Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, two renowned guitar virtuosos, joined forces for the first time to kιck off their co-headline tour, the Satch/Vai Tour, at Hard Rock Live in Orlando, Florida on March 22. Following individual solo performances, they collaborated on stage for the first time, treating the audience to a series of electrifying performances, including the live debut of their collaborative single “The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1”.

Vai’s set included captivating performances of “Teeth of the Hydra”, “Tender Surrender”, “Little Pretty”, and “For the Love of God”, while details of Satriani’s setlist remain scarce. However, it likely featured fan favorites such as “Surfing with the Alien”, “Ice 9”, and “Flying in a Blue Dream”.

The highlight of the evening came during the encore, where Vai and Satriani mesmerized the audience with a three-song finale. This included their rendition of Metallica’s classic “Enter Sandman”, a tribute to their shared history as guitar instructors – Satriani once taught Kirk Hammett, Metallica’s lead guitarist.

Additionally, the duo performed a cover of The Kinks’ iconic track “You Really Got Me” before unveiling their first-ever joint single, “The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1”. This nearly 10-minute track showcased their exceptional guitar skills and deep musical connection, receiving high praise from fans, with one commenter on YouTube exclaiming, “My face has melted.”

Scheduled for an official release on March 29, “The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1” holds significance beyond being their inaugural collaborative single; it symbolizes the culmination of a longstanding friendship and musical partnership dating back to their high school days in Long Island.

 

During the show, Satriani reminisced about their shared history, recalling how he recognized Vai’s extraordinary talent early on. Despite their busy schedules over the years, the idea of collaborating remained a constant, as revealed in a 1990 interview with Guitar World.

As the Satch/Vai Tour continues, fans eagerly anticipate more electrifying performances from these two guitar legends, with the next stop scheduled for Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida on March 25.