SatchVai Band gig review
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall | 17th June 2025
Words: Colin Campbell | Pictures: Ian Potter
The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall became a sanctuary of guitar mastery as Steve Vai and Joe Satriani launched into their Surfing With The Hydra tour. Clad like the yin and yang of rock – Vai in black, Satriani in bold red – they lit up the stage with an electrifying set that blended technical brilliance with pure musical passion.
This wasn’t just a night for guitar geeks. Backed by Marco Mendoza (bass), Kenny Aronoff (drums), and Pete Thorn (rhythm guitar), Vai and Satriani wove through solo classics and new collaborations, beginning with their latest single I Wanna Play My Guitar. As Satriani quipped, it’s their first proper tour together despite a friendship spanning decades – and it showed in the fluid chemistry between them.
Fan favourites like For the Love of God and Surfing With The Alien brought thunderous applause, while their new co-write The Sea of Emotion, Part 1 saw them trade solos with fiery elegance. Vai’s Teeth of the Hydra performance was a jaw-dropper, but it was clear the evening wasn’t just about flash – this was music with soul, informed by diverse influences from Zappa to Red Hot Chili Peppers.
The pair’s camaraderie was another highlight. Between fierce riffing and playful grins, they radiated a joy that made every note feel fresh. The encore – Metallica’s Enter Sandman and a crowd-rousing Born to Be Wild – capped off a night that left fans buzzing.
If you love guitar-driven rock at its finest, this is a show not to miss. With a few UK dates left, catch them before they head to Europe.
Support came from soloist Ned Evett, whose set included fretless glass and titanium guitars, inventive looping, and standout slide work. From the moody Mississippi Ganges to a bold take on Are You Experienced, Evett proved a fitting and fascinating opener.
