On February 3, 2024, I closed up shop and hit the road to Oakland, California. The event was the G3:Tour featuring Steve Vai, Eric Johnson and Joe Satriani. This was a show to look forward to and I know I was. The concert was at the Fox Theater in downtown Oakland, California. This was not my first show there and it certainly won’t be my last.
First up, Of the guitar heroes was Steve Vai and the band were spot-on that night. They only had six songs, but they were powerful songs. They opened with “Avalancha” which was released in 1995 by Héroes del Silencio, the crowd was really into it. Song after song the intensity built. Ranging from “Little Pretty”, “Tender Surrender” to “For The Love of God”, the mix was perfect and Vai knew it. My favorite track was “Teeth of the Hydra” which he played on his Hydra guitar. The flow of the song rocks so hard. As quickly as it started, it was over. Yet, he shall return.
Steve Vai Band Members:
Steve Vai – Guitar, vocals
Philip Bynoe – Bass
Dave Weiner – Guitar
Jeremy Colson – Drums
Setlist:
1). Avalancha
2). Little Pretty
3). Tender Surrender
4). Zeus in Chains
5). Teeth of the Hydra
6). For the Love of God
Next up was guitarist, vocalist, and composer Eric Johnson. His smooth tones set the pace for what was to come. Starting with a Chis Kenner cover “Land of a 1000 Dances”, he had the crowd invested from the first song. The nine-song set was on fire and so was he. From “Righteous” to “Here With You Again” to “Venus Reprise”, his style was on point and perfect for this crowd. Eric Johnson pounded through his entire set and he did it with class which was the theme of the night, class. That was the goal, and let’s call it a success. That it was.
Eric Johnson band members:
Eric Johnson – Guitar, vocals
Dave Scher – Guitar, keyboards
Roscoe Beck – Bass
Wayne Salzman II – Drums
Setlist:
1). Land of 1000 Dances (Chris Kenner cover)
2). Rightous
3). Trail of Tears
3). Impressions (John Coltrane cover)
4). Here With You Again
5). Desert Rose
6). Guitar Solo
7). Cliffs of Dover
8). Venus Reprise
Joe Satriani is a phenomenal guitar player and we all knew it, so he came out last. With his predetermined flare for the songs, he has a style that sets the night. he blasted though “Raspberry Jam Delta-V”, like a man on a mission. Then he sailed through his set with tunes like “Surfing With the Alien”, “Sahara”, “Nineteen Eighty” and “Summer Song”. Satriani always performs like the pro that he is. Backed by Bryan Beller, Rai Thistlewayte, and legendary drummer Kenny Aronoff, they played their hearts out behind Satriani like men on a mission. The set finished with “Summer Song” and though it was, their last song it was not the finally.
Joe Satriani band members
Joe Satriani – Guitar
Bryan Beller – Bass
Kenny Aronoff – Drums
Rai Thistlethwayte – Keyboards
Then it was time for all three of the guys to hit the stage and the crowd went nuts. They started with “Crossroads” a Cream cover, and they shredded it. It was an extended version and they slayed it. With the crowd warmed up and totally into it, they played “Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf. The audience was thrilled and excited to hear a Steppenwolf cover with these three masters playing it. Coming out of that, they brought out two more guitarists. This time for Oakland itself, Vic Johnson and Doug Kaufman to play out the last two songs, starting with “Foxy Lady” by Jimi Hendrix. This was amazing. Filling out the set was “Going Down” by The Alabama State Troupers. It was a fitting end to the set, and the crowd would have stayed longer. This format was banging all the way through and it was the best three hours anyone could want.
Setlist:
1). Raspberry Jam Delta-V
2). Surfing the Alien
3). Satch Boogie
4). Sahara
5). Nighteen Eighty
6). Big Bad Moon
7). Always With Me, Always With You
8). Summer Song
ENCORE
9). Spanish Castle Magic (Jimi Hedrix cover)
10). Born to Be Wild (Steppenwolf cover)
11). Foxie Lady (Jimi Hendrix cover)
12). Going Down (The Alabama State Troupers cover)
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Photographer of about 10 years, I have been shooting concerts for about 8 of those years. I started to get serious about concert photography about 6 or 7 years ago and now try to shoot as many as I can. I shoot mostly rock but, have done some country and big band stuff. I love music and since I am nowhere close to being a musician, this is a way I can be a small part of what, in the words of Henry Rollins, “gets me through the highs, the lows and everything in between”.
