Dave LaRue, his Bongo and Joe Satch

[Roubster]

Well, last night I caught a Joe Satriani concert in NYC at some kind of a new venue called Nokia Theater. It's actually a really nice place, fairly small and pretty intimate and the floor was open so I was basically RIGHT up front in front of Satch. Also I am glad that I am tall, because I can see past the shorter people in front of me. Anyway, Eric Johnson opened up for Satch which was good. He's a good player and can really play that strat, but his stage presence kind of sucks (lol).
Well, when Satch came out, that's what it was all about with the God of Thunder on his side, the all mighty Dave LaRue. I tell you, he was freakin AMAZING as always. It seems like Dave has been playing with Satch this whole time his whole career. He nailed everything unbelievably, and made everything sound better than Matt Bissonet and even Stu Hamm. And of course Dave was playing his beautiful EB Bongos!!!! The first one he played for couple songs was a 5 stringer in Burnt Apple, and for the rest of the show he used his awesome Blue Dawn Bongo4. The whole show was great, with A LOT of improvising from Satch of course but Dave was just amazing following everything Joe was doing. Joe's Peavey JSX heads sounded really goo, but I wish the guy played some Balls .

 

[Norrin Radd]

Arghhhhhh! Every time I read a review of this tour I get more depressed they are not coming here!!! Gahhhhhh!!!!!!!

I too wish Joe played EBMM, seems like he's always tweaking his current guitars, what with new pickups, etc....all the time. Would be nice if he had a high quality axe to just go with..............

 

[Adwex]

Cool review, thanks. I wanted to go, but I was supposed to be away on business. My trip was postponed, so I could've gone to the show. I can't believe he played NYC on a Thursday. C'mon Joe, wassup with that?

 

[CudBucket]

Roubster, I could have been standing right next to you. I was right up front in front of Satch too.

BTW, Satch already plays a good guitar. I know we love EBMM guitars but let's be real: If it's good enough for Joe Satriani...

 

[kbaim]

I'm gonna be at 1 of these shows this tour. Sometime in May...when they're warmed up.

 

[Colin]

I too wish Joe played EBMM

 

[Katana6506]

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I think he needs to get a new guitar, just like this one!

 

[adambilz]

I got to see them last night in Boston and I HAD to tell Dave how beautiful that Bongo was! The blue finish went all the way UP the neck!! It was stunning, not to mention ballsy deep tone! Simply amazing.
Just a side note, Eric Johnson must have had some uppers for this show because he was rocking out and moved around a lot more than I have ever seen him!

 

[kbaim]

Must be very strange for Joe to pick up a guitar with no whammy.

I've always loved his vibrato technique and tone.

 

[akozols]

I'm going this Wed night in Philly.. Can't wait. I'll post a review...........

Al

 

[Thirdpole]

I just got back from the show in Montreal tonight. Super performance by Joe. Why are his JSX always on the (clean) green channel ... i believe he's back to using a DS-1 for everything now !

As for EJ, although his tone is great and i enjoy his albums much, it never does anything to me live !

 

[B2D]

Must be very strange for Joe to pick up a guitar with no whammy.

I've always loved his vibrato technique and tone.

Actually, he's been using fixed-bridge guitars in the studio on a regular basis since The Extremist, which IIRC was released in 1993.

Among those guitars are vintage Gibson LP Jr's, vintage Teles, and JS600 and JS700 Ibanez guitars.

 

[Jimi D]

BTW, Satch already plays a good guitar. I know we love EBMM guitars but let's be real: If it's good enough for Joe Satriani...

Sure, the IBZ JS models are decent guitars, but an EBMM sig would be a step up... Joe would make a killer endorsee for Music Man guitars - I've often wished he could be seduced away from the Dark Side... a custom neck on a Silhouette Special body sans pickguard and with his choice of pickups would probably be a good starting point... BP and Dudley should buy a JS, work up a proto EBMM Satch, and send it to him for Xmas!

 

[koogie2k]

Satch with an EBMM would be great. But, Satch is with Ibanez and seems happy there. Different strokes for different folks I guess. Either way, Satch is an awesome guitar player and that is why I buy his music.

 

[CudBucket]

I just got back from the show in Montreal tonight. Super performance by Joe. Why are his JSX always on the (clean) green channel ... i believe he's back to using a DS-1 for everything now !

As for EJ, although his tone is great and i enjoy his albums much, it never does anything to me live !

I saw him last week at the Nokia Theater in NYC and noticed the same thing. I found out that those heads, the ones on the cabs on stage, are backups. The one he plays through is off-stage under the control of his tech. In fact, I've seen pics over at satrianiforum.com that show that back of those two heads and cabs and there is no cable connecting the heads to anything. Just a dummy-load thingamajig. The offstage head drives the two cabs you see on stage.

I have a JSX and thought, "Why isn't he using the gain channels?". Turns out he uses the crunch and ultra channels almost constantly. I think his tone and that amp are great.

 

[Big Poppa]

Hey Guys
WE are bery happy that Dave La Rue is a long time memberof the family.

As far as Joe goes, Nothing but love and respect including his relationship with Ibanez

 

[beej]

As far as Joe goes, Nothing but love and respect including his relationship with Ibanez

Yeah, and fellas, let's keep in mind we want to keep the wait time to under a year for our guitars. If more endorsees come on board we'll have a huge line to wait in!

(Sorry Poppa. I'll go hang my head in shame now.)

 

[NorM]

I really loved my Satch Ibanez body. It was super comfortable. I love playing Satch songs and seeing him in concert. Seeing LaRue play is always an extra special treat. I would like to see LaRue do the "Hammer of the Gods" thing again. I can't believe I let that get by me last time.