G3 - 7/7/01 Austin, TX

Petrucci, Vai, Satriani - three Italian virtuosos from Long Island. What is in the water supply out there? With Eric Johnson showing up for the jam, it was an alignment of the planets. A Mount Olympus of guitar players. A handful of my most influential heroes on the same stage. I just wish I'd had a better camera than the crappy disposable I snuck in. I can't say enough about how much my life has been changed by Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Eric Johnson and Billy Sheehan. So I won't embarrass myself by trying to explain it all. I will say that this was probably the best show I've ever seen in my life.

G4 You can just make out John Petrucci at left. Steve Vai in the red do-rag, then Eric Johnson and Billy Sheehan at the mic singing "La Grange."

There's five I swear Joe Satriani at left, Petrucci can barely be seen left of Vai, Johnson is a shadow next to Sheehan on far right.

Mostly a big head Some guy's head obscures Satriani, Satriani obscures Petrucci, then Vai, Johnson and Sheehan at right.

Our hero Margot and I are big goofy Vai fans. We both wanted to spill our guts to the guy and tell him about everything he's done for us, but he's heard it all before. I kept it brief, just a big "thanks" and a handshake. And I'm so proud of my Jellyfish t-shirt, by the way, which unsurprisingly went unnoticed by anyone at the show.

Also our hero Joe's such a great guy. He's such a quiet and unassuming fellow, it makes you wonder how much stuff is lurking beneath the skin of regular people. Talking to him, you'd never guess that he was the guy that composed some of the most bizarre and gorgeous and maniacal music ever recorded. Whereas when you meet Vai, you pretty much know that he's a big freak.

Billy Sheehan I'm not ashamed to say I am now and have always been a huge Mr. Big fan. Sheehan in the show makes it a G4 tour. Watching him and Vai go at it together on stage is something every guitar player should see.