by Steven Sanchez
After a slow start in January when it came to events, February stepped in and brought the party. It’s the month of Valentine’s Day, and I must admit the Central Valley expressed its love to all the great artists that came through town—from guitar enthusiasts, heavy metal head bangers, hip hop fans, and old school jam lovers.
This is just a taste of what’s to come this year. All the acts that will come later in the year will have to compete with the bar set by February. Here are the artists who graced us last month with their presence.
G3 REUNION TOUR
If you’re a big fan of the six-string instrument, then the night of February 5 at Saroyan Theatre was a night to remember. The G3 Reunion Tour featured guitar legends Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai. If you’re a rocker like me, these names are familiar to you. They may not be chart-toppers or trendy celebrities, but these three belong on the Mount Rushmore of influential guitarists when it comes to the art and craft of playing their guitars so well they almost seem to speak.
This marked the highly anticipated return of the iconic 1996 G3 Tour of these virtuosos. Here’s a mini profile on each.
Joe Satriani is known for his emotive and virtuosic playing and his cool onstage persona. He’s had a successful solo music career and is a 15-time Grammy Award nominee with more than ten million albums sold, reinforcing his claim as the bestselling instrumental rock guitarist of all time. He’s taught some of the best guitarists in the world, including Vai, Larry LaLonde, Rick Hunolt, Kirk Hammett, Andy Timmons, Charlie Hunter, Kevin Cadogan, and Alex Skolnick. He even played with Mick Jagger as lead guitarist for his first solo tour, and toured with Deep Purple, filling in for Ritchie Blackmore.
Joe Satriani
Satriani also serves as guitarist for the supergroup Chickenfoot which includes rock legends such as vocalist Sammy Hagar and bassist Michael Anthony from Van Halen, and drummer Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Satriani’s the mastermind behind the creation of the G3 show.
Eric Johnson is celebrated for his soulful guitar work and meticulous technique. He plays many musical genres, including rock, blues, jazz fusion, soul, folk, new-age, classical, and country, but he’s better known for his bluesy prowess. If an orchestra needed to sound more Rock and Roll, his band would be the top choice. His sound also contains a splash of classic rockabilly.
Eric Johnson
Steve Vai, a creative genius of the electric instrument, is a three-time Grammy Award winner and 15-time nominee. He has played with Frank Zappa and recorded and toured with Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake, as well as recording with artists such as Public Image Ltd, Mary J. Blige, Spinal Tap, Alice Cooper, Motörhead, and Polyphia. He’s had a solo career since 1983 and has released eight solo albums to date.
Vai took the stage first, and his performance set the stage for the rest of the night. A projection video played in the background showing civil rights footage and the influence the black community had on the roots of Rock and Roll. Very fitting for Black History Month. He sang not one note; he let his guitar do the singing. It was enough.
Steve Vai
During his performance, Vai played several distinctly decorated guitars that were all works of art. His go-to brand is Ibanez. The first, was a gritty silver and black guitar (JEM77BRMR prototype). The next was a tie-dyed, hippie combination of purple and yellow that looked transcendent. There was one with a greenish tint and a beautiful, white seven-string guitar, the JEM 7VWH.
For the highlight of his set, he wailed a three-neck guitar that he named the “Hydra.” I’ve seen Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin and Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick play two-neck guitars, but I’d never seen a three-neck guitar. It was unbelievable. It was so metal, and so amazing. When he played “For the Love of God,” “Tender Surrender,” and “The Attitude Song,” the audience gave him a great reception. That night he proved why he’s considered one of the greatest guitar players of all time.
Steve Vai
Next on the bill was Eric Johnson. He opened his set with an upbeat rendition of “Land of a 1000 Dances” which energized the crowd. He played a Fender Stratocaster on stage so passionately it seemed as though he was making love to it. Johnson had the crowd in awe when he played a very captivating solo of “Cliffs of Dover,” which previously won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. The crowd was delighted with his masterful skills. His back-up band was great. His drummer played jazzy rhythms and beats and performed a spectacular solo and his guitar player cut loose on one of the songs.
Joe Satriani oozed cool the moment he stepped on-stage, sporting all-black attire and sunshades. His green Ibanez was locked and loaded, and he gripped it like a machine gun and released a raucous thunderstorm of various sounds and projectile tempos. Without any exaggeration, he really is a Jedi master of the instrument, and he can do any style of playing you can lay upon the guitar—ranging from legato, two-handed tapping and arpeggio tapping, volume swells, harmonics, and extreme whammy bar effects, with the inclusion of rapid alternate picking and sweep picking.
Joe Satriani
His performance was unrelenting. I mean, the guy actually played the guitar with his teeth. Again, no vocals or lyrics, his guitar spoke for itself. His sound exemplifies a metal edge. It’s rhythmic but with the amps cranked up.
The night concluded with an impromptu jam session from the trifecta. Having all three of them together was the highlight of the show. Each one had his moment to perform a solo and show what he is all about. They played Cream, Jimi Hendrix, and it all culminated with Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild.” It was wild. You’ll hardly see legends like that, maestros of their art, together on one bill. This show was special.
VALENTINE’S NIGHT OUT
Love was in the air on February 10 when American R&B sensation, Ashanti, returned to Fresno at the Selland Arena for Valentine’s Night Out. She has appeared in Fresno throughout the years, and we love her each time she comes to the area. Ashanti is recognized as one of the best-selling female R&B artists of all time for her tracks such as Fat Joe’s “What’s Luv?” and Ja Rule’s “Always on Time.” The early 2000s put her on the map. Her debut album shot straight to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, earning her a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B album. This set the stage for her illustrious career in music, film and television.
Ashanti
The night felt very much like a high school dance. Ashanti’s music, along with the other acts on the docket, provided a soundtrack similar to those late nights and parties that defined that period for me and my generation. We danced to those songs, wrote love notes, had breakups, and went on dates with that music. So, the night had sentimental value to those in my age demographic. It was also the first time in a long time that I saw lines up and down the street with cars backed up all the way to the freeway. The audience had a lot of anticipation and the show delivered.
Other acts on the bill were Nivea, Twista, Baby Bash, Jon B, and Next. All these artists, popular names when it comes to 1990s and 2000s hip hop, have found success in the R&B genre. As they played their career defining hits, there was something to satisfy everyone in attendance.
Nivea took the stage first belting out old familiars like “Don’t Mess with My Man.” The green-haired Atlanta-born singer looked gorgeous as she performed with her background dancers. She sang with so much soul and sensuality and gave shout outs to Fresno when she could.
Nivea
Next up was Twista, the Chicago rapper. His 2004 album Kamikaze topped the Billboard Hot 100 with the number-one single “Slow Jamz” (with Kanye West and Jamie Foxx). In 1992, Twista held the record for the fastest English-speaking rapper in the world, according to the Guinness World Records by pronouncing 598 syllables in 55 seconds. But he’s been faster. He clocked in at 14.07 syllables per second on DJ Kay Slay’s “Rolling 50 Deep.” At Valentine’s Night Out, he proved he still had the speed and flow.
Twista
Third on the docket was Baby Bash of the cool demeanor, fedora, and sunshades. The California rapper rose to fame with the 2003 single “Suga Suga” (featuring Frankie J). He showed a lot of appreciation to the crowd, never looking away from the audience. When he rapped his part to Frankie J’s single “Obsession (No Es Amo),” a personal favorite of mine, it took me back to the day.
Next came Jon B, a Fresno favorite through his appearances at The Big Fresno Fair. No one can deny that his singing and stage presence oozes sex appeal. His voice was like a mating call, full of passion and love. It was great to see him shuffle between singing and playing keyboards in the middle of the stage. He’s known for his serenade jams like “Pretty Girl” and “Someone to Love.” The moment he sang them, ladies’ hearts melted. Wearing sunglasses throughout the set is his trademark, and you didn’t need to stare into his eyes to feel his emotions. His singing accomplished that.
Jon B
Up next was…Next. The Minnesota musical trio’s opening song was their big hit and another personal favorite, “Too Close.” Everyone in the crowd was singing along to that one. Brothers Raphael “Tweety” Brown and Terry “T-Low” Brown conquered the stage with their superb showmanship. Other songs by the trio, like “Wifey,” “Butta Love,” and “I Still Love You,” were greeted with delight from the audience. They showed Next is still movin’ and groovin’. They had it then, and still do.
Next
Finally, the lady of the hour herself, Ashanti. Looking gorgeous in her Givenchy jersey, fishnets, boots, and jewel-studded shades that never came off during the performance, she left no doubt that she’s a star. Even her microphone was decked out.
Ashanti is an absolute powerhouse. She’s captivated her fans with hits like “Rock wit U (Awww Baby),” and her collaborations with Ja Rule were always popular. Even though she’s currently pregnant with the baby of Nelly, her rapper boyfriend, she didn’t skip a beat. Her voice is pure soul. Whether it was her hits or newer material, the audience embraced each song with equal enthusiasm. That night she proved without a doubt why she’s sold 15-million records worldwide. She’s also acted in movies like Coach Carter, John Tucker Must Die and Resident Evil: Extinction.
Ashanti
This Valentine’s Night Out was a huge success and was one of the most packed shows the arena has had in quite some time. Much appreciation to Brad Jaurique Promotions for putting on the show and for letting us cover it. Be on the lookout for more upcoming shows this year.
TOOL
For the past 34 years, there’s been no other band that’s quite captured the imagination and attention of the music industry the way Tool has. They made their return to Save Mart Center this February 12. Their last performance here was in early 2020 before the entire world went crazy. Everything that made that show unique and interesting was repeated this time around.
Tool
Weird, strange, unusual, loud, crazy, bright, transcendent, bizarre—all those words describe the show, and all of them are complimentary. The band’s motto is: The more surreal that it can be, then let’s do it. Vocalist Maynard James Keenan, guitarist Adam Jones, drummer Danny Carey, and bassist Justin Chancellor have been performing since the early 90s. They’ve always believed that their music is the important component—it’s best to be heard not seen—so they’ve created a mysterious aura around their personalities and brand.
That’s why their past music videos used stop-motion animation. They hardly make appearances and give interviews. Before they came to Fresno in 2020, they were on a thirteen-year hiatus. No matter how much they are shrouded in secrecy, their music speaks loud and clear and wherever they tour, they always sell out.
Even though they didn’t play familiar classics like “Sober,” “Forty-Six and Two,” and “Schism,” that are favorites of mine, it didn’t matter. The fans were captivated by the theatricality of the production.
What they did play was songs from their most recent album, Fear Inoculum, (2019) including “7empest,” which won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance. Members were silhouetted in darkness throughout most of the show—Maynard’s trademark is that he sings on a stage away from the spotlight right next to Danny. But there was plenty to see. Their light and video projection display was trippy but excellent. They showed animation videos along with stop-motion animation that complimented their laser show. The movements from the videos and lights were in unison with each song they played.
Maybe I’m biased because I used to be a rock drummer, but I’m convinced that attendees would agree that the night’s highlight was Danny’s drum solo. He’s considered one of the best rock drummers in the genre, and a student of the instrument, so although his solo was long, the reception he received was extraordinary. He also incorporated a synthesizer into his solo, plugging different chords into various outlets to release a symphony of sounds. He played the drums to the rhythms he concocted on the synthesizer, so it became a duet orchestrated by one individual. It was astonishing.
Tool
The other members had their moments to shine. Maynard’s vocals have no limits, and they permeated throughout the arena. He’s the creative driving force behind the band, and his voice is impactful. He encouraged the Fresno audience get louder—to make sure we weren’t like Bakersfield. The crowd saw it as a challenge, and when he requested the audience to get louder they redeemed themselves by doing exactly that. Justin’s bass lines are like dramatic heartbeats and the music’s foundation feeds off the vibrations he produces. Adam’s guitar licks are unconventional, and he uses every style at his disposal to match the uniqueness of the band’s sound. He also integrates that outlandish style into the band’s music videos, which he directs.
Tool
A big shout out to Monica Seide-Evenson from Speakeasy PR for letting us cover this show and the other artists she represents like The Melvins. It’s always a pleasure covering Speakeasy’s clients, and we’re looking forward to covering more shows. Tool always puts on a great show. And even though the band prefers to be incognito, that doesn’t stop their fans from coming to see them.
VALENTINES SUPER LOVE JAM
The love continued throughout the month as the old-school radio station Mega 97.9 hosted the Valentines Super Love Jam at the Save Mart Center on February 16. The purpose of the show was to celebrate the holiday of love with classic tunes from the good old days that featured themes of romance and connection. The show brought back icons from yesteryear to commemorate the occasion with acts from the 60s, 70s, and 80s in the genres of R&B and soul. Think Blue Magic, Lenny Williams, the original Mary Jane Girls, Peaches and Herb, The Stylistics, and The O’Jays.
The crowd cruised and danced to this music that provided the backdrop to defining moments of their relationships—first dates, weddings, and maybe even the conception of their children! Station on-air personalities, including Jeff Davis, Noddy Roddy, Sydney Begley, and Richie Rich, hyped up the crowd and each act before its set.
The love built with each act that came to the stage. Blue Magic took the stage first. The Philadelphia soul group sang and moved in unison in their matching blue suits to their defining singles like “Sideshow,” “Spell,” “What’s Come Over Me,” “Three Ring Circus,” and “Stop to Start.” Next up was Lenny Williams, the Arkansas-based lead vocalist for the soul/funk group Tower of Power. He exuded affection in his white suit jacket and through his singing as he belted out his solo jams like “Cause I Love You” and “Choosing You” along with some familiar songs from the Tower of Power catalogue. The night really picked up when the original Mary Jane Girls graced the stage. The LA girl group brought the energy with their dancing without skipping a beat. They were protégées of Rick James and showed why when they rolled through their funky tunes, “In My House,” “All Night Long,” and “Candy Man.”
Blue Magic
The romance meter went up a notch when Peaches and Herb performed. The Washington D.C. singer, Herb Fame, has remained a constant as “Herb” since the duo was created in 1966 Seven different women have filled the role of “Peaches,” the most recent being Wanda Makle. She did a tremendous job of living up to the legacy of the original singer, Francine Edna “Peaches” Hurd Barker. Peaches and Herb’s duet was intimate and passionate. They performed the hits “Shake Your Groove Thing” and “Reunited” and the crowd was definitely shaking their groove thing during their set.
Peaches and Herb
Next came The Stylistics from Philadelphia. The quartet was missing a member, so they played as a trio, but the music never wavered. Decked out in red-studded suit jackets, their show harkened back to the glory days of doo-wop with their finger snapping and hand-arm gestures in perfect synchrony. They shuffled through their romance ditties like “Stop, Look, Listen,” “You Are Everything,” “Betcha by Golly, Wow,” “I’m Stone in Love with You,” “Break Up to Make Up,” and “You Make Me Feel Brand New.”
The Stylistics
After the intermission, it was the O’Jays time to shine. The three members looked fly in their purple suits. Although they hail from Ohio, they are pioneers in a genre I’ve praised before—Philadelphia Soul. Eddie Levert has been the band’s lead singer since the late 1950s. You can hear the soul and history of the group’s longevity and the dedication he has to his craft in his voice. The other members, Walter Williams and Eric Grant, complimented him well as their harmonies were extraordinary. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group brought the house down with their playlist of dance anthems ranging from “Back Stabbers,” “Put Your Hands Together,” “For the Love of Money,” “I Love Music,” “Livin’ for the Weekend,” and “Use ta Be My Girl.” The defining highlight of the night was when the group steamrolled through my personal and fan favorite, “Love Train.” From the crowd’s reaction it was a train they enjoyed boarding.
The O’Jays
Mega 97.9 hosted a very entertaining event. With or without original members in some of the groups, the music carried on. The music may be considered old, but it most definitely isn’t forgotten. Shows like this, that get enthusiastic fans to turn out, demonstrate that great music will always persevere. Whenever and whenever these artists of the past come to town, people will continue to show up.
All photos by Steven Sanchez.
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