Sorry it took so long for this one…..its been a weird few weeks. Anyway…the extra time has given me a chance to think a little bit about my experience over these 3 days of platinum fun. In the morning I was checking my email to find out that I was one of the winners of the after show meet and greet in Milwaukee. All I can say is that i laughed so hard that I couldn’t breathe. I mean ….I get these 3 days for my birthday from my wife, and now THIS!!!! OMG!!! Someone up there must like me. I guess all these years of being a loyal fan finally paid off. Anyway…..the night was just as awesome as all the others if not better. When I got there john Iverson, the V.I.P manager saw me and called me over. Now at this point we were on a first name basis (too cool). He said to me “terry since you’re a veteran now, I need help” he hands me all the laminated passes and has me hand them out to all the other platinum and gold ticket buyers while he calls out their names. Wow I felt like I was on tour with them. So we do our neat little stage tour and take all the awesome pix, and right before we walked off the stage John handed me a copy of Joe’s set list, smiled and walked away. John I can’t thank you enough for being so great to me. The time comes for us to wait outside until the H.O.B crew is done with setup. I had the opportunity to meet some really great people over the span of this journey and I came to a conclusion. I’m not the only out there that that has been impacted by Joe’s music in a profound manner. Now I don’t want to come across as having a religious experience every time a pop in surfing or flying. But I now know that there are other people that feel like they get a battery re-charge when they listen to great music like Joe’s. Ok….so the time comes for us to go in and I get my “usual” spot my Joe’s mic stand (this is the main reason to get platinum tickets). I talk with my fellow brethren about all the usual guitar geek stuff (favorite guitars, amps, unknown artists) until the curtain goes up and Joe’s comes out. The first two nights I used ear plugs on and off throughout the show, but on this night a decided to let my eardrums take in everything unimpaired. And that’s when I noticed something. Geeze those new peavey’s sound awesome. Joe’s tone is so sweet for having so little EFX. I will get one of those one day (or die trying). Satch ripped through the first 3 songs perfectly. I realized that “time” is one of those underrated songs that I wish Joe would add to the regular set of hits. Its so powerful and ends to gracefully. I love hearing hordes of locusts. That song will never get played out for me. When the second half started I in a trance listening to the first 4 songs (sleepwalk, starry night, Moroccan sunset, bamboo). Joe just closes his eyes and lets it flow out of him.

I promised to talk a little more about why I like searching so much. The reason is two things. First: the song has natural arc to it that over the course of 10 minutes or so takes on the form of two songs in one. It is this powerful & epic hook in the beginning and end. And two: it is this jam song that seems to give Joe the chance to stretch his legs a little and not be so conformed to playing it like it sounds on the album. The song was different every night. And I love that part of Joe’s playing the most. Seeing him just play what his head and heart tells him to. That’s why I’m a fan, for moments like that.

After the show we went upstairs and on this night I brought my JS1000 to get signed (I drove back to Milwaukee the night before to get it). When Joe picked it up he looked at it for a second and turned to me and said “hmmm this feels kind of familiar” and smiled. I pulled a printout of the email I got that morning out of my pocket and asked him if he was conspiring with my wife for my birthday on this one to. He read it, laughed and said he was very happy for me. He finished signing my things and we said our goodbye’s. as I was walking away Joe turned around and said “I’ll see ya in Milwaukee terry” all I can say is I had a cheesy grin on my face for the next 2 days.

EVERYONE LISTEN UP!!!! If you have the chance to get a platinum ticket DO IT!!! Not enough other bands do this kind of thing for they’re fans.

To John Iverson thanks for a great experience and I was a pleasure getting to know you.

To Joe Satriani thanks for doing this and thanks for using your talent to its fullest.

To alllllll the other fans out there make an effort to introduce one person a month to Joe’s music. This is something we have to keep going. I love seeing fathers take their kids to satch’s shows, it’s so great to see someone realize there is something other than the processed crap that the music media feeds us out there.

Peace Terry E.

caught the opening nite at.HOB, it was the 13th time . JOE .kicked my ass.,,again,, and the closer.sat. was even better. sound really tuned in, and less crouded. both set list the same. (new red 1).........up in the skys, house full of bullets, cool#9.(new intro) (chrome boy.).....gnaahh, time , karma (white1.)......... ..if i could fly , i like the rain , the traveler (chrome boy)......hordes, summer song -----break----- (white 1)......... sleepwalk. starry night, moroccan sunset, bamboo. strange. (red 1)............ .searchin , hands in air , psycho monkey,. is there love in space, war , blue dream --encore- (chrome boy.)......always , surfin......

simply amazing.