G3 Live In Denver Review

Release Date: February 24, 2004
If musical notes were gold nuggets, then King Midas would look like a pauper next to Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and Yngwie Malmsteen. Performing both individually and together in this 112-minute concert, the three hard rock guitarists prove their virtuosity beyond a doubt.

Sound:	9.7
Content:	9.3
Production:	7.3
Impression:	9
Overall rating:	8.8
Users rating:	8.5
Comments:	38

overall: 8.8

Featured review by: mccabe24, on may 24, 2006

Sound: For this tour, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani got together with Yngwie Malmsteen for an all star shred-fest. You would be hard pressed to find a better combination of shredders to play together! On this DVD you will see and hear everything from classic rock to Paganinni like classical music. Malmsteen is at his best during this video and was in my mind, the best of the three. // 10

Content: This DVD featured 3 songs by each guitar player and three G3 jams at the end. The G3 Jams are where all 3 players come on stage and perform a song. This is a live concert DVDs and it has a few little sceines of the players talking to fans and signing autographs. The set list is amazing, but I will let you see it for youself when you watch it. // 9

Production Quality: This is probably the downfall of the DVD. Maybe I just have a lousy copy, but the picture quality and sharpness of the DVD isn't nearly as good as the G3 from Tokyo (Vai, Satch and John Petrucci). At the begining, when the G3 logo comes on, it looks like it was filmed by some fan on his cell phone and later edited on his computer. But the guitar playing more then makes up for the video quality. // 7

Impression: The three main reasons to buy this DVD are the G3 jams. Satch, Vai and Yngwie all go onstage together to play 3 songs: Keep on Rockin in the Free World, some song that I forgot the title to and Voodoo Child. They are all amazing and each guitar player sings on one of the songs! If it were stolen, I would hunt whoever stole it down and smash one of my cheap guitars over his head. Oh yeah. And I would take my DVD back. // 9

overall: 8

Reviewed by: SRV16, on august 22, 2006

Sound: They were all awesome, No story was attatched to the DVD. Although there was a few minutes of Steve Vai meeting fans and things of that nature. It was all really good bluesy rocky metally music, and Yngwie Malmsteens neoclassical guitar rocked. Steve Vai's 3 necked guitar was amazing, he played an amazing song. Beautiful. One of Steve's best songs ever. // 9

Content: DVD offered subtitles and the whole conceert in one or each artist separatley, or each song separatley. It's a live concertt. Joe Satriani kicked things off with his signature Satch Boogie, which was a great opener because it got the croud on their feet. Then he got out his harmonica and played guitar and harmonica simultaneously in The Extremist, it was an awesome song, he then played a nice melody called Starry Night and then played a classic, Midnight. He finished with The Mystical Potatoe Head Groove Thing. Then Steve Vai came on with a triple necked guitar and played I Know You're Here, it was the best piece of the night. Then he followed it with Juice and I'm The Hell Outta Here. And some others, Yngwie Malmsteens set was incredible but he wasn't as good as the other 2, they all came on at the end and played Little Wing and Voodoo Chile. It was excellent. // 9

Production Quality: Production Quality was decent although no real Techonologies or tricks. But Vai's triple guitar was amazing. And there was an awe-inspiring light show during the concert. Production Quality could only be described as adequate nothing special about it really, it was perfectly fine but nothing really stood out. // 6

Impression: It's a great album it is the 2nd best of their concerts. The most impressive thing is the jam at the end featuring Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen, it was the highlight of the DVD. I loved Satriani and Steve's sets, and I didn't hate anything about it, if it was stolen I'd probably buy something else maybe a Satriani concert or Steve Vai on their own. // 8

overall: 9.8

Reviewed by: Shreddin 4 Life, on july 07, 2006

Sound: These 3 guys are arguably the most talented guitarists of all time: Joe Satriani, Steve Vai & Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Basically, I was familiar with all 3 of them before I decided to get the DVD and I did not regret it at all. In fact, I watch it all the time and still get blown away by the performances on there. If you like any of their talents on the guitar, this DVD is definitely for you. Of all of the G3 performances, this one is inarguably the best one, and probably won't be beaten any time soon by another one. Furthermore, the diversity in the sound of this concert is unmatched, from a bluesey/rock-based sound, to some clean jazzy progressions, and of course, Yngwie's signature neo-classical shred. // 10

Content: One of the coolest features of this DVD is the "Fretcam" feature. Basically, each of the guitarists does a song where they play an unaccompanied solo, and has a camera follow the fretboard while they play. Other features include your basic sound options ans so on. These LIVE performances are very well though out, highly improvised and exteremely easy to get into. The set list is excellent, and the CD version even has a different set of tracks so that fans won't get bored of listening & watching the same performance! // 10

Production Quality: Production is immaculate on this DVD, especially considering it's all from a single show. The angles are very well thought out and give a lot of insight. As you could imagine, the concentration is at least 85% on the guitar players so if you're not a guitarist, the DVD won't necessarily be a huge thing for you, but then again if you're not a guitar fan, why else would you be watching this DVD now would you? // 9

Impression: This, being the 2nd installment of the G3 series, it obviously destroyed the first all around the block. In my opinion, the Yngwie Malmsteen section is the most entertaining and impressive performance. He has a great stage presence and his chops are unmatched even by Satch and Vai! Furthermore, his set list is just unbelievable and watching him play the first time around compelled me to rewind a lot of his soling sections just to try and get a glipmse of what he was doing. Just the same though, Satriani & Vai both pulled off some mind-boggling passages and solos as well, so fans of either of this trio will be very easily pleased. If someone bothered to steal it or worse, I lost it, I would jump over a cliff just to get another copy! // 10

Comments

[Yespleasevicar]

I disagreee with Malmsteen being the best there,he has (especially on this dvd) a real big Shut up problem. Theres times where vai is talking to the crowd and he stops cos malmsteens doing the same thing sweepy thingy.By far the least versatile musician of the bunch.

Saying that the jam was great, and Little wing was awesome.

[blade'sedge]

i got this dvd a while back, absolutly awsome, im not sure what this guys on about, the production quality is fine, and for malmsteen being the best of the three, boloks, he really isn't my vote is definately satriani, he's just too cool for his own good. also i loved one of the songs when get a bit of a nice bass solo, it's not quite cliff burton but i loved it. overall awsome really

[koirala]

its a fuuckin gud dvd but special features suck .yingwie sang terrible in voodoo chile they should have made that one better starry night was gud ya n the best was keep in rockin in the free world this is a song baby a ****in gud one

[leander m.]

Why not michael angelo batio to the next G3 concert?? Vai and Satch will be overwhelmed by angelo and they will look like little kids on the stage hehehehe..nice song on little wing

[thepagesaretorn]

this is the one w/ the triple necked jem right?

anyways...(to leander m.) no. Michael Angelo Batio is not better than Vai.

[dimebag7]

yeah i liked malmsteen the best there, then joe. steve vai is good, but he didnt do it for me this time.

[metalicon]

yeah, it seemed like while vai and satriani were playing along with the song, Malmsteen would constanly do sweep arpeggios just to show off how awesome he is which in my opinion, moderation is the true meaning of genius. As for Michael Angelo Batio, good guitarist but he looks like Nigel Tufnel off of Spinal Tap.

[crzywhiteboy]

you should have got the G3 with Eric Johnson,its the best one so far...

[Night Revolver]

Eric Johnson in the G3 was awesome ... He's really in a class of his own. Certainly was the best guy so far in GS. Malmsteen was alright. Petrucci was mediocre.

[DaBlackE]

I havent heard this CD but saw this concert on its opening date in Phoenix. These guys are the 3 best guitarist around. Maybe not the best singers, but the best guitarists.

[E-MAN0221]

i love this dvd!!! its my fav G3!!! i like steve and yngwie but i cant stop listening to satriani... by all means my favorite guitarist ever!!! ever since i 1st saw him on this dvd! and by the way Angelo is good, but all his stuff is SO GAY, all you really hear is noise... he is exagratinly to fast... satriani is my fav!

[SkinnyWhiteBoy]

leander m. wrote:

Why not michael angelo batio to the next G3 concert?? Vai and Satch will be overwhelmed by angelo and they will look like little kids on the stage hehehehe..nice song on little wing

Micheal Angelo is fast... that's it... and I'd argue that Herman Li of Dragonforce is a better (maybe even faster) shredder than Angelo. Satriani and Vai have the technicality, but also the ability to make it sound great.

[ToesKa]

like vai and satch on this one... malmsteen annoyes me like hell on this dvd... I loved the part in rocking in the free world where they all do a solo, and fist satch sets of a kick ass solo, then malmsteen does his ladders, and with one crying note vai just erases everything malmsteen did before... lovely just lovely

[KissingShadows]

SkinnyWhiteBoy wrote:

leander m. wrote:

Why not michael angelo batio to the next G3 concert?? Vai and Satch will be overwhelmed by angelo and they will look like little kids on the stage hehehehe..nice song on little wing

Micheal Angelo is fast... that's it... and I'd argue that Herman Li of Dragonforce is a better (maybe even faster) shredder than Angelo. Satriani and Vai have the technicality, but also the ability to make it sound great.

Herman Li isnt at all in a class anywhere near Angelo, who isnt anywhere near Vai/Satch. Angelo is good, Li is ok, but niether have the minds to produce music or the ability to shred as well as Vai/Satch. Maybe someday though...although I highly doubt anyone in the next ten years will be able to match up to Vai/Satch to make a really good G3. I saw Eric Johnson, Vai, and Satch at Satch's LA Concert for Super Col. earlier this month and that wasy insanely badass, but even Johnson doesnt posess the skill required to match them.

[Ibzman]

Uh rectification for all of you guys here, Satch and Vai ARENT SHREDDERS AT ALL, they play awesome music without the necessity of always do the fastest they can, look at Joe Satriani's "Super Colossal", one of his better cd for sure, and Vai doesn't shred either.

[dan_the_pie]

satch and vai arent shredders? are you an idiot?

[Giao]

are you?

[Weybl Himself]

leander m. wrote:

Why not michael angelo batio to the next G3 concert?? Vai and Satch will be overwhelmed by angelo and they will look like little kids on the stage hehehehe..nice song on little wing

Michael Angelo Baito is just a wank, no real melodic structure or feeling, Vai and Satch kick his ass in songwriting and arrangements all day long.

[Gman400]

Batio would suck. Amazing skill but his songs are just horrible other than a couple riffs.

I also liked Malmsteen the most, seconded by Vai and way in last comes Satriani IMO. I hate that guy for somre reason.

[wootlooops]

I know you're all knockin on Yngwie here, but that second song he busts into on this CD kicks ass! That first 30-45 seconds of riffing before he busts into his obnoxious, mundane shredding is amazing. Does anyone know the title of that song? The second song Yngwie played is the only clue I can give.

[that1l)ude]

Michael Angelo Baito is just a wank, no real melodic structure or feeling, Vai and Satch kick his ass in songwriting and arrangements all day long.

None of the guitarists(Except Petrucci)Mentioned in this thread can write a song thatll keep my attention for over 2 seconds. great guitarits but too showy for their own good

[sinan90]

i think that the vai and malmsteen solos are a bit OTT on little wing, you need somethign simpler to fit the song

[Shreddin 4 Life]

Man, you guys all gotta just shut up and enjoy this DVD for what it is. The musicians are amazing-end of story. Besides, MAB would suck in G3-he'd just be shredding & shredding & shredding non-stop until everyone pukes.
Furthermore, if you're not a shred or general soloing fan, get lost because that's what G3 is all about.
Also, the production quality obviously won't touch the Tokyo one because the Tokyo G3 came AFTER Denver.
And finally, you ALL have to stop being so critical of any of the guitarists mentioned in this commenting section, whether you like them or not, at least 3/4 of any of you will never even be able to scratch the surface of their playing skill and composing abilities, so like I said earlier, just sit back and enjoy some of the greatest guitarists of all time!!!

[Ischi]

Anyone who says malmsteen is better than Vai or Satch should be shot, twice, in the foot. Sure, he can play fast, but who wants to listen to neo classical shred, and the same sweep patterns over and over and over and over and over and over and over again

[Shreddin 4 Life]

Ischi :
Anyone who says malmsteen is better than Vai or Satch should be shot, twice, in the foot. Sure, he can play fast, but who wants to listen to neo classical shred, and the same sweep patterns over and over and over and over and over and over and over again

What's wrong w/ neo-classical shred?
U obviously don't know Yngwie outside this DVD cuz he's a lot more versatile than u pass him off to be...

[Bill.x]

Eric Johnson Is By far the best guitarist to play with G3.
Althought Satch and Vai are in a complete class of their own.
Nobody On the world stage has ever been as technically brilliant as Satch and Vai.

[DTFatesWarningX]

Yngwie bores me. He's too much about speed and not enough about substance. Satch and Vai can play though. Haha, I'm not surprised no one brought up the G3 with Fripp.

[fluffylump2]

this dvd is awesome. it has steve vai doing "Get the Hell Outta Here" which is an amazing song where his whole bands plays each other's instruments. yeah, it's really good.

[mbuu007]

NO the person who should be in g3 next should be paul gilber of marty friedman!

[slv]

Malmsteen played like an ass on this dvd. was completely let down compared to what i had heard about him. steve vai was the best by a mile and he reallly killed it. the best GV3 dvd to buy, G3 Live in Tokyo.

[detranova]

mbuu007 wrote:

NO the person who should be in g3 next should be paul gilber of marty friedman!

I think Friedman actually hopped on stage for G3 in Tokyo, but they weren't able to put that footage on the DVD (or they might just have not recorded it).

[Linus Satriani]

Yeah, I agree with the majority. I dont like yngwie, he is good, very very good but not my style at all. I believe that Vai is the best guitarist in the world technically. But Satch do the best songs. He's amazing. I love everything he does.

My fav G3 is with Eric Johnson, going down just blew me away, same thing with Red House. And Johnsons "manhattan" is just amazing.

[Build An Army]

Yeah i agree totally with 'Linus Satriani', i dont like yngwie that much, he puts no really feeling into the songs he does, he plays fast thats it... Now if Jason Becker was still playing then we would have one hell of a G3 concert with him, Satch and Vai.
I cant wait for this years G3 though, its with Gilbert, he is one of the greats in my opinion, so inventive of what he does and what he can do with the guitar is just immense!
And i think that the one with Eric Johnson in doing Red House was 1992 (i think)

[Build An Army]

Build An Army wrote:

Yeah i agree totally with 'Linus Satriani', i dont like yngwie that much, he puts no really feeling into the songs he does, he plays fast thats it... Now if Jason Becker was still playing then we would have one hell of a G3 concert with him, Satch and Vai.
I cant wait for this years G3 though, its with Gilbert, he is one of the greats in my opinion, so inventive of what he does and what he can do with the guitar is just immense!
And i think that the one with Eric Johnson in doing Red House was 1992 (i think)

My mistake, it was 1997 he played with them

[udy]

First I very like all G3. Mainly Vai and Satch have given me the best. I fan for Yngwie but He is to much playing in a supergroup. He is very strong and there are some scenes where his friends are back. In my opinion Gilbert would be a decent choice.

[I'm a real boy]

this is another fine example of overreacting. the first dude said that if it were stolen, he'd hunt down whoever stole it and smash him over the head with a cheap guitar, if the said situation should arise, just buy another one people.

[jcgmed]

I don't think that players like Batio, Malmsteen and similars would be able to play on G3, the super - virtuoso rol is ok if you are taking technique lessons and similars, but playing on stage is a musical thing.

The chromatical crazy runs played by Petrucci were a lot more interesting than the almost-vomitive Malmsteen's sweep picking impros in Rocking In The Free World, and his intro in the central main solo...the same boring whole tone modulation, before a too dirty arpeggio runs and, and, at the end...his golden rolex crashing with the 1st string...

Oh yes, Hendryx's Voddo Child was...Vodoo music ( just listen the outro in the main solo...Malmsteen was a thousand light-years away, planning his next dirty speedy vomit ).

Maybe if Batio joins G3, the whole jam could be some Nintendo's music, like Mario Bros o Zelda's soundtracks.

[Otnip]

I have to admit something here...

Malmsteen's solos were so repetitive and out of place in the G3 Jams I muted my TV every time it was his turn.

That guy has the hugest ego, and it annoys the crap out of me the crowd got the most out of his neo classical shred only set list...

Satch and Vai were great.