G3 - Live in Denver

Starring:Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, G3
Studio: Sony
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

If musical notes were gold nuggets, then King Midas would look like a pauper next to Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Yngwie Malmsteen. Performing both individually and together in this 112-minute concert, the three hard rock guitarists prove their virtuosity beyond a doubt; despite the obvious antecedents, including Jimi Hendrix (they play both "Little Wing" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" during the "G3 Jam" session that comes at the end) and Eddie Van Halen, all three play with the kind of swiftness, precision, and overall technical proficiency that very few others can match. Yet the non-stop, high-volume speed riffing (Malmsteen is the most egregious when it comes to playing notes for notes' sake, but all three are culpable) eventually proves to be a whole lot of sound and fury, signifying almost nothing. There's little to speak of in terms of songs or melodies (and no vocals, other than during the jam section), and, notwithstanding Malmsteen's pseudo-classical bent, not much to distinguish the three, either. The chops are awesome, dude--but in the end, even die-hards could be forgiven for thinking, "Thanks, fellas, that was really, really impressive. But do you think you could play some music now?" --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

Speed Kills? Not at this concert!.......2007-06-24

I grew up on early British Blues, and have always loved to see the most innovative and skilled guitarists. Though concert wary, I have nonetheless been able to see Jeff Beck, Robben Ford, SRV, Steve Morse, Albert King, B.B. King, Eddie Van Halen, Carlos Santana, Les Claypool (OK, he's a bass player), John Petrucci, and many other masters of the guitar. I went to this concert at the Fillmore in Denver, and it was a real epiphany.

While there's a critic in every crowd, here's the bottom line: this was the runner-up for the most talent I have seen play TOGETHER at one event. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jeff Beck (with Terry Bozzio on drums) takes first from 1989. The G3 fellows were flawless. Truly spectacular. Comparisons of Satriani, Vai, and Malmsteen are difficult because they each are brilliant in different and diverse ways, and really what's the point? I hadn't kept up on Yngwie for more than a decade, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But he was just phenomenal. And he really added a different voicing to the jams at the end of the concert. I don't even like Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World", but these three made it work.

So, is the DVD a good representation of the live concert? Absolutely. Not one song was edited out (though Vai's playing with his tongue during the jam was not shown). Malmsteen's set was put in a different order ("Far Beyond the Sun" was not his finale, look at the start of "Adagio" to see him inspecting his cut finger from ripping off the strings during the guitar smashing which happened earlier in the concert). "Adagio" was his encore.

Now I have to check the box that says "I am over the age of 13". Yes, by 44 years. My college students have me listening to DragonForce and other modern "guitar gods". Hmmmm? Speed kills? Yes! Except in the hands of the most experienced drivers. Take a ride with Satriani, Vai, and Malmsteen and get a new perspective.

AMAZING SHOW.......2007-05-25

If you are looking at this DVD, you probably already know who these guys are. It starts off good with Satriani doing his thing, but Vai and Malmsteen steal the show. The jam at the end with all three is just a bonus. A must have.

Remember these are three distinct styles.......2007-05-13

I have read a lot of bashing on Yngwie here and of course everyone is entitled to their opinion. I find it funny that some self professed guitarists review this G3 album and talk about his redundancy and ho hum style of play. Yngwie is Yngwie and he is worthy of playing with Satriani and Vai or they wouldn't have asked him to play with them. For the guitarists that review this and slam Yngwie, when are we going to see your name next to Satriani and Vai.

With that being said, yes Yngwie is somewhat of a throwback but I think it really adds to the diversity of this show. I am very happy I bought this and would recommend to anyone. Some good stage antics but definitely some great playing. I am now going to get the other two DVD's with great anticipation. I have Petrucci on Jazz CD's and have not heard Eric Johnson.....at least I don't think I have.

I would really love to see some other guitarists in the lineup in the future..Robert Fripp, Ritchie Blackmore (if he still plays), Stanley Clarke on bass (I don't know if he is still around) and possibly Al Dimeola if he still plays. If none of these guys are available then there are definitely many many talented players I would like to see interract with Vai and Satriani.

Sweet!.......2007-05-06

Joe and Steve are brilliant, as usual. They get such great tone live, which is hard, but great showmanship too! Yngwie seems to like to kick stuff but has amazing dexterity and range of style.

funny stuff.......2007-04-04

I watched the Petrucci show and then this one back to back and it's pretty interesting how the "guest" really changes the dynamic. In Tokyo, Vai was the most outlandish and Petrucci was virtuosic but kinda boring stage-presence-wise. Satch was Satch. On this one Yngwie is doing all the crazy acrobatics and so Vai kinda lays back, maybe it would'va been too dangerous for 2 guitars to be swinging around all over the place. On the first jam I also think Vai was kinda intimidated by Yngvie's furious shredding and took a few minutes to get warmed up. Joe pretty much ignored Yngwie and just did his own thing, which was incredibly musical.

(Spoiler)

at the end credits -Vai to Satch - "your voodoo solo was incredible!"
Yngwie: "I didn't even hear it..."
uh huh

(end spoiler)

Anyways this is the most entertaining on a "shred-Liberace" level of the 2 dvds. I recommending fast forwarding otherwise it gets to be a little monotonous. I haven't seen the Eric Johnson one yet, out of all 5 guitarists he's my favorite so that'll be a separate review...

Now if only Allan Holdsworth would be on a G3 show, and instead of "Foxy Lady" being the jam song, they all played on "Ruhkukah"...
(Vai would probably drop all the antics and play like his life depended on it, Satch would play blues licks and excerpts from Mystical Potato and Allan would wince because he was off by a 32nd note in a quintuplet figure...)

Average customer rating:

G3 Live in Denver [Region 2]
Starring: Yngwie Malmsteen , Joe Satriani , Steve Vai , and Jeff Campitelli
Director: A. Karim Karmi
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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