STEVE VAI IN A BAR?

The title of this blog is a bit misleading but stay til the end. Trust me.

Last night I filled in with the band Evolution for the first time in two years. A lot has changed since then, starting with them having a drummer who is more solid and pushes things nicely. Kept the songs focused. Less dead air time in between songs, which is the ultimate mood killer for crowds that are dancing all night. The set list flowed a lot better as a result, with songs ranging from Sugar Ray to Metallica.

I am always a blunt dude but never hurtful. I told the band during the show and afterwards that this was the best show I ever filled in for with them. Think they appreciated that very much. And it wasn’t just them stepping up. I learned to loosen up as well; that might be the result of doing a bunch of shows with Supernova (I’m pretty much their new guitarist now). Consistency is key, and all of us showed it. In the past I would have obsessed over every little note but lately my approach is two-fold: I don’t need to impress anyone anymore, and people go to SEE a show, not HEAR one.

But it helps that the band sounded more cohesive and direct this time around. Of course we had fun, as evidence by the crowd reaction. “Smiles everyone” as Mr. Roarke once said in the 70s…and I just dated myself real bad! I think the band were pleased with me too.

After the show ended, and I was packing up, someone played Whitesnake’s “The Deeper The Love” on the digital jukebox or whatever you young kids call it now. I thought to myself “You don’t hear Steve Vai in a bar too often.”

Was this a sign?