My first ever G3 gig! It was an amazing night and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I was a little disappointed at people's reception of Robert Fripp. I'd never heard him before the gig so listened to some King Crimson and was thoroughly impressed. Maybe what he played on the night didn't exactly match up to what Steve and Joe were playing but I gave it a chance and ended up enjoying it. Shame about the people heckling. Maybe to get a little bit more respect from the crowd however, he could have been in the centre of the stage. I was surprised how he hid in the corner and didn't acknowledge the audience at the beginning or end of his piece.

Steve completely blew me away...it was everything I expected and more. Not to mention his band...they too were excellent. I was sitting in the choir section, behind the stage but really close so I was really appreciative when Steve and Joe regularly turned round to wave and play to us too. The looks and smiles I got from them made my evening. Joe's set was awesome as well. I was so glad they did always with me, always with you and satch boogie and from what i heard on the night i'm definitely gonna go out and buy the new album (even on my limited teenage budget :-p)

The G3 jam totally rocked as well, though maybe could have been longer but I knew time was limited and people needed to be out by 11. It was such a great touch to play some crimson and the night ended perfectly with singing along to 'rocking in the free world'. I was disappointed I couldnt stay and try and get some autographs (I brought all my satch, vai, and g3 cds with me in the hope of maybe getting one signed) but because of the tube strike we had to mission it back to victoria station before the last train. thanks so much for making it such a memorable evening.

<edit: from reading other peoples' reviews the sound gets mentioned a lot but I can honestly say I thought the mix was fine from where I was sitting behind the stage in the choir section, though in a building such as the RAH i can understand that the mix may have sounded different in other sections of the hall.>

Dear Joe, ALBERT HALL GIG UK sorry to give you and others a 5 for the show but the sound out front of house was rubbish. steve vai's set was really bad as the drums and bass just wasn't there in the mix. i think the sound guy started to hear fans shouting at him in the end as about 3 or 4 songs in on joe's set, the bass and drums started to come through but still wasn't great. it was a shame as we could see you all playing your hearts out but the sound wasn't as good as it could of been.

. Just read the review on the vai site, it wasn't just the albert hall gig. sorry to be negative but thats how alot of us felt nlj ps. sack the sound man! pps. come back soon and proove us wrong....

This is a long sad story but it is almost a day after the show and I am still pissed off!

I love Steve and Joe's music and it has been my dream for years now to see them live. I flew all the way from South Africa (15 hrs. connecting via Dubai) for this show as they have never performed there. I have all of their cd's and DVD's (which are trully difficult to get there) and was expecting one hell of a show!

My sister could play better than Robert Fripp and she has never touched a guitar! He may be good in his other band ( I would definately not purchase a cd, not now anyway) but at the show I pissed myself laughing at what he was doing!

Steves sound was shit but I love what he does and was made aware of the fact that he was very ill by his wife, whom I met earlier that day. (understandable)

Joe was an absolute master and blew me away with his awsome sound and performance.

What really pissed me off though was the fact that I stood at the stage door from 10:30 am to meet them for an autograph and a photo And kissed about twenty peoples arses for information on how to get a signature out of them. All I received was snide smirky comments like I dont know or you need to know someone who knows someone.' I met Dave W. but he was trying to look too cool infront of his girlfriend chloe to give a shit about a true fan and could not understand me when I asked for a pass to get my heros signatures. Band members actually laughed and thought it was funny that 'this idiot so badly wants to meet with Joe and Steve'

After watching the show I waited at the stage door till 01:30am only to learn that Joe had already left! All I wanted was for him to put his bloody name on my ticket and to take a photo with him! I have invested so much money in these guys and felt it was a slap in the fans faces, how these chaps seemed too tired to look after the remaining +/- 20 fans left waiting for them.

I wont ever travel such a distance to see them again as my being a fan seemed like a joke to them. I still adore these guys but will from now on watch them on DVD in my TV room at home.

Thanks for the wonderful experience.

Quintin

I was lucky enough to be sitting in a private box for this performance. My dad has always like Joe and G3... so i decided to go along with him to the concert and the music totally blew me away!! (my ears are still ringing 2 days on) It was amazing, and it has imspired me to start playing my guitar alot more.

Sarah xxxxx

This was my first ever Satch gig, first G3 gig. I spent hard earned cash to be insulted for 30minutes by a synthesized soundscape i could produce on a PC. I cannot play the guitar as well as JS or SV. I went to see the stuff i cannot do, not be sent to sleep. It ruined the whole event. Several years ago i had a ticket, and my wife went into hospital and i missed the gig, so this was something i was really excited about. Mr Fripp ruined it.

And on a personal note Joes stuf was great but lets have some more of the mellow tunes toooooo please

Hmmm, interesting, do you only put good reviews up onto the website ?

Well that's very strange 'cos when I got in last night from what has to be the poorest gig I've ever been to, I posted the following review and it never appeared :-

Note to Messers Satriani, Vai and Sheehan :-

at the soundcheck, go FOH and listen to what the punters, the PAYING punters, are gonna hear !

I'm so disappointed and not a little angry that I've just walked in from the show, it's now 1:15am and I've just got to get this off my chest. The sound tonight was absolutely apalling - when Steve started his set, my mate and I turned to each other in disbelief - there was no bass in the mix. There was Billy Sheehan up on stage, one of THE best bass players in the world and you couldn't hear him. Neither could you hear the drum kit and at times the whole mix just descended into mush.

It had taken me nearly two and a half hours to get to the show (and two hours to get back), not to mention the GBP30.00 for a ticket and the whole thing was a joke.

I'm so disappointed 'cos Joe is my absolute hero, I have loads of his stuff on CD, I buy the tab books and instructional stuff, he is THE man and Steve is equally awesome and it's the first time I've actually seen him live but what a disappointment. The FOH engineer needs to be sacked, turning everything up to 11 is not how you mix.

Joe's set was very disappointing, apart from the appalling sound, had the band had a big row before going on stage ? It was a very by the numbers set, although it pains me to say it...and by the way Joe, ditch the Peavey amp and go back to Marshall.

The other thing is...what the hells up with Robert Fripp ? I'd read some very unflattering reviews of his set but I went there open-minded and it was OK, definitely not worth the heckling from certain idiots in the crowd but why sit almost off stage. He didn't even take a bow at the end...can't he walk or something ?

I'm sure Steve and Joe will never read these postings but it's a real shame 'cos they need to know that the FOH sound is way, way below the standard they should expect.

Sorry for the bad vibes.

Peace.

I've been waiting to see Joe and Steve for 8 years now, and last nights gig was just what I expected! Both fantastic players with great stage presence. I had a spot on view where I could see what the guys were doing on stage with their foot pedals etc. Standout songs from Vai: Whispering a Prayer, Answers, For the Love of God, Giant Balls of Gold.

Satch rocked the house with plenty footstompers: I Like the Rain, Cool *9, Flying in a Blue Dream, Always, and War which is my favourite. Although I would have enjoyed Summer Song.

I think the sound levels could have been controlled better, as it was LOUD!! But good loud.

Thanks for a GREAT evening guys!!

Well what can i say this is my first G3 show and it was one of the most amazing things i have ever seen live. Im very undecided on fripp, after 10 mins of his whale impressions i went 4 a quick beer and a fag, i wasnt the only one out there with the same idea. vai was unreal loved the three necked at the begining, havent heard much of his stuff before but i shall be looking more in to his music after last night. Brilliant..... Satch, U THE MAN. He played a blinder made my day, im quite new to his music, only wish i had found it 10 years ago. i walked out of there with a smile from ear to ear. Hope we see u back in england very very soon. Thanks for a superb evening.

P.S PLEASE............................... Did anyone get photos of the show that wouldnt mind getting copies of. My battery went flat in my camera before the show. Not impressed. A quick message to let me know would be so much appriciated. Thanks. (Entwistle17@hotmail.com)

G3 London 2004.

I turned up at door 1 of the Albert hall and waited to go in at around 7pm. This door is right next to the stage door and out walks Vai's drummer Jeremy Colson. Not a single person standing in the queue recognized him. He walked past us all and sat down in a doorway. I walked over and asked him if it was OK to take a picture of him with my son and he was absolutely fine about it. I returned to the queue and from the same stage door, out walks Vai's guitarist Dave Weiner. Same thing happened, I asked for a picture and he obliged. I jokingly asked if he had any spare meet & greet passes to give away, he searched his pockets and pulled out 1 backstage pass. Yessssssssssssss!!!

I went in and watched the show, I had already seen G3 in bournemouth:

Fripp: I couldn't see him from where I was seated on the left but he played great for 30 minutes.

Vai: Awesome again. He plainly enjoyed playing the Albert hall.

Satriani: Great energetic show, he was running around all over the place.

G3 Jam: Great feeling toward the end, all three players played great.

After the show I made my way to the meet & greet and as I only had 1 pass (kindly donated by Dave Weiner), I gave it to my son. As I stood outside the room waiting for my son to come out, Robert Fripp walked past me. I complimented him on his playing and he said thanks. I was then asked to leave the building by security. I politely explained that I was waiting for my son to come out so they did a quick check and decided to let me in as well. Yessssssssssss!!!

I then got to meet Satch, Vai and the rest of the musicians in the bands.

At the end of the evening I went to drive home only to find that my car was locked inside Hyde Park. Initially I'd resigned myself to sleeping in the car until the gates open at 6am, but the police saw me and decided to let me out.

All in all a great evening. I gave this gig a 10 because the whole thing was a major musical highlight for me.

Tony