i've been going to satch's shows since i was 15 (i'm 28 now) and have been a fan since surfing with the alien first came out. i remember first hearing "always" and "echo" on the steve dahl and gary meier radio show back in the late 80's (it was the're intro and outtro music) wondering who could create such sounds from a guitar. and now i've gotten to the point where i get as much enjoyment out of him as i get out of bringing new people to see him. and tonight was no exception. i brought a friend from my work who claimed to be a "huge rock guitar fan". he has seen eddie van halen, kirk hammet, and even SRV all in the're prime. and when i asked him if he knew who joe was he said" yeah he's that guy who play's all those instrumentals, he's not bad but i doubt he could hold a candle to EVH or SRV". so i asked him to join me on one condition. that he be willing to give satch a shot at the title as "best" in his opinion. now understand this is not the first time i've done this, and each time satch has won the "non believer" over.........well tonight joe continued his undeafeated streak. i'm was sooo excited to hear the all the new stuff. ITLIS was amazing live. it has a very cool vibe live, up in flames was heavy as hell. and flying in a blue dream makes me forget about the everything in the universe for a while. but the song of the night for me was "always". now understand that this song has a little more meaning for me than the average fan, considering it was the first dance at my wedding for me and my wife. not to mention its the reason i first went out and bought a guitar 15+ yrs ago, i had to learn it (but i still can't play it with joe's feeling) the way he ended it seems to finally give the song a proper "live" ending. the only regret for joe's set i had was the hope that he would play searching, i know it was a long shot but i pray he play's it on his solo tour. that being said, anyone who reads this stupid little review that lives in chicago or milwaukee, please ................PLEASE!!!......request it for his set list when he comes back in october. this is a song that would be KILLER live.

now on to the rest of the review: THIN LIZZY: not bad. they had a good energy level and the drummer was kick ass. but i think they fall into one of those bands that survive on the nostalga of the past and don't really try to move forward. now granted this is a re treaded lineup and a shadow of the old gary moore / phil lynott era. but as artists they seemed like they were there for a paycheck and to be the center of attention (for the small crowd still filing in).

DEEP PURPLE: .......the thing i love about bands like deep purple is that they still feel like they are progressing as artists, yes they played the majority of the're set using the old catalog of classics they are known for, but the few cuts they played off the new album "bananas" was freakin cool. it sounded like a natural progression that fits right in with everything that they are known for from decades ago. the title trak is reason enough for me to go out and (gulp!!) buy the're new album(i don't buy much new music). i would also like to add that ian gillian is one of the best old school front men around, ya gotta love a guy that walks out of stage wearing what looked like white baggy pajamas and no shoes, and proceeds to strut around stage like he own's the place., and funny enough......by the end of the night he did!.......at least in the fans eyes.

ohhh one last thing.....ya know my buddy from work who thinks eddie van halen in god......yup ....you guessed it.......he admitted to me that joe could "wipe the floor with eddie, stevie and kirk....plus still have enough energy left over to run a marathon"

thanks again joe !!!

ps.....rest in peace SRV....for what its worth, i think you were a gift from god.