I lived in Lawrence), I have yet to see him, so fuck you. Is Stu Hamm still playing with him?

Hope you're able to engage in some completely safe and illegal activities at the show. Should be a kick-ass display and soundgasm of virtuosity, especially if EJ joins JS on stage for some choice duets, which he did with Steve Miller.

I look forward to the review.

[RadioFan]

As an aside, and regarding safe, illegal substances ... I really have to make a special trip down to my friend's place and get some music uploaded online and a sandwich in a lunch Glad mini. Safety seal, of course.

First an Iron Maiden DVD, and now talk of Satch. Freaking brutal, this Oklahoma drought is.

[Dinsdale]

What number time will this be for you seeing Satch again?

Lost count. About #17, I think. First time weas for Surfing With The Alien, which I believe was 1987. Had to stand in the under-21 pen off to the side, I remember that much.

Is Stu Hamm still playing with him?

I haven't even checked Joe's website. Last time, Stuey was. He's been there through most of his tours. He's filled in on bass for Stevie over the years, too.

If you've never seen Stu do Linus and Lucy on bass, then you, my friend, haven't lived. He was the first rock-guy(that I can think of, anyway) to cover that tune, which has inspired many a gravytrainer to do so since.

if EJ joins JS on stage for some choice duets, which he did with Steve Miller.

Sometimes Joe has the duets, sometimes he doesn't. On the G3 tours, they always did. The last time I saw him was with Eric Sardinas, and Sardinas came out. When they do this, Joe usually takes a back seat and lets his guest do most of the wailing.

First an Iron Maiden DVD, and now talk of Satch. Freaking brutal, this Oklahoma drought is.

You know we're boys and all RF, and you seem like a pretty smart guy, but dude...

They have these things called "U-Hauls." Maybe you should look into one. There's a reason that there's a corrolation between shitty places to live, and their overwhelmingly stupid residents -- the dumb ones stay, the smart ones go. Sounds like you've made up your mind which group you want to be identified with.