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New Tune!

On Wednesday night I recorded ( wow twice in one week ) a short piece on solo electric guitar after a melody idea popped into my head whilst noodling and watching telly. The song is called ‘Green Eyes’ and was recorded on the GMC set to neck pickup with the volume rolled back straight into the POD, done and dusted in about 10 mins. You can find the MP3 ( 192Kb/s 3.86MB file ) of the song here.

The Trip To Amsterdam

Scene: Aftershow Party in Amsterdam’s Paradiso

Me: “Hi, I’m Mark from Scotland”

Steve Vai: “Hi Mark, nice to meet you, glad you could make it”

*shake hands*

My Girlfriend and I have just returned from an unforgettable weekend away in beautiful Amsterdam. We had gone over primarily to see Steve Vai perform with the Metropole Orchestra on the Sunday but decided to make a weekend of it and travelled over on the Friday morning leaving on Monday afternoon.

On Friday after checking into the hotel Eden near Rembrandtsplein, a lovely square in the centre of Amsterdam, we sat outside a cafe in the sunshine and soaked in continental cafe vibe before heading south to the Rijksmuseum to see it’s collection of 17th century Dutch paintings, namely those of Rembrandt.

Housed in an impressive building built in a neo-Renaissance style by Petrus Joesephus Hubertus Cuypers the Rijksmuseum at the time was being refurbished and so not all was open to the public. Thankfully though the most important pieces of the permanent collection were on display including Rembrandt’s masterwork The Night Watch.

On Saturday we had a wander about town and were impressed at how most things around the centre were within easy walking distance, as long as you can dodge those cyclists . The Tram system was also clean and efficient. Later on in the evening we went on a Cheese & Wine Canal Cruise around Amsterdam which was great fun and very interesting as the guide talked us through the history of the City.

On the Sunday we got up early and made our way over to see the Anne Frank House Museum. Walking around the house was a sobering experience, there was very little talking from fellow visitors as I imagine they felt, as we did, the oppressive mood of the small rooms and the human tragedy that had unfolded there.

A poignant reminder for future generations of the evil that mankind can inflict upon itself.

After the Anne Frank Museum we next visited one of Amsterdam’s top attractions, the Van Gogh Museum. It was understandably busy so getting to see all the paintings was at times frustrating but what was on show was stunning. Sadly no cameras were allowed so I was unable to take pics of my favourite pieces, but in saying that we enjoyed the gallery very much. An unmissable Amsterdam attraction.

Later in the evening we met up with a group of other vai.com message board users outside the paradiso, a get together organised by Maria. We heard that getting seats on the first balcony would give the best view and best sound so we headed up the stairs and were lucky enough to get front row seat with a perfect view of the Orchestra and Steve Vai’s position.

The event organiser, Co de Kloet, took to the stage and explained to us what format the show would take and mentioned that though the initial plan was to have ~65 minutes of music Steve Vai had written around 2 hours worth and as result that there is a chance that the remaining music would be played in another show next year!

For first part of the performance the Orchestra played through the new ‘orchestrations’ of Vai’s music by itself. The sound was truly amazing and the power and dynamic of the Orchestra lended itself perfectly to the music. Hearing familiar melodies played on strings or solo Violin was simply amazing and the new music was beautifully composed and played. Near the end of the first half Steve Vai took to the stage to perform an intense new arrangement of ‘Kill The Guy With The Ball’. Starting off with a call and response with the Orchestra and even getting the crowd involved to sing the ascending ‘whoops’, Steve Vai ever the showman.

After a 15 minute break the Orchestra returned onstage with Vai and proceeded to play through old favourites from Passion & Warfare ( ‘Liberty’, ‘Answers’, FTLOG ) with a harp and piano arrangement of Ballerina 12/24. Thankfully ‘Brandos Costumes (Gentle Ways)’ was also performed, a personal favourite of mine and truly moving piece of music, plus a new piece entitled ‘Lotus Feet’ which was simply beautiful. The crowd reaction was stunning, everyone, myself included, had simply been blown away. As the crowd had nearly torn the roof off with cheering and applause they treated us to two encores, playing ‘The Attitude Song’ for the first encore then a second play of ‘Kill The Guy With The Ball’.

Personally this was one of the most inspiring uplifting shows I have ever been to. The orchestration and musicianship was magnificent and the power and emotion of the music was evident for all to hear. Roll on next year and ‘The Aching Hunger’ Part II!

After the show something happened that I will simply never forget. Maria managed to get us backstage to the aftershow party! What a Star she is.

At the party Steve Vai kindly gave up some of his time, he must have been tired after his usual intense playing, to meet and chat to us and pose for pictures. We also were lucky enough to get to chat to Bryan Beller and Pia Vai, who was a great laugh and also posed for some pictures.

I admit it was slightly surreal meeting ‘the man himself’, someone who has inspired me in so many ways and whom I thought I would never meet. To say I am happy is an vast understatement.

Pictures from the show can be found here as well as a collection of video clips here.

Green Eyes

Fiddling around on the guitar watching telly I suddenly came up with a lovely melody that I decided to quickly record before it was lost, this is the result.

A short ballad type piece called ‘Green Eyes’. Recorded with the GMC on the neck pickup with the volume rolled back, straight into the POD and nothing else for that raw intimate feel.

Green Eyes [Download MP3 - 3.86 MB]

New Noodle

I seem to have Noodled over a backing track from Guthrie Govan’s Creative Guitar Book 1

Single take so please excuse the fluffs

Funky Improv #1

After hearing another person’s rendition over a backing track from Guthrie Govan’s amazing Creative Guitar books I decided to have a little noodle myself :). Single take Improv ( hence some dodgy notes ) recorded with my trusty 7VSBL through the POD. Groovy.

Funky Improv #1 [Download MP3 - 1.77 MB]

What Pre-1985 Video Game Character Am I?

I am a Defender-ship. I am fiercely protective of my friends and loved ones, and unforgiving of any who would hurt them. Speed and foresight are my strengths, at the cost of a little clumsiness. I’m most comfortable with a few friends, but sometimes particularly enjoy spending time in larger groups. What Video Game Character Are You?

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