What happens when two titans of instrumental rock step out of the G3 format and into a band of their own? The answer: the SatchVai Band, a powerhouse collaboration between Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, which electrified the Manchester Apollo on 19 June in a show that blended virtuosity with genuine chemistry — and a few glorious surprises.
The night kicked off with two sizzling tracks from their upcoming album, I Can Play Guitar and The Sea of Emotion Pt. 1. These weren’t just warm-ups — they were a statement. Marco Mendoza, stepping into Glenn Hughes’ shoes from the studio version, brought soulful fire to the stage, owning the spotlight and giving the material an emotional punch that immediately embraced the crowd.
The beauty of the show lay in how the spotlight gracefully moved between the two musicians. Joe and Steve played solo favourites — Satriani’s crowd-pleasers like Flying in a Blue Dream, Always With Me, Always With You, Sahara, Satch Boogie, and of course, Surfing with the Alien — each received thunderous roars. Vai countered with his own sonic sorcery: Little Pretty, Tender Surrender, Zeus in Chains, and Teeth of the Hydra were delivered with dazzling flair, especially when he broke out his mythical three-neck Hydra guitar, leaving the audience properly spellbound.
Perhaps the most exciting moments came when they shared the stage on each other’s tracks. Vai trading licks with Satriani on Ice 9 was a playful duel of titans — neither outshining the other, just elevating the music to somewhere stratospheric.
In a touching moment of accessibility, Joe closed the main set with a series of blues licks — understated, gorgeous, and speaking directly to the players in the room. It was a nod to roots, after a night of wizardry.
And then came the encore. If anyone thought it couldn’t get any more unexpected, in stormed covers of Enter Sandman — maybe a quiet salute to Joe’s former student, Kirk Hammett — and Born to Be Wild. Marco unleashed his vocal prowess once again, proving that while this band may be built on guitar legends, it’s got one hell of a soul at the mic, too.
In short: a stunning performance that didn’t just live up to the legend — it forged a whole new chapter. These are two of the very best in the business, still pushing each other — and their audience — to new musical heights.