STEVE VAI AT PALOMA IN NIMES - JUNE 25, 2022

What a pleasure to finally find this guitar genius in Europe for 8 dates after these two years where the artists were notably the most affected even if we could follow them thanks to social networks.

Steve Vai was part of it and he took the opportunity to release an excellent instrumental album - which is quite rare nowadays - "Inviolate" with an unusual and amazing line-up with Philip Bynoe on bass, Jeremy Colson on drums and Dave Weiner on rhythm, which boosts the compositions well. 



After a date at the Hellfest, in front of a human tide and a remarkable performance with Whitesnake on 'Still of a Night' as a guest, Steve Vai makes a thunderous return.  Tonight, the opening act is a Swiss guitarist who offers flamenco-tinged atmospheres and plays only on a Godin Multiac. The themes were quite bewitching with some more technical parts that were almost shredded on his lead parts. Unfortunately, a large part of the Paloma's audience was following the concert from the bar while eating or tasting the local beers...





 

But when the American virtuoso arrives on stage, there is no one at the bar and the audience gives him a warm welcome. Steve Vai appears less fiery than before, with a small moustache, short and greying hair, and uses only two guitars for the whole concert in light configuration. No three neck guitar -Hydra- for this tour. 







The titles are mainly extracted from his last album "Inviolable" and it is 'Avalancha' which opens the gig.

The presence of his signature Ibanez model -with its neck equipped with blue leds between the frets- reassures us very quickly on the technique and the touch of the guitar-hero which did not move with the years.

He shares leads or harmonizations with Dave Weiner during the whole set.

The musicians are quite static and unfortunately not very well lit. We only see Vai keeping a complete freedom of expression. 'Balls of God' and 'Little Pretty' follow each other.

Throughout the concert, behind Jeremy Coldon's drums, the Vai logo is displayed on a giant screen, as well as psychedelic images related to the track played, such as a lit candle on the track 'Candle Power' or a church during 'Building the Church'.

Steve Vai takes pleasure to play and shares with emotion the reception that the public reserves to him in spite of a discomfort in the right arm which does not prevent him from keeping the virtuosity, his expressiveness and his amazing technique and especially his musicality which distinguishes him from many others. 








Little time was wasted tonight, the solos of Dave Weiner and the drummer are effective without being too long and are particularly applauded. The beautiful 'Whispering to Prayer' is a highlight of the evening, followed by a 'Dying Day' started acoustically by Dave Weiner.  But what the fans were waiting for came with two tracks from "Passion and Warfare", namely the sublime anthem 'Liberty' followed by 'For the Love of God' during which the 1990 video was shown.

The surprise reserved by Steve Vai was this roadie of Spanish origin hired to do the cooking but who finally turned out to be a musician but especially a lyric singer which gave the idea to Vai to bring him on stage to sing the melody of 'For the Love of God' for an incredible, unique and unforgettable result. 







The track 'Taurus Bulba' extracted from "Fire Garden" of 1996 executed in recall receives a thunder of applause well deserved for this fabulous concert of a great artist as one makes more. He promised that for the next tour he will be accompanied by his guitar Hydra...