The New Paper
By Adeline Chia
July 30th, 2004
STEVE Vai knows how to pull every trick from the textbook of rock. He strutted, he pouted, he posed. There was of course, the fan. Strategically placed in front of him, it blew his hair artistically - photoshoot style - throughout the three-hour concert at Suntec City Convention Hall last night. There were the costume changes too, about five in all. The highlight was surely the combo of studded leather flaps, a tight stocking top and knee-high boots. At one point, Vai even showed up looking like a slimmed-down version of Elton John, complete with a furry black pirate hat and star-shaped shades. Yes, there were also the stunts. At one point, the lights were dimmed to near-darkness, and with only colourful laser lights attached to his fingers, head and guitar, Vai proceeded to strike the strings, causing the accessorising lights to hit every corner of the hall. Later, he slinked onstage with his trademark tri-necked guitar, which looked like some1pxg out of the mockumentary, This Is Spinal Tap. But as the rake-1px star started playing on the different necks at the same time and jamming to a looped playback of a sequence he had recorded, it was hard to stay unconverted.
OTHER PATENTED MOVES Other patented lead guitar moves included tongue tricks, complicated axe-handling and in a rare show of violence, kicking a microphone stand. Cliched? The audience loved it all. Even if Vai was gimmicky, his fingerwork did all the work. Sometimes he played so many notes at such high speed that mere mortals could barely tell them apart. It wasn't all gut-chugging solos though. He had a few slow numbers where beautiful, lyric guitar wails broke upon the entranced audience. And, of course, what good is a concert if you cannot connect with your fans? This rock star knows how to work his mostly 20-some1pxg crowd. When the crowd's energy sagged, Vai recharged his fans with some good ol' audience participation.
At one point, he had the fans echoing sounds he made on his guitar. But it was only near the end of the gig that the sedate, seated audience stood up. It sure helped that he's one nice guy. You just cannot help liking the guy for his friendly and lively banter. When Ritham Vijay, the winner of the Yamaha guitar rock competition went on stage (see report at right), Vai quipped modestly: 'Don't kick my a**!' The two of them shredded away to Jimi Hendrix's Little Wing. Ritham, whose hands were clammy when I shook them before the competition, rocked confidently on stage. This was the same guy who admitted to struggling with the guitar strap during the sound check with Vai because he was so nervous. The supporting band members, including Billy Sheehan on bass, had impressive solo showcases. NUS Vietnamese student Pham Hai Dong, 20, called the show 'mind-blowing'. He bought a sitting ticket online a month ago. But the enthusiastic fan was air-punching from his third-row seat throughout the show. He then rushed to the front for the last two songs. 'Serves me right for buying the sitting tickets!' he lamented. Calculated guitar rock moves? Yes. All a little '80s? Yes. But this is virtuoso playing at its most entertaining, which made for a great evening. The Steve Vai concert was presented by The New Paper.
HIS NEW NEIGHBOUR IS BRITNEY:
WHAT can pop princess Britney Spears possibly have in common with Vai? Well, it seems the two will be sharing the same neighbourhood. Vai let the audience at his Suntec City concert in on a secret - the pop diva has become his new neighbour in Los Angeles. 'Have you heard of an artiste called Britney Spears?' he asked. A few boos came from the crowd. The 43-year old countered: 'No, Britney's a charming young lady!' Apparently, Steve observed one day that the John Wayne estate, which is just around the corner from his house in Encino, was being completely renovated. He then found out that Britney was taking over the place. 'I got a new neighbour!' he said, to chuckles in the audience.
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