Very cool comments from Steve Vai on his forum at Vai.com,
posted Oct. 24, 2003:

It's virtually impossible for me to write down words that can adequately express my sheer joy in being on this tour. Possibly my favorite G3 experience.

Joe and I both agree that it was a great idea to have Yngwie out with us. He brings quite the spark of excitement. Besides his breathtaking technique and entertaining stage persona, he is genuinely fun to hang out with. He's very funny and it's a real hoot to just listen to him tell stories. Joe and I are both very happy with the way it is turning out and both feel that Yngwie has brought a different kind of energy to the show. He's honest and authentic. It's important to give him his space and let him do the thing that makes him the historical musician that he is.

Standing in-between both Yngwie and Joe is quite an interesting experience. Quite terrifying at times but I savor every moment. Opening up our communication muscle during the jam and watching what these guys come out with each night is truly inspirational to me. They are the elite of the elite and one can not help but to be inspired by being a part of their energy.

I feel as if we all offer different things and the truth is we are mostly concerned with making the G3 experience a thoroughly entertaining one for everybody, an experience that you can not find any place else and one that you can walk away feeling totally fulfilled. From what I'm reading it looks like we are achieving this goal, yay!

I never take for granted, not even for a moment how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to go out and play for all the folks that attend the shows. During the jam at the Concord show Joe and I hit on some elevated euphoric jamming moments. I am wordless in describing the sheer joy of those moments. After the show Joe came up to me and said "we are really lucky". I could not agree with him more.

November 11, Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY

From Guitar Info: What an unbelievable G3 concert in NYC at the Beacon Theater Monday night! G3 is an almost annual concert put together by Joe Satriani which features 3 guitarists. In a G3 concert, each guitarist plays a set and then all jam together at the end. Wow, what a show! This concert featured Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai and Joe himself. Yngwie played first, and he was excellent! He was definitely the most animated of the bunch, spinning the guitar around his neck and flipping his pick at the audience constantly. He played a precise Baroque and Roll and a heartfelt Star Spangled Banner. It is obvious Yngwie is a big USA and New York fan and he played his heart out the whole show. The audience loved it.

Next up was Steve Vai. His strap broke early on and he was offered a chair but he refused it, holding the guitar in his hands and wailing away. He played a three neck guitar and did some very nice orchestrations. He finished with "For the love of God", which was excellent. Next up was Mr Joe Satriani and the Satch man rocked. He played a great "Midnight", "Always with me, Always with you" and "Satch Boogie". He was excellent and the crowd was very into him.

Guitarist John Petrucci, of the group Dream Theater, joined Satriani for some blazing unison/harmony playing. And then Neal Schon, Journey's melodic ripper guitarist, came on stage, offering some trademark melodic shredding! We had 5 of the best guitarists on earth on one stage in NYC! The bands were really excellent as well. All masters in their own right. Vai's bassist, Billy Sheenan, was totally shredding. There were three encores played by all 5 guitarists. First was Voodoo Chile by Hendrix. This was sung by Yngwie, and he did a very good job. Next was "Little Wing", another Hendrix tune, sung by Steve Vai - also excellent. They finished with Neil Young's "Keep on rocking in the free world"! This was an almost 4 hour show with each guitarist individually delivering the price of the concert ticket! Congrats to Joe Satriani for putting together such an incredible event! Guitarist.info

November 8, AJ Palumbo Center, Pittsburgh, PA

From Max Salada: I attended the G3 concert only because Yngwie was there. He has been one of my favorite guitarists of all time. He did a great job even though the sound wasn't very good until the very last song of his set (first act syndrome). The best part of his show in my opinion was "Fugue" from the Concerto Suite. The Jam was awesome but he did seem to showboat a bit too much and kept his distance from Steve and Joe of alot of it. This concert is the best i've ever been to. Although I was very upset that after spending $100.00 for a jacket and 2 Meet & Greet passes Yngwie was nowhere to be found...he wouldn't bother with us. Both Steve and Joe came in and signed my jacket and chatted for a bit... they were very cool and personable. The only reason I got the passes was to meet him... maybe next time. Max Salada (DJ Mad Maxx)

November 7, Bell Centre, Montreal, PQ, Canada

From Daves Couture: Hi. I was very excited to be able to see this G3 Tour because it was the first time I saw Yngwie and Steve. Unfortunatly, I was not able to see the G3 Tour in 1996 (Quebec City). Yngwie was a great entertainer on stage, but I should expected a lot more notes on some songs instead of kicking picks in the crowd. I cannot be surprised about that because I saw a lot of video shots and that was the same. I was on first row ans it was a great time to see him for the first time. Steve gave us a superb performance with a band that was full or surprises. Billy Sheehan is an extraordinary bass player and now I know why he has this great reputation. Tony Macalpine was great addition too because he's very strong with his technique. It was the best show and Steve deserved the ovation at the end. Joe Satriani was perfect as usual, he made the good choice for songs and played them with all his ability. He was great too. I really expect to see another G3 tour in Montreal (with hope that it will be with the same three gods). After his performance, Yngwie told to Steve that the crowd was really great (say Insane). I would like to thank him for his appreciation and that the people in Montreal really hope to see him again in Montreal. Thanks a lot.

From Yanick DeGrandpre: After attending the G3 show in Montreal yesterday, I pretty much came to the conclusion that Yngwie has 6 fingers on his left hand. I posted this review also on the Vai forum .

Oh my! Quickly: Vai's & his band produced the tightest set, best spot performance was Yngwie blazing on the acoustic guitar, and most jaw dropping moment was Yngwie playing excerpts of Van Halen's "Eruption" … with his teeth.

Now the long review:

YNGWIE. Let me say this: when I want to listen to music, I buy a CD. When I pay to go to a concert, I want to be entertained. So why complain about stage antics ? I have actually liked it a lot. Now obviously, if you want to have 100% timing and hit every note perfectly you do like Satriani (which he did) and keep your eyes on the fret virtually all the time and don't move … that is an option. Vai didn't hit perfect either last night but he was entertaining too … and so was his band. I have never seen anybody play acoustic guitar like that before. No effects, just the guitar and a magician with fingers worth gold … pure ecstasy.

For those that read the Guitar World article on G3, Vai was quoted saying that Yngwie (live performance) was condemned to be Yngwie and I wondered where he was coming from with that, but I think I found it yesterday. A few people have shred faster than him on albums but miserably fell short of having a career because they could not play live what they recorded (probably after 253 takes anyway). Out of the 5,000 people that attended yesterday, half the crowd was eagerly waiting for him to collapse to finally be able to say "I told you so". But he didn't. Worse than that: he probably swallowed a 6-pack between his set and the jam, came back on stage and didn't miss a single note through the 3 songs, blazing at a speed that the other two can't match. Let the guy be what he is, for god's sake … did anyone critique Paganini, Chopin, or Liszt for their speed of execution? At any rate, I frequently read that he doesn't look especially to play at fast speeds …. His goal was always to use his guitar as a violin and it just turns out like that.

CHURCHILL. Yngwie is not as esoteric as Vai on guitar and conversely Vai is not as agile at high speed. So be it. Let's collectively get over with it and enjoy! Excellent keyboard solo, very good bass solo, and so-so drum solo. The Marshall sounds a bit outdated versus the other two's gear.

VAI. To me, Steve Vai is like those Olympic athletes performing 10 different sports in 10 days (can't remember the exact name of the sport). The winner of this sport is not necessarily the one that shines in 3-4 events, but rather the one with the least weakness. And that is what Vai is to guitar. He is not as fast as Yngwie, not as esoteric and inventive as Jeff Beck, not as mellow as Santana (and the list goes on) … but he is excelling in every single aspect of guitar playing. That is to say that I still have to find something he can't do well. Some other guitarists might have been able to replace Yngwie in Alcatrazz and some others might have been able to replace Van Halen with David Lee Roth, but I think nobody else than Steve could have replaced both because nobody is as polyvalent.

I initially feared the worst when Steve started on the three-neck (Didn't like it at all) and I thought he would be having a very bad night (it seemed however that most people around me liked it). That was probably me because the rest of the set was excellent in terms of showmanship, creativity, and coordination. Who wouldn't want to have these guys in your band (Billy and Tony). The little duet with Tony was excellent. People have raved so much about the 4-way trade off that I had higher expectations.

JOE. Funnily enough I came to the show with high expectations for Steve and Yngwie (which they met) and low expectations for Satriani with the end results that he is the one who came through as a nice surprise. While some people dismiss Yngwie's prowess as being macho, some others criticize Joe for his pop (read gay) oriented music. Here again, what is wrong with that ??? Since when is writing beautifut music that is easier to digest (albeit highly technical) a weakness? I have read elsewhere that Joe had some weak performances. Well I personally think he came across very good yesterday. He definitely has the best tone of all three performers.

JAM (climaxxxx). While "Voodoo Chile" got a lot of praise, I had mixed feelings toward it. Don't get me wrong, the song WAS good but I felt all three guitarists stuck too closely to their style while soloing and didn't get enough under Jimi's skin. At any rate it takes a lot of guts to do a Hendrix song live. And then …. "Little Wing". Wow! the part where Vai plays the melody while Yngwie plays arpeggios as background texture … I almost wet my pants!! I hope they started doing that duet in time for the DVD shot in Denver. "Rocking in a Free World" was an excellent showcase for the solos, especially the harmonic parts towards the end. The vision of these three guitar monuments will stay with me until I die.

NEXT. I don't think they will be able to find another line-up for the G3 that will match this one. Van Halen ? After Yngwie played parts of "Eruption" with his teeth! I'd turn red … but then the old dude might have a few tricks in his bag (although I don't think he'd play "Far Beyond the Sun" with his teeth). I have just witnessed three of the best guitar players that ever walked this earth jam together and this memory will stay with me for all of my life.

I thank Steve and Joe for their open mind. They have tried for a long time to get Yngwie on the G3 tour and the wait was worth the effort. I think that for one time Steve was challenged to have a guitar god of equal reputation on the same bill and it is not stranger to the fact that he presently plays the best guitar of his career. You have a lot of guts and deserve to be given the credit to pull it all together.

November 4, Warner Theatre, Washington, D.C.

From Pamela Picciotta: It has been three years since I have seen Yngwie play. I have seen every one of his performances in the Washington, DC/MD/VA area since 1986 and I must say, this was his best to date! The show was incredible to say the least. Yngwie was having a blast on stage. He seemed so relaxed and content. His sound was near perfect, except for a slight hum coming from his Marshall's, the sound was so clean and crisp. His playing was flawless! It was great to hear him play some of his older instrumentals. I really enjoyed his acoustical pieces as well. Even his Concerto piece sounded great, even though it was played to pre-recorded music in the background. I guess it will be the closest thing I get to seeing the "Concerto Suite" live.

The audience was really getting into his playing. It was great to see him have so much fun. He did his usual stage antics of twirling, spinning and throwing his guitar. He still has it after all these years! I even got another pick to add to my collection which totals nine picks now. He flung it right at me and it landed on my foot. I enjoyed seeing him at the Warner Theater. The acoustics in the building are superb and the theater is beautiful. But I did miss the intimacy of the small clubs that he usually plays. I am usually standing right in front of him at the front of the stage, but this time I was seated in the fifth row, on the opposite side of the stage. I still had an excellent seat!

Steve and Joe's set were great too! Joe's sound was a little too loud and distorted though. His playing was a little too laid back for my tastes, but it still sounded great. Steve’s performance was really good. I especially liked the 4-way playing number that he and his band did. I really enjoyed the jam at the end. It was great to see all those wonderful musicians playing together. All of them seemed very comfortable playing with one another and letting each one do their own thing.

After the show, I was able to attend the "Meet & Greet" thanks to Yngwie’s wife, April. I caught up with her before the show and she gave me two passes for my friend and I. I have met her several times before and she remembered me. We talked for quite a while at the "Meet & Greet". Yngwie was his usual charming self. He signed several things for me and congratulated me on my massive weight loss. At first he didn’t recognize me until I showed him my "before" picture that was taken with him three years ago. It was great to have a chance to chat with him briefly and talk with April as well. Yngwie has always been very nice and polite to me and April is such a sweetheart! There was some guy heckling Yngwie at the "Meet & Greet". Yngwie handled it very well and the guy was escorted out of the building by security. The incident didn’t seem to dampen Yngwie’s spirits one bit. All in all , it was a VERY memorable night!

November 2, Saenger Theatre, Pensacola, FL

From Kevin Anderson: mr.malmsteen:i just saw you in pensacola with steve vai and joe satriani. you three are my favorite guitarists,i have been playing guitar for 10 years and ever since then i always thought it would be awesome to see you guys in concert. never in my right mind did think i would see the 3 of you in concert. when i heard that you guys were coming i did what i could do to make it. i want you also to know that it was a dream come true for me. thank you for making my dream come true. it was great. once again, thank you very much, kevin anderson

From Larry R. Pierson: I have been a fan of Yngwie since 1984. I own every album and video he has ever made. I finally after nearly 20 years got lucky enough to see him live for the first time and I was not disappointed!! He was truly brilliant! I also enjoyed Steve and Joe's performance. It was a very memorable night, one I will never forget. After the show I got to meet them all briefly-Joe, Steve and Yngwie signed my wife's G3 tshirt and Yngwie signed the Yngwie tshirt that I got (I did not think it would be right to have Joe or Steve's signature on his shirt). I also spoke with Steve personally. I told him that it was an honor to see him and Yngwie play together. He smiled and shook my hand. The only unfortunate part of the night is that I did not get to speak to Yngwie personally. There was quite a few people at the meet and greet and by the time I made my way through line to see Yngwie it was time for him to go. Even though I did'nt get to speak to him personally-he did sign my tshirt. If you would when you speak to Yngwie tell him thank you for the wonderful performance and that seeing him live just reconfirmed that in my opinion he is the greatest musician that has ever lived!!!!!!

November 1, House of Blues Orlando, Orlando, FL

From Joye Nottage: I got tickets for my birthday and was in awe - a concert of a lifetime - thanx for the great birthday present, Yngwie

From Zane Parker: Well, I just saw him in Orlando at the House of Blues and words can't express the emotions that I felt inside! Something that was 14 years in the making and I finally got to see him! His music has meant so much to me growing up and still does!!! It was one of my best friends!! I consider him a friend because of it. I know he doesn't know the effect his music may really have on people. But wow! 14 years and it was well worth the wait!!!! I want to thank Yngwie so much for coming here and playing on the G3 tour! Thanks to his management to and Sony for signing him!!!!!!!!! I hope to see him as a head liner now!!! Thanks so much!

OCTOBER 30, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL

From Starlene: I first saw Yngwie in 1985; he and his band opened for Iron Maiden in Tampa (a G3 tour in itself…ohmygod…) I was there to see Maiden. Well, I became an Yngwie fan after that! I swear Yngwie J. Sorcerer Malmsteen INVOKED THE FREAKING GODS. (Maiden, of course, paid due homage, but that’s another story…) Well, he's still got it; he did it again at Ruth Eckerd. I have to disagree with the gentleman who thought Yngwie’s placement in the G3 line-up an error because he’s more a “main act”. I mean, you want to INVOKE THE FREAKING GODS right off, don’t you? You want THE FREAKING GODS to come on down and party for the entire show, right? See? it’s all good. After opening with Evil Eye, he introduced Ba-"Rock" & Roll (that's how he said it, I swear) then segued into an Yngwie collage of amazing intensity and furious passion including Red House, bits of Cavalino Rampante & Fugue from his concerto (to hear the entire suite is emotionally stunning), a classical Bach piece?, a few rays of Black Star, Icarus' Dream Suite, ... and I'm not even sure what else! What an improvisational delight!

At some point he ripped a huge hole in the thigh of his pants with all that body fretting! To the fans that were disappointed that he didn't seem to complete anything, or thought he was horsing around too much, please don't be that way--he was obviously having a blast and sometimes the passion just takes over! I felt it pushed his performance over the top. You have to do that with FREAKING GODS, ya know. He finished with Far Beyond the Sun that morphed into the Star Spangled Banner during his ovation (did anyone else notice that? He didn't complete it--ha!--but it sounded beautiful!) I have the distinct feeling we were being teased--I hope there is a tour for Attack! being planned here? He makes that guitar sing as sweet as a violin--Bravo Yngwie! I find your music brilliant and hauntingly beautiful, and I love to watch you play. Don't change a thing! Come back to Clearwater! Bring your band! They were so totally awesome! Bring the Florida Orchestra if you like! ***

Steve Via was astonishing. He is beautifully strange and mischievous; he takes that guitar places string & wood never thought existed! …and with an emotion that can only be described as worship (once you summon THE FREAKING GODS you have to PLEASE them you know!). Amazingly beautiful to watch and hear. He has such stage presence. Bravo Steve! *** Joe was awesome too. He is the perfect medium to convey the muses to the masses. He has the uncanny ability to transcribe musical heaven into something we mere mortals can love and understand. Bravo Joe! You always HONOR THE FREAKING GODS. And the Jam? Well, it SCARED the hell out of THE FREAKING GODS. Which is always important and you definitely want to end on that sort of a note with GODS. Otherwise they get too cocky. This show had the perfect line up, was the perfect conduit, to witness the DIVINE! “Extraordinary League of Gentlemen” indeed! Thank You! -Starlene

From Adam Santucci: What can I say, Yngwie rocked the place tonight! He was absolutely amazing and dead on. His band was incredible as well. Yngwie did a killer job of Trilogy Suite and Black Star. Yngwie's Baroque and Roll was a great song, very intense and in your face. Steve was...well he was nuts on the guitar and did things most people can only dream of doing. Steve's band rocked, I was very happy to see Tony Macalpine and Billy Sheehan playing with him. Joe did an awesome job as well and when all 3 were out for the encore they did a better job of "Rock'n in the Free World" than Neal Young and Pearl Jam. This was by far the best G3 line up and I was happy to see Yngwie share the stage with 2 other great guitar players. See ya next time, Cheers, Adam Santucci

From James Desruisseaux: WOW! Life is great, on the way to the [Clearwater, FL] show I stopped for a bite to eat at a local restaurant and who do I meet? The master himself! Yngwie.....HOLY COW....my night of the concert was complete. Autographs etc.....this guy is the best. I wish all people in this capacity could be this cool. Thanks for the tips and if you have a way to pass my thanks along please do. Once again THANKS YNGWIE.....You have made my dream come true of meeting the man I admire so much!

OCTOBER 28, Millenium Center, Winston-Salem, NC

From Susan Benson: I met YJM, Steve Vai, and Joakim after the show, all of whom were classically gracious and showing true Southern manners. Joakim and I had a wonderful conversation and he signed my keyboard, which, according to him, was a first. The concert left me euphoric and in overdrive, especially the "JAM" at the end! Joakim took some pics of us with the board and said I could see them on the site [webmaster's note: concert photos are posted HERE]. All 3 guitarists were beyond my expectations, which were great, and the bandmates were masters as well. Of course, being a keyboardist, I am partial and I want to thank Joakim for an inspirational evening and advice. Yes, I have listened to Blackstar and I am working diligently to "borrow" some licks, as always, kudos would be given if I come close enough to be worthy. Thank you for a wonderful evening and I will definitely catch the next round or one close enough to run to. "Keep on Rockin'".............Peace be the journey, Susan "Snooz" Benson

OCTOBER 27, Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN

From Jaxon Dillon-Fish: I have no idea if Yngwie will remember me, but my name is Jaxon Dillon-Fish. I had a beer with Yngwie, April, Patric, and U.K. at the Hard Rock Cafe in Nashville, Tennessee. You guys gave my mother, Kathy, and I meet and greet passes for the show the next day and we had a blast. I am just writing to say thank you for you friendliness to my mother and myself, and that it really meant a lot to both of us. Especially Patric who hung out with us after the show for a really long time. Thanks, Jaxon

From Tony Diamond: I have been an Yngwie fan for many years and never had seen an Yngwie concert. I felt I was missing out. Well , when G3 came to Nashville which is about 4 hours from my home I had to go. There was no going around it, I just had to be there! We showed up at Rymans concert hall about 5:30 pm. I was on my toes I tell ya, I felt like a kid again* lol* and I’m 30. The doors opened at 6:00 and I was ready; myself, my cousin Justin, and my keyboard player Nick headed inside and in the lobby the first thing I saw was hundreds of people and in the middle was Mrs. April Malmsteen. I was like cool, she's fan friendly. I didn’t stop and talk with her, she was talking to people and I didn’t want to be rude and bother her, but I did have one thing on my mind when we got in the door and that was Yngwie t-shirts, so I ran up to where they had the stuff and I bought an YNGWIE WHO ?

Always been my fav. And I bought another cool shirt that had Yngwie on it ! We went to our seats and waited for the show, which felt like forever but it was more like 15 mins. *lol* and then the lights dimmed and Yngwie cut loose. It was the most exciting thing I have ever seen; at this point all my Yngwie dreams have come true. Yngwie played a killer set with all my favs. My jaw dropped when he broke out with some Concerto Suite stuff. Well, after Yngwie left the stage I was feeling pretty good about myself and the fun that we had. The only thing left so I thought was waiting till the end to see the G3 jam, right? *lol* I was so wrong! Steve Vai hits the stage and I’m jamming out and I noticed my cousin Justin has been gone for awhile; he’s a big Steve Vai fan so to miss this something’s up, right? Something was up! Well, when he did return he had a gift for me or for him, I’m still not sure, lol. He had been chatting with Mrs. Malmsteen and she had given Justin a backstage pass to meet Yngwie and Steve Vai. We both were pretty happy about that but there was only one pass? Now who will get this pass? Well, I told Justin to keep the pass, go and meet your hero, I'll be ok, I wasn’t expecting that and I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to meet Yngwie. I was somehow worried that maybe the myth and the man may not be the same and that would kill it for me!

Well anyways Steve Vai played his set and it was good! After that Justin was like, bro, I’m getting you a pass to meet Yngwie. I was like, man, don’t worry about it, it's not that big a deal to me, I’m good, I've got what I wanted out of this. He was like, no way, man, it's going to get better. What is it with Navy people; they never give up. To make this story a little shorter, he did get me a pass from a nice gentleman who I guess leases the tour buses. By the way, thanks for the pass, I never got his name but thanks!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, the show's over and we are sitting in the hall waiting for our heroes to show and I’m nervous and I mean badly nervous ! Justin asked me, what you going to say to Yngwie when you meet him? I was like, I have no idea, bro. Well Steve Vai comes out first and meets the fans; Steve Vai was a really down to earth person. I was surprised of how cool he was; he signed our tickets and said thanks for coming out. Yngwie came out and I was floored, you know. I didn’t know how to act but I didn’t want to act like a fool and march out on him or anything. And it was funny now when I walked up to him, I was talking to him, I guess he couldn’t hear anything I was saying. I guess I was talking too quiet for him to hear and he said “what?” and the only thing that would come out was “I’m a big fan, would you sign this for me?” What a moron, right? I felt so dumb; my hero is 2 feet in front of me and I can't speak a word, lol. Well, I thanked him and Justin was talking to Mrs. Malmsteen who was standing right next to Yngwie, and Justin and myself were talking to her, about what I’m not too sure now. But it must have been good because Yngwie was joining in on the conversation while signing autographs. I was like, ok I’m talking to him now, why couldn’t I do this a minute ago? lol!!!!!!!

I told Mrs. Malmsteen I was really nervous about meeting Yngwie, I didn’t know if he was down to earth at all. She told me he’s a good guy, we just laugh at the rumors that we hear. Yngwie looked up and smiled; I was like, this is one of the coolest things I have ever done and something I'll remember every time I pick up my guitar. I talked to and shook my hero’s hand. We had a great time. Mr. and Mrs. Malmsteen were great to all the fans and us. They made it really easy to talk to them. Yngwie is a true showman; his wife was great to us and I give a lot of thanks to them. This will be one of the greatest things in my life. It's not everyday you get to meet your hero and his family and they are truly great people. I'd like to thank Steve Vai as well for his great showmanship to the fans. Thank you all for this! Tony Diamond

From Johnny Anderson: The wife and I were fortunate enough to attend the Oct 27th show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. Oddly enough it was my birthday. The stage was set for this to be the greatest birthday I've ever had. It was going to get better. A little before the show I met April Malmsteen at the t-shirt booth and told her how excited I was to be there and how I was a huge Yngwie fan. She was extremely polite and ultimately she reached in her purse and gave me two meet and greet passes for after the show. A dream come true. Yngwie came out and was in complete command. He played 3 songs from the Original rising force Album, Part of Trilogy Suite, A track from Concerto, he showcased his band members, played a blues jam, Baroque and Roll, and of course his guitar solo as well as some nylon playing that was mesmerizing. He totally delivered. Steve Vai came out with his tone sounding as good as it ever has and delivered an extremely powerful set, including For the Love of God which sounded note for note. Joe delivered a great set. The ensuing jam included a guest appearance by Neil Schon who was wailing!! After the show I met Yngwie who was personable and pleasant and he treated me like a king. Steve Vai was as personable and kind and patient as anybody you could've possibly met. I left with Yngwie, Steve, Tony McAlpine, Steve's drummer Jason, Yngwie Bass player MICK CERVINO's autographs. All were extremely personable and willing to take time to make this easily the greatest birthday I ever had. It was indeed a dream come true. For all of the gainsayers, don't let jealousy eat you alive!!!! Put in the historical context of the Ryman (which Steve Vai was really excited about) this was one for the record books and the house was packed. Thank you G3!!!!

From Bob Binkley: The Nashville G3 show was unreal. I was in awe of all the talent on one stage that night. Yngwie was on first and the sound was a little off, but his playing was phenomenal as always and he has a stage presence that is second to none. I got to shake hands with him and got his autograph after the show and didn't realize he was that tall! Steve was up next and played superbly as well but I just can't get into his music. He's just not melodic enough for me. Joe came on and probably had the best sound mix of the three and played beautifully. Probably the best performance of the night.The jam included an unexpected treat as they brought out Neal Schon! He can tear it up with the best of em. Yngwie was still having sound problems - his guitar was too low. After trying to get them to turn it up several times, He gave up and started hamming it up onstage, throwing and twirling his guitar and playing to the crowd. A true showman. I really hope he comes back to Nashville for the Attack tour so I can see this phenomenal player again.

OCTOBER 25, State Theatre, Minneapolis, MN

From Peter Voss: Just wanted to write in and say that I had second row seats to the G3 show in Minneapolis. I've seen Yngwie 4 times now. I've gotten my guitar signed by him, I've caught picks. I've seen him at small clubs and even smaller clubs. I think it's safe to say that I'm obsessed. It was so awesome to see him play in a big concert hall. He blew my head off, I was so amazed with the quality of his sound. Via and Satch are both excellent players, but both lack the tone of Yngwie's rig. You could hear every note. Plus the Guy just has such a huge stage presence. The show was amazing. PLEASE GO SEE THIS SHOW!

OCTOBER 24, Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL

From J. D. Won: It was around 6:30 pm when Joe "Fretfire" LaBanco and I arrived at the Riviera. After we were patted down (sorry Anne, no pictures this time) we entered the Riviera and bumped into a few local guitarists who we knew like MACE Music recording artist Lyden Moon (who won a contest in which the prize was a chance to jam with Steve Vai live a few years ago) and TD Clark. After exchanging a few quick hellos, we were approached by an older gentleman. He asked Joe "are you Joe LaBanco?", yes. It turned out to be the "Good Doctor" who came to Chicago for the G3 show at the Riviera. After getting settled at a table that the "Good Doctor" and his friend, Darren, had claimed we had a few beers (not to mention several toasts to Yngwie) and talked about the show in Detroit.

Then it was 7 pm, the lights went out and fog began to appear on stage signaling that Yngwie was ready to take the stage. When Yngwie hit the stage, he and his band began their set with Evil Eye and proceeded to up the ante with Baroque n Roll (complete with the intro to Ship of Fools). Then, it was time for his live solo which consisted of the Trilogy Suite Opus 5 (1st movement), Krakatau and Red House. After Yngwie finished his solo, he gave his bandmates a chance to shine with live solos of their own. First it was Joakim Svalberg on keys, then Mick Cervino ripped a solo on the bass and then Patrik Johansson hammered away on the drums. Then Yngwie treated us to the Fugue from the Concerto Suite. After all that, Yngwie brought an acoustic guitar and did another majestic solo which included Bach's Air on a G String which segued to Black Star. Yngwie ended his set with Far Beyond the Sun, the whole time blazing onstage like only Yngwie can. Yngwie, I think you should add this song as part of your encore for future tours in between Black Star and I'll See the Light Tonight. I've seen a number of Yngwie's shows, each time I thought there was no way Yngwie can top that (especially the infamous show in Cleveland a few years ago) and this time Yngwie stepped it up 20 notches.

After Yngwie and Co. took their bows and left the stage, it was time for Vai's set. I was looking forward to Steve Vai (especially after finding out that he recruited Billy Sheehan and Tony MacAlpine for the tour) and he put on a great show which he was pulling out all the stops like the 3 neck guitar, whammy bar tricks and using his tongue for certain notes. I only wish Tony had more space so he can shine.

After Vai was done with his set, Joe Satriani went onstage with his band which included former David Lee Roth bassist Matt Bissonette and kicked off his set with Satch Boogie. I loved the 2-handed solo he did live (reminded me of a solo that Dave Uhrich did on a CD many years ago). He also performed Always with Me Always with You and ended the set with the Summer Song.

Then Satriani invited Vai and Malmsteen return to the stage for the jam and it was one big guitar party onstage. Yngwie started the jam with Voodoo Chile and blazed it through. One thing I noticed, however, was that Satch was mixed a bit hotter than Yngwie (and even Vai). When it was Vai's turn, he opted for Little Wing and I was surprised that he's not that bad of a vocalist. Satch ended the night with Keep on Rocking in the Free World and the crowd was really into it (not to mention Satch, Vai and Yngwie were having a blast). After the final song was done Yngwie, Vai and Satch took their bows and the show was over around 11 pm. Satch and Vai have both earned my respect and admiration for getting onstage with Yngwie and putting on one helluva show. Maestro Malmsteen, what can I say but BRAVO and "I Can't Wait" 'til you return to Chicago for the Attack tour...

From Jeff: I was at the show on Friday Night and it was amazing. All three players kicked ass and delivered, as I expected, their best performances. I have been to G3 shows in the past, but nothing like this. Yngwie brought a new element that was missing in past performances... stage presence. Not to mention, Yngwie is the best third gun they could have brought on the road with them. John Petrucci and Eric Johnson are awesome players in their own right, but neither of them challenged Steve and Joe, like Yngwie did. Whether Joe or Steve admit to it or not, Yngwie brought out their best. Joe kicked ass on Friday. I have not seen him play that well since his early days. Steve was not too shabby himself. It did not hurt having a killer band backing him up on stage. God, what a lineup he had. And last but not least, Yngwie. He was definitely on his "A" game. His playing was flawless and could be felt across the room. I think he made some new fans after the show... especially after hearing a couple of people's reactions by the bar where I was hanging out at. They were floored by his technique and tone.

It's funny ....at the beginning of the show, a few fans in the crowd were talking shit about Yngwie... but after his performance, I think they changed their tune. I just wish they would admit Yngwie is an awesome player and whether they dislike his personality or style of playing, he still can't be touched by even the best of guitar players. Not to mention, he does not need effects to make himself sound good. His playing does all the talking. As I explained to some of they guys, Yngwie can plug into any amp and sound like Yngwie, but I doubt you could say they same for Joe or Steve... not knocking them of course. I hope Yngwie comes back to Chicago again, this time headlining for the "Attack" album. Yngwie... You are still the best guitarist around. Look forward to seeing you again. Play Loud!!! Jeff

From Michael "Mookie" Spitz:Allow me to qualify my observations of the G3 Show at the Riviera in Chicago last Friday by mentioning that I'm a huge Yngwie fan: I own two of his signature Fender Stratocasters, a dozen of his CDs, and actually try to learn his wonderful and wondrously complex compositions when I can. I was really bummed when his last Chicago show was canceled, and looked forward to this gig with tremendous anticipation.

Musically, I wasn't disappointed. I was totally into hearing Yngwie's oldies "Trilogy Suite," "Black Star" and "Far Beyond The Sun," bits from his concerto, and his latest "Baroque & Roll" -- And Yngwie, master that he is, didn't miss a note. That said, though, allow me to also bitch a bit about my hero. Although his karate kicks, guitar twirls and incessant hand & facial gestures were fun to watch at times, they took more away from his performance than added. In fact, I have to admit to being somewhat ashamed for my guitar god, especially when he showed up at the end of the show to jam with Satriani and Vai: Not only was Yngwie noticeably intoxicated, but his antics went from being kind of silly & endearing to being downright embarrassing.

Don't get me wrong: Yngwie's My Guy -- Which is why I feel compelled to write. Perhaps his keyboardist Jaokim put it the best, when he introduced Yngwie by referring to his Marshalls "going up to 11," an obvious homage to SPINAL TAP. Little did I know that Yngwie had actually morphed (at least in appearance) into that bad satire of an 80s metal player!

I've read some other reviews of the G3 tour on this web site, so know that I'm not alone in feeling this way. Can someone in the organization with any balls actually approach Yngwie and tell him that he doesn't have to prove anything out there? Can someone let him know that he's not 21-years-old and playing for ALCATRAZZ, but is pushing 40+, is now the equivalent of a guitar Grand Master, and need only stand there and play to blow us all away?

Having fun out there is one thing, but making a fool of oneself is another. I left that show feeling as though my favorite guitar genius had turned into a bizarre-looking idiot savant. So please, Yngwie, if you are reading this: Lose the Jimmy Page hairdo, the leather pants & long overcoat, the whole Ozzie-meets-Paganini persona, and reinvent yourself as, well, yourself: A monster on the electric guitar. Thanks for the awesome music, no hard feelings, and most definitely Rock On. Very sincerely, Michael "Mookie" Spitz, Chicago, Illinois

From Yigit Yazicioglu: It was an amazing musical event. How lucky we are to witness it. We had missed Yngwie a lot here because they had cancelled a concert in Chicago because of a dispute they had within the band a few years ago. We could not be at Riviera Theatre very early but somehow ended up on the third row when it started. First Yngwie came out and basically showed everyone how it is done. His band was really good. They played for an hour and afterwards I got the chance to meet Patrick and Joachim (very cool and friendly guys) but could not spot Mick or Yngwie.

Then Steve played for an hour. He came up with a strong lineup. Billy Sheehan was on the bass, Tony McAlpine was playing the keyboard and joining for the Guitar solos from time to time. Then Joe came and did his set for about an hour also. It was all very good. And when they jammed together it became only better.

Ah Yngwie. Everyone around me was simply amazed at his domination over the instrument. Even the ones that badmouthed him before the show. You should see them jump up and down for his guitar picks. What a hypocrisy!! Just before the jam started, one guy said to his friend he hates Yngwie. What a stupid thing to say. When he heard how nice he started playing Jimmie's Voodoo he just shut up and observed speechless for the rest of the jam session with his eyes fixed. I believe these people are a sad minority who don't know how to appreciate this kind of talent and feel so low and talentless when they see someone so skilled at doing what they do. It is a way of showing their jealousy. How bad. Thank you, Yngwie. Please keep playing.

OCTOBER 23, Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI

From the Good Doctor: A girl in the front row is preoccupied with filing her nails and snapping her bubble gum when, BANG, she takes one right between the eyes. Her girlfriend (or boyfriend, it doesn't matter) is reading a romance novel when, BANG-BANG, two of the offending missiles bounce off the cranial sac. They look at each other and then look down to see 3 (that's right, it's a math problem) Dunlop 1.5 mm Yngwie J. Malmsteen picks sitting on the floor. Hey, you might want to pocket those picks since they'll be collectors items in the future! One of the neophytes looks up and sees that there's a hummingbird flying up and down Yngwie's fretboard. The other one says "hey, wait a minute, I don't think that's a hummingbird, I think it's a human hand with human fingers and everything". Witness the baptism of the musical microcephalic by the incomparable Maestro, Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Such was the case at the Palace in Detroit last Thursday night. As the G3 tour rolls from town to town, similar scenes are played out night after night. Those casting aspersions toward Yngwie are either completely ignorant or completely jealous of the man's super-human talent.

Steve Vai and Joe Satriani are excellent players. Like Al Paiz (nice review my friend) said, I'm not that familiar with Vai's music but he is obviously immensely skilled and he is a veteran showman. Joe Satriani is a no frills player-- no pick flicking and no electric fan blowing his hair for the ethereal effect. Just a sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers and perfect guitar playing. The Satch Boogy is very cool.

The show was excellent with each player in the jam showing off his considerable talents and showing respect for their fellow player. Steve Vai's comments say it all-- a good time was had by all!!

From Al Paiz: I don't think there is any way I could adequately review this show, especially after reading Steve Vai's comments which you just posted. Possibly all that truly need be said is: DON'T miss this tour!! If you can bring yourself to look beyond the simple flurry of notes you're sure to hear from all three guitarists, and really feel the music, the vibe and enthusiastic energy these guys will display, it is quite a memorable experience.....I can agree with those who have mentioned the sound issue. Perhaps it has partly to do with what Yngwie has mentioned before, about Steve having more effects in his rack than Yngwie has in his entire studio. Steve and Satch's heavily processed sound just seem to cut through with a little more clarity than Yngwie's more raw, trademark Strat-thru-Marshall sound; but there are also many times when Yngwie hits the notes extra sweetly, and makes 'em sing like no one else can.....

This was my first time seeing Vai and Satch live, and seeing Yngwie play an arena. First I gotta say that I havent' been the biggest fan of Satch and Vai, because everything but one or two songs I've heard from them seemed to be very esoteric, and well, nice. But, to see these guys in concert, and witness that what they play in the studio, they are equally capable of playing live, may very well have swayed me. Just the right amount of intricacy/melody, and effects to only enhance the music. Secondly, It was soooo good to see Yngwie play an arena, with a wall of Marshalls. It was great to hear Krakatau, and a portion of the Concerto Suite, performed to perfection. As hard as Yngwie plays every song, never seeming to "go thru the motions" or look bored, we can always see when he reaches even further and wrings that extra last drop of emotion out of a passage or note.

The surprise for me was getting to hear what Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" would sound like with Yngwie joining in, on the shows' end jam. "Voodoo Chile" was THEE most bombastic and inspiring blues jam I've ever heard! And--the volume was AWESOME!! It will blow you away! Twice over! This one brought the house down, all the crowd really showed their appreciation for Yngwie's ripping it up on the guitar and vocals! As the three launched into their solos in this one, it was at this point I began to exerience what Steve had mentioned, and I literally thought to myself: "I am sooo lucky to be here..." I began to think of how lucky, in perhaps a now-ancient way, were those people that got to see Hendrix or the original Woodstock. This was my moment, where for me, time actually froze, and seeing the three of them jam together is like a photo in my memory. ~ "Screamin' Al" Paiz, Detroit, Mi.

OCTOBER 18, Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA

From Riq: I went to the show along with a friend,and I have to say that once again when my music endeavors were on the brink of death, Yngwie rekindled my desire for the guitar.The G3 show I saw is the best by far. Yngwie played with such a passion that it really touched us both. Especially myself. The man is a genius on the guitar,and I can say that I was extremely fortunate to witness his gift to us all once again. To no lesser credits, Vai and Satriani were awesome as well,and I was very impressed with the professionalism that they both treated Malmsteen with. I was very happy for Yngwie as he played for a new crowd that may not have heard of him, as well as for 'old fans' like myself. His ability to play his instrument is no less impressive than when I first heard him play almost twenty years ago when he inspired me to play guitar. His rendition of Hendrix totally left my friend and I speechless as I believe that this was the first time she has ever seen him perform! I was almost in tears as I was re-filled with a bit of his spirit! Thanks Yngwie for the inspiration you gave me again. It is such an invaluable gift that I'm sure you're not aware of giving to us fans each time you share your spirit with us. Thanks for rekindling my musical spirit again cause someday I'm gonna make it work. You're the best there ever was, is, and always will be. ~~a fan in Los Angeles~~ Riq

From Ron Gallagher: I recently relocated from Detroit to Los Angeles. This past Saturday night I attended the G3 show at the Greek Theatre. Just had to let you know that I totally enjoyed the show. Yngwie was in great form. He not only thoroughly entertained the audience, he also entertained Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. There were many times Vai and Satch could be seen smiling as they observed Yngwie performing.

I had been bragging up Yngwie to my band for a month in anticipation of this event. Yngwie came through with a brilliant performance. Next time you speak with Yngwie, please tell him how much this performance meant to a true fan. He came through for me in a big way and in doing so, he not only garnered new fans, he has inspired me to continue my own musical quest. Thanks for all your effort, Anne. All the best from a true and very inspired Yngwie fan.

From Tim Pencak: Yngwie put on a tremendous show at the Greek Theatre Los Angeles. First, it was a picture perfect night for a concert. A packed venue had the luxury of witnessing the maestro in action under a clear, starry Los Angeles sky.

Before Yngwie took the stage, one could sense a mystic purple glow from his wall of Marshalls. I could even hear whispers from the audience commenting on how his his Marshalls were picking up local radio signals. Yep, the stacks were all juiced! We all knew we were in for a loud one! As soon as the lights dimmed, Yngwie began tearing through scales at a lightning pace. -Almost as if he warmed up for hours. I still can't get over how rich and soothing his tone is.

Just as the lights began to glow, everyone gasped as this giant figure dressed in black stepped out of the fog and onto center stage. Yeah, it was Yngwie shredding on his improvised version of "Evil Eye." Some folks commented on his weird dress/ look, not realizing that his image is mysterious and dark like his idol, Nicolo Paganini. He played his heart out, playing the most beautiful and dramatic guitar work L.A. has ever witnessed. I overheard grown men commenting on how beautiful the close-ups of this guy's fingers looked on the big screen. He truly has a perfect and distinctive technique.

Props to the sound guy because Yngwie was crystal clear. Yngwie's stagehand must have been stressed because the maestro kept hurling his guitar at him. My question is, does Yngwie have a machine gun attached to the toe of his boot? He must have shot the audience with several hundred guitar picks! Vai put on a great show too. He definitely came off less cocky than Yngwie, having more than one really great musician in his band. The finale of the show was great. Yngwie can sing with soo much soul! His rendition of Voodoo Child was wicked cool! Props off to Yngwie! L.A. thanks you! -Tim Pencak

From Oscar Cruz: Thank you, Yngwie, for the greatest concert of my life. This was my first Yngwie show. I saw you at the Greek in Los Angeles. You did not disapoint. Your performance was outstanding! Especially during the jam when you sang "Voodoo Chile". Whoa! That was a real treat! I think they did you dirty though. Your volume for your leads was much lower than Satch and Vai's.

From Jeff George: Yngwie was very entertaining during his set and the jam set. I liked how he often signalled to somebody on the side of the stage to crank up his volume. His showmanship--flipping the guitar around his back, playing with his teeth, playing behind his back--is always fun to watch. I have to say I liked Yngwie's set list better than Steve's and Joe's. He incorporated a lot of surprises--like playing a song from the his concerto. Great variety. Maybe a little more on his nylon guitar next time! Definitely we'd like to hear "Leviathan". One major disappointment was the choice of jam songs. Joe, Steve, and Petrucci did the same ones in the last G3. This part of the show is supposed to be the big surprise for the fans and it was a letdown that my three favorite musicians didn't deliver something never done before. I really would have liked a Van Halen cover, with one of them opening a song with "Eruption". Two Jimi covers are a little too much. Nevertheless, the jam rocked! and it was a historic G3 with the best possible lineup.

From Rubshred Marron: Well, this was a great show, however the sound was bad at times, it seems that one of the drums mic's was off, way too much bass so you could barely hear the guitar at times. Yngwie's playing was good, I've seen him better in the past; it seems that he was having problems with his ability to hear himself thus making his timing off a bit and creating him to be a bit sloppy sounding. I was very impressed by Steve Vai who had the best sound overall, and Satriani had an excellent sound but the guitar level was way too low. The main jam was very cool, it's great to see Yngwie in the middle of a jam like that. They played "Rockin in a Free World" with Satriani on vocals, then "Little Wing" with Vai on vocals, then "Voodoo Child" with Yngwie on vocals, and a ZZ Top tune with Billy Sheehan on vocals. I saw Yngwie interact a lot more with Vai than with Satriani but I was happy to see Yngwie go and give Satch a big hug and pick him up off his feet from behind at the very end of the show. I last saw Yngwie when he opened for Dio about 2 years back or so and he was much more accurate and aggressive with his playing then. I waited about an hour and a half after the show and even though Yngwie did not stop to talk or take a photo he did allow everyone to get 1 item autographed one at a time as his wife would take them into the bus and come out with them signed. Overall a very good experience and I hope I don't have to wait another 3 years for Yngwie to come out to the west coast again. Yngwie fan forever, Rubshred

From Aaron R. : Just got back from the G3 at the Greek!!! Yngwie was so awesome!! sucks because his volume was low; when Steve and Joe came out theirs was much louder...but when they jammed Yngwie owned them, and to top it off I met Yngwies wife!!! and his drummer!! and get ready for this, Mark Boals!!! He was in a school of people leaving and I spotted him and talked to him for a bit . Such an awesome night, thanks Yngwie!!! Aaron from Pasadena, California

From Armen M. : I just came back from the show at the Greek Amphitheater in L.A. First I want to say that Yngwie kicks ass!!! He was great, he did the guitar spin-around, he rubbed the guitar on his ass, hahaha, he broke the strings with his fingers...ouch! It was a great show. Some things I would have liked to improve was we couldn't hear the bass drums during the songs. The bass solo was unnecessary but I enjoyed it none the less, and the overall volume was pretty low.

What happened to Yngwie's singer? They didn't play any of my favorites like Vengeance, Never Die, Seventh Sign. What happened, Yngwie??? Its ok, I don't mind, the show was great as hell, he was shredding violent solos all over the place. I was getting an Orgasm just listening to Yngwie play, haha.

We left after Yngwie's ....SHORT....set was over. Satch and Vai are good guitarists at the least, but they're just not my thing. Malmsteen is the best...yeah!!! This was the first time I had seen Malmsteen and I was impressed, the finger frenzied fret melter blew me away! You got my vote on all time shredder Yngwie. Everyone's counting on you! God Bless

OCTOBER 17, Chronicle Pavilion in Concord, CA

From Sandi Banducci: First, it has been a great month, Def Leppard played here just two weeks before, and I had the opportunity to see that concert as well. This afforded me the opportunity to be more objective in the review, after all, aren't these all “Hard Rock”, formerly “Heavy Metal,” concerts?Unfortunately, I was ten minutes late, and of course the issue of running up the walkway to the actual amphitheatre left me a bit winded. (hey, at 55 I should be home, crocheting) I missed the Yngwie opening and all the glory!!! Darn…

However, once I sat down, I began to enjoy the show, and Yngwie did not disappoint his fans. Bearing in mind I am a bit prejudiced on this, I always think he is great. One thing I noticed about the audience two weeks before and this audience, no one stood up during the performance. Everyone was glued to the artist, or watching the monitors, and I was sitting fairly close. These people are serious about watching the excellent guitar work, whereas Def Leppard lead the masses in having fun. And there is nothing wrong with that either.

Yngwie played pretty much all instrumental pieces, which I am very familiar with, including a piped-in orchestra piece from the Concerto Suite, I felt the sound was a bit muffled, but the audience just loved it. That is another issue about the Pavilion, even the Def Leppard concert had some sound issues, and so did the G3 gang. I will admit, the all-instrumental he played in SF the last time I saw him, when he opened for DIO, was very very good. Hard to compare..

One thing that was very evident about this concert, Yngwie still does the “heavy metal” persona (and his hair is much longer than Joe Satriani’s!!) which a lot of us ole faithful really want to see. He loved the audience and they loved him. After his set was finished, we were graced with the “Yngwie Yngwie” chant, similar to “bravo bravo”, one would hear at a classical performance.

Steve Vai was excellent, he had Billy Sheehan as his bass player and he was really rockin’ as well. Overall I felt Steve Vai had an excellent performance. Steve Vai had a much more sophisticated set with a great amount of variety, and I enjoyed it very much. He began his set sitting down with a three-neck guitar and slowly built up the pace. Reminded me of the Bolero scenario. It works!!! I loved his glasses, so down to earth!!

If I had to classify all three of these guys it would be: Yngwie, the Classical and classic metal god, Steve Vai, a new age brand of metal, and Joe Satriani the blue collar entry into the mix. Joe has his fans, and the majority of the masses were there for him. Ah, but Yngwie had an impact too!

Joe Satriani is a very great guitarist, and his guitar picking was very good, in fact I would say as fast as Yngwie. However, there is something missing which I could not figure out. I am sure it is just due to my own personal taste, or the charisma. When you compare the great balletomanes, such as Nureyev and Barishnikov, is it the technique or the soul? Each is to the individual taste. Technically, he is wonderful, very cordial to the audience and it was just like he invited you to his garage for a jam session. Yngwie is like being invited to a concert hall.

The finale was really something else, it was like being hit with a sound wall similar to a tsunami. Three guitars just blasting a kazillion amount of notes in seconds, was very overpowering. Yngwie was having a blast, his smile was non-stop as they were playing dueling guitars. I think he liked the jamming as much as his own performance. He was surrounded by kindred spirits. However, they were plagued with electrical issues and Yngwie had problems getting his microphone to work. They all took it in good stride however, and the show finished with many smiles in the audience and on stage.

While the performance was absolutely wonderful, I was hoping they would have played each other’s songs together and expanded the finale. All in all, it was a great performance to have the privilege of attending.

From Jamie Steele: Hello ya'll, just had to say something here. The concert in Concord was definitely kick ass. I never had a better time (Even at the Paul McCartney concert). I had never seen Yngwie play before and he was the "one" I went to see primarily. I'm not sure I can accurately describe what the concert did to me but I will try. I was lifted to new heights. I was sent in a flurry of orgasm with every note in every song. My own passion for creating and being a part of music (formerly wilted and crushed) has been renewed and invigorated by Yngwie. I cried, I screamed. But now all I am left with is the memory of and the burning hunger in my soul. No single act has ever moved me and/or changed my life like this. Four days later and I am still reeling. Yngwie - Thank you ! Please come back and play for us again ! (Preferably a smaller venue).

From Tor Andersson: Yesterday I attended the show at Concord and I was as blown away. I arrived a little late just when Yngwie came on. I've heard and read a lot of complaints on the sound during the previous shows but as far as I'm concerend YJM sounded just as good as always. I think he did the Fugue from his Concerto Suite Op.1 which was very powerful, Far beyond the Sun, Red House (Joakim did an awesome keys solo during that), Trilogy Suite & Black Star with acoustic intro that made all YJM lovers cry of happiness. Patrick & Mick did their own solos as well and must say Patrick's double bass drumming was precision all the way.

Then Steve was on with a very skilled performance (played a tripple neck during opening) though I'm normally not a big fan of his music. His band was extremly tight with some worldclass musicians Billy Sheehan, Tony McAlpine etc. During one of the last songs of his set Steve, Tony, Billy gathered in a group and played each others fretboards which was pretty amazing. Joe was brilliant, probably received the biggest welcome from the audience this evening (maybe because of his huge local fan base). He played with such emotion and clarity in a way that no one else can. Also very tight band.

As for the jam session at the end.. Yngwie ruled during Rocking in the Free World with amazing heavy rythm and razor sharp solos. They also did Little Wing which Vai started out very beautifully. ZZ Top's La Grange was amazing with Yngwie ripping some true world class blues solos. To bad that Steve & Joe's guitar's where so loud that it was sometimes hard to hear YJM's playing. finally I would like to say that Yngwie was without question my favorite, not only music wise but he knows how to enetertain a crowd. Also want to thank Yngwie for some brilliant ATTACK concerts in Europe earlier this year. God Bless!

OCTOBER 15, Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA

From John Douglas: Yngwie, your playing is totally awesome... flying speed-sweeping and classical modal reminisces.... truly phenomenal!!

Have you ever gone to a restaurant, and began eating the food only to have the "chef" march up in absolute pride and begin boasting triumphantly about His Cooking... How so much better than any other cook is, and how no person can compare... it begins to make the food less impressive, and the taste begins to be magnified as to discover some bland aspects. Pretty soon, you forget the food, and begin to notice the arrogance of this person exalting himself beyond compare.

In other words, Yngwie... you are a phenomenal player. But your show with G3 in Seattle obviously had a magnified "boasting" that left your "food" average. I have always been impressed with your playing ability, but you theatrical stage ego took the impressiveness right off of the musical performance. This was my impression several years ago, and sadly enough it still rings true today. What happened to simply playing and showing your emotions while you play?

Now I understand the theatrics that should be incorporated to keep the visual interest, but not so much that the guitar twirling, pick-hurling and pick-kicking are performed so often that it gets visually disturbing. At G3, you did it so much that I forgot that you were playing (not to mention your sound had so much single coil high end that would make a cat shudder). The whole time you played, I wanted to get up to you to say "Calm down man!!, you are among people that like you, you don't have to impress them... just play for them!!".

Well, needless to say... I continued to watch you clamor for the light and the attention as I shuddered to think "is this really what he is trying to accomplish? Has it been that tough to convince people that he can play??" I even watched as you tried to flash your way with the guys as if they were more in the way of your image than what was seemingly important to them or the show.

I know that this is stiff critique, but man... you are an "excellent chef" of musical prowess. A formidable "Iron Chef". Don't blow it by being so damned arrogant. In fact, I am willing to lay odds that you aren't that way in "real" life, but I will never know, will I. For now, I will enjoy your music and your ability to be the electric Bach, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky on guitar, but I don't think I will go to see you anytime soon (unless perhaps you are again with other Iron Chefs). Peace and God Bless. John Douglas, Seattle

OCTOBER 11, Humphrey's By The Bay, San Diego, CA

From Carole Johnson-Wolff: We went to see the G3 show on 10/11 at Humphrey's. We were excited to see Yngwie, as it's been at least 8-10 years since he played here last. He came out first, and it was AWESOME to see him!!! He got a great reception and a lot of us stood up and yelled and screamed when he appeared. He launched right in to playing and he seemed like he was really having fun. The audience was really impressed with him. Personally, I think it may have been an off-night for him, as I've seen him play cleaner, but he still kicked butt. He played a lot of old songs and the crowd loved those. He played one selection from the Concerto Suite with recorded background music, which seemed a little cheesy to me, but the audience reacted well to it. He sang a Jimi Hendrix song....I think it was Red House? Unfortunately, the sound was uneven all night, and while we could hear his guitar and the other instruments very well, we could hardly hear his singing. Bummer. But I've got to tell you, when he played "Black Star," I almost cried, for a minute I was back in my living room in the 1980s, hearing it for the first time and going, "WOW!" I LOVE that guy!!!

The whole show was excellent. We thought the tickets were sort of expensive when we bought them a month or so ago, but man, it was so worth the money!! Yngwie was excellent, Steve Vai was wonderful, and Joe S. was certainly proficient, if a tad on the dull side. I think Yngwie's set had the best sound all night. The levels were good for him, except for his mic. Steve Vai's guitar could hardly be heard for some of his set, but MAN, what a band he had!!! After a near-riot by the audience, they finally turned his guitar up, and after that it sounded pretty good. Joe Satriani was too loud, and my ears were ringing when we got home, but it was worth it. Plus, I caught one of Joe's picks, which is always cool. I have to tell you that we had a couple of young boys sitting behind us, who were probably around 11 or 12 years old. They were there to see Joe, but during Yngwie's set they kept gasping and saying things like, "WOW! How does he do that??" I got a kick out of that - a new crop of fans!!

The jam at the end of the show was a little bit rough, of course that is the nature of a jam, and it was so early in the tour, I imagine they'll get more comfortable as time goes by. There are a lot of upcoming dates to come! Yngwie didn't seem real comfortable with sharing the stage, but again, he seemed thrilled to be there, very enthusiastic. They played a couple Jimi Hendrix songs during the jam, Little Wing first, and after a slight glitch of Yngwie having an equipment problem, he launched into a ripping version of Voodoo Chile. He and Joe and Steve traded off playing, and it was a happy mix of players. The show was over too quickly and there was no encore. I'd go again if I could!

From Jason 'the Viking' Halvorsen:Well, I arrived at Humphrey's for the sound check. I walked in just as Yngwie started his Check, He then played Baroque and Roll, Deep purple into the fire it was still being worked out. He slipped into Bach Orchestral Suite. He played this with a passion and I was so happy> Next more bach, then Yngwie asked me Red House or Voodoo Child. The cry went out - Jimmie Hendrix Voodoo Child, now the best for last he played a cut from the concerto I think it was the fugue. This was what I call a killer sound check. My friend and I were blown away as always.

I did not have a ticket So we went out side to collect what was left of us. I then said to my friend, the pool is right next to the backstage and we made a beeline for the pool. well, we found a table right next to Yngwie's Motel suite. I sat down and not more than a moment later we were joined by Joakim and Patrik they said hi and I said join us. We sat and talked for over one hour. Joakim and I like the same key board players, Patrick Moraz, Rick Wakeman, and I told him about Jorgen Fritz from Triumverat. He was into Gental Giant and as so with me. Patrik was talking to my friend and they are into the dark metal so it was a perfect pairing Joakim and me talking about classical and Patrick and my friend Ickabod all into the Norse metal.

So now it is time for the gig and I do not have a good feeling about getting in. It was a sellout. No big deal, we went straight back to the table by the pool where we could hear everything and see backstage. Well, Yngwie did a blistering set, the solo was God-speed and he did part of the concerto so he was out for fifteen minutes without the band. They played far beyond the sun, evil eye, Baroque and roll, and a part of Speed ball. Yngwie was on fire. He came off stage after his solo and I went over to him and said kick ass solo - it was one off the best I have ever heard. Better than twenty years ago when I first met him. So I am being a Viking and yelling Norse war cries at Yngwie and his band from the backstage - too funny. Hey, I am there for him because Yngwie has worked his ass off to get my neverending support.

Well the set ends too soon and I even had Yngwie playing and turning so I could still see him from my somewhat blocked view point; it was so classic, he is so cool and funny. He did all this guitar on the amp stuff and I could see it perfectly, and he looks at me and I am yelling "Yngwie rules" - I could not help myself, and he was really playing like a Viking guitar Shredasaurus Rex. Well, I was real happy and it could have been a little better with a better view, but you cannot have it all in life, so it worked out better than I could ever expect.

I think Joakim is a fine new member to the band, and he is one of the best people I have ever met in the music world. I think Yngwie has found himself one hell of a new band and these new Vikings are right up my alley. After Yngwie only Mozart or Paganini would lift me to the next level. I think Yngwie is on fire and April told me that Attack was signed to a major label. Please correct me if I am wrong. I told April it is about time that the major labels wake up and sign the best guitar player on earth. I told her that is the best news and it was about time. Well, I will see them all at the Greek on Saturday and it will be one of the best stops on the tour. In the love of Yngwie, Mozart, Paganini and Bach, All the Best, Jason the Viking Halvorsen

OCTOBER 10, House of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada

From Ricardo Zavala: YNGWIE WAS PHENOMINAL! HANDS DOWN THE BEST GUITAR PLAYING ON THE TOUR, THE SOUND OF HIS GUITARS AND ACCURATE SPEED MADE THE JAWS DROP TO THE FLOOR. ALL THREE WERE GREAT, BUT YNGWIE TOOK THE CAKE NO DOUBT!! THANK YOU YNGWIE AND TOURING STAFF! AS ALWAYS ANNE AND APRIL YOU'RE EXTREMLY NICE!!!!!!!!! SEE YOU GUYS SOON

OCTOBER 9, Dodge Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona

From Jerry Campos: HERE IS A PICTURE OF YNGWIE AFTER THE G3 SHOW IN PHOENIX, AZ . I MET YNGWIE AND NOW I CAN DIE HAPPY. IT WAS A GREAT SHOW THAT BLEW AWAY THE FANS OF THE THREE GREAT GUITAR PLAYERS. YOUR HUGE FAN, JERRY

From Alan Gonzales: I just wanted to let you know that Yngwie rocked Arizona last night with a vengeance!!! I took several pictures and hope to have them ready on my computer in the next 3 days. The Dodge Theatre in Phoenix would not allow digital cameras, but did let people take disposable cameras inside. I’ll e-mail the pictures to you soon. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they came out fine. I was in the 3rd row from the stage, so I had a decent shot at capturing Yngwie in action. I just wish I had a zoom lens. I asked Yngwie if he would be coming out to Arizona again for his Attack! Tour and he said he would. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that he will.

TOUR PHOTOS: CLICK HERE