Steve Vai - Live At The Astoria London [2003]

Customer Reviews:

Vai DVD.......2006-01-11

Assuming most of the people who like Vai are, like me, guitarists then this DVD will present you with mixed emotions as it did me.

There are loads of songs and a decent interview with Vai's guitar technician, backstage and rehearsal footage so you get loads for your money.

Vai's music is inspiring and beautiful and it truly is amazing to watch him play these amazingly technically difficult songs.

However the DVD is lacking in alternate camera angles. I was hoping for a FRETCAM where I could select a camera to focus on the fret board so I could marvel at the playing. Instead there are lots of shots of Vai's facial expressions and quite a lot of the audience.

Overall thought its a cracking DVD - check out Whispering A Prayer - you can feel the audience almost crying with empathy and emotion at Vai's passion whilst playing it.

If it had a FRETCAM option this would be a splendid 5 star rating so I'll have to give it a 4 star rating.

Scary!.......2005-11-09

It is scary how good Steve Vai is, each track "LIVE" is flawless.

"Whispering on a prayer" is worth the cost alone.

Brilliant.

WOW!!! I think that says it all........2005-01-02

I you are a fan of Steve Vai or simply a fan of excellent guitar based music then this is a must-watch DVD.
There is a lot of variety in the musical styles and 'flavours' in this DVD, from the mellow & haunting 'Whispering A Prayer' to the excessive, heavy metal overload 'Bad Horsie'.
Steve is well known in the guitar world as a man who surrounds himself with only the finest musicians (something he got from Frank Zappa perhaps)and this is never more prevalent than in this production. Each band member gets an opportunity to demonstrate his own skills in a solo format.
The sound and picture quality is excellent, and the camera work is very good, though a little 'trippy' on occasions, but then Steve Vai was a Jimi Hendrix fan so maybe this explains it :0)

To summarise:- This is a mind-blowing example of just how good Steve Vai is at his art, and should be appreciated by everyone simply because of the amazing talent he displays, and WILL be absolutely adored by anyone who loves electric guitar or Steve Vai.

Buy it, Watch it, Love it.

...Pity about the effects.......2004-12-27

This is a pretty good dvd in general and i have always been a massive fan of Vai but one thing i am discovering is that he can sometimes be a little irritating on stage. I have seen him live twice and his guitar playing is extraordinary and he is a good showman but this dvd did irritate me, particularly in Bad Horsie when he just does some strange things that don't even involve his guitar!

Jiboom is fantastic and so too are the majority of songs but i can only give this 4 stars and although i can excuse vai's eccentricities on stage, i cannot be bothered with some of the lousy effects and camera angles. They may not be as horrific as some reviews state, but they are rather 'cheap n nasty'.

I still prefer this to Satch's San Francisco dvd despite the production being less accomplished but would have just loved to seen a performance that matches vai's playing, which is just plain awesome.

very good but not excellent

IF YOU LIKE AMAZING FINGER-TAPPING SOLOS BUY THIS.......2004-11-23

this dvd is great! i have other dvds like g3 1997,g3 2004,joe satriani,malmsteen,guns n roses...ect (which are also amazing) and steve vai is a great addition to my collection of great bands and guitarists!

i read reviews on amazon about this dvd which nearly all complained about the camera angles.however there is no problem here. THE CAMERA IS FINE. dont let other reviews put you off or you will missout on an amazing concert.

wow,steve vai what a showman! what a figer tapper! amazing guy.

if you are a fan of steve vai or just a fan of amazing guitarists this dvd is great and well worth buying

Customer Reviews:

God at the Astoria.......2008-01-01

I was there and this DVD is as good as the concert.
This is the second most amazing axeman I have ever seen (Frank Zappa was the best) and SV is in blistering form on this disc with a band that is tight.
Highly recommended.

Vai Review.......2006-11-29

One of the finest rock guitarists ever in a stellar band including Billy Sheehan and Tony MacAlpine. Sound quality is excellent, picture quality suberb and the performances by all the band members is fantastic. Vai is quite a showman as well as a virtuoso musician so it's entertaining in a non-muso way too, but in truth if you buy this you're probably a guitar player. Niggles - Tony MacAlpine's guitar tone could have done with some tweaking and do we (ever)really need a drum solo ???

Steve Vai at the Astoria.......2006-07-21

This is an amazing DVD featuring some of Vai's best songs. But it is not just Vai's virtuosity on the guitar which will impress - everything, from the guitar tones and sound quality to the lighting effects are nothing short of spectacular throughout. Also, Vai's band are incredible, featuring Tony Macalpine on keyboards and guitars, who at times plays to the same standard as Vai. The outstanding Billy Sheehan plays bass, he will blow you away. If you haven't already got it, buy it!!!

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