(Toronto, ON) – Guitar great Steve Vai recruited some of the finest shredders in the music industry creating Generation Axe. Included in this insanely talented bunch are Yngwie Malmsteen (iconic guitar prodigy), Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society) Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) and Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders). This unique performance of five fiercely talented axe players came together to create music magic. Toronto area guitar geeks and music enthusiast alike filled the legendary Massey Hall.
The night started off with all five guys playing Boston’s Foreplay, followed by their individual segments commencing with Tosin Abasi. Before Generation Axe, I can’t say that I was familiar with Abasi. He did peek my interest as I soon realized he wasn’t playing the usual 6 or even 7 string guitar, but rather a few different models of 8 strings. He was kind of modest in terms of his stage presence, as he mostly just stood in one spot. Later he would be joined by Bettencourt for a duet.
Nuno Bettencourt started off his set with the popular Extreme song Get the Funk Out. He spoke a bit about how he viewed a youtube clip of a medley of great songs and used that as an inspiration to his own set. At one point in the show, while performing with the others he put down his guitar to drop a few beats on some drums.
Zakk Wylde, shredded the audience faces off next. Thrashing about, barely ever getting to see his face that hid behind all that hair. His set consisted of some Black Sabbath and Hendrix, of course hyperboling them with massive guitar solos. At one point he made his way down the aisle into the audience where the audience rushed to get a super close and personal view. Not wanting to disappoint his fans on the other side of the venue, he headed to the opposite side and gave them the same splendor.
Yngwie Malmsteen was pulled directly out of the 80s, with his leather pants, buttoned down shirt, cowboy boots and the exact same hair. He put on an act of tossing his guitar up in the air, swinging his axe around him by the head stock and when time came to change guitars, he would toss it over his head backwards to a waiting tech. A massive wall of Marshall stacks graced his side of the stage. His performance, in my opinion, was classified as “go big or go home”. I hate to admit this, but I kind of felt like he put a greater emphasis into the stage show then the actual technical aspects of playing the guitar. Although at the beginning of his set the crowd was excited to see what he had to offer. But as his performance progressed, he got muted appreciation from the crowd as he finished his songs. Just like every artist prior, he teamed up with the next guitarist Steve Vai to perform a duet.
Steve Vai, with his customized guitars and animated faces, brought the performance back up a few levels, giving full on emotion that could be felt as each string was hit.The one thing about Vai is how without even seeing him play, just listening you can immediately distinguish his unique style; with his whammy – wielding, finger tapping, melodic presence. A true pleasure to see in person.
Finishing off the evening, the group minus Malmsteen congregated to perform Edgar Winter’s Frankenstein, followed by Malmsteen on vocals singing Deep Purple’s Highway Star.
It was such a treat to see so many of my guitar idols under one roof displaying their incredible talents. A show I was thrilled to have witnessed. Sadly according to Vai this tour is ending soon. Hopefully it will spawn other supergroups to unite and tour the masses.
For more info on the boys from Generation Axe, please visit:
Generation Axe (Website) (Facebook) (Twitter)
Steve Vai (Website) (Facebook) (Twitter)
Yngwie Malmsteen (Website) (Facebook) (Twitter)
Zakk Wylde (Website) (Facebook) (Twitter)
Nuno Bettencourt (Website) (Facebook) (Twitter)
Tosin Abasi (Facebook) (Twitter)
All photos by Dale Benvenuto
© 2016. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
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