Joe Satriani ROCKS...What is your purpose? I just want to ROCK!

I had front row seats at the Joe Satriani concert with Mountain at the Dodge Theater in Phoenix, Sunday night 11/9/08….totally awesome! I've seen Satch now about 6 times in Phoenix and the Detroit area (where I use to live).

The concert was the best yet, I’d say, probably because of where I sat. I bought front row seats. So I had my own guitar lesson from the master. I mean I could have helped Satch do some finger taping; that’s how close – smack right in front of him. I’m sure he preferred a cute chick, but hey, I was playing air-guitar right along with him. His guitar playing is so intense; my ears welcomed some of his slow songs (I think he played 2). He had a good backup rhythm guitarist playing along this time, which made the sound very full and complete.

Mountain was pretty cool too. The only song I remember from them was Mississippi Queen. I caught a Corky Laing drum stick, and one of Stu Hamm’s base guitar picks (he actually hit me in the chest with it – good aim). That dude can play base; he did an awesome base solo, playing familiar songs – he almost makes me feel like taking up base guitar.

Leslie West played some pretty cool blues guitar in his band, and then later at the end with Satch (dueling guitars on the Dean Leslie West Signature guitar). My ears are still ringing with Satriani tunes...

I do have to go out and buy some of Satriani’s newer stuff - for sure. A lot of the songs he played Sunday night were very intense and from his newer recordings. Did I tell you my ears are still ringing with his tunes….