Dig it! I jammed with Dave Weiner(Steve Vai's guitarist) and his band!!!!

mystixboi1

mystixboi1

Kick Henry Jackassowski
I met Dave at a guitar show a few weeks ago. We talked for a bit and towards the end of the conversation, he asked if I was local. He wanted to know because he hosts an open jam once a month. He and his band is the backing band and people take turns going up and jamming with them.

Over the past few weeks, we have been messaging back and forth to get specifics and I'm getting pretty stoked.

I've seen him live with Vai 5 times. Besides Vai, this guy has toured with Virgil Donati, Tony MacAlpine, Billy Sheehan and so many others.

Kind of nervous, but totally excited at the same time!!!

I'll provide updates tomorrow!
 
Awesome!

Is there any way to video, or at least get a soundbyte? You are a pretty darned good player, John. I'd like to hear the results, for one (unless it's a trainwreck... :tongue: ).
 
Jbird said:
Awesome!

Is there any way to video, or at least get a soundbyte? You are a pretty darned good player, John. I'd like to hear the results, for one (unless it's a trainwreck... :tongue: ).
Click to expand...

Hahaha. I think a friend might be coming. If so, I'll try to get a clip
 
Today I got to jam with a handful of amazing musicians including Dave Weiner(right hand man of one of my biggest heroes... Steve Vai).

His band was incredibly talented and we were playing jams way beyond what I normally do. It was daunting and fun and I can't wait to do it again!!!!

I also rocked my Balaguer Growler!!!!

Best part was when Dave asked me if my shirt was a "Rafa Nadal" shirt!!! Finding out he's a big tennis guy was just the icing on the cake.

Pics:

79F51DBC-37A6-4805-8105-588D49252D4B.jpg

79F51DBC-37A6-4805-8105-588D49252D4B.jpg
 
That's totally awesome John!

I am a Vai fan, but my favorite of all of the amazing musicians that had Zappa to thank for their big break is Mike Keneally. So being myopically loyal (to someone I don't even know), I'm was put off when Keneally stopped working with Vai and not particularly open to his replacement...not even realizing Weiner was in the band w/ Mike. I thought MacAlpine made sense, since Mike covered keys and guitar.

A couple of years ago I saw some teaching vids of Dave's and other clips and (as you well know) it turns out he's a very cool guy as well as a stellar guitarist. I'm sure he knows he has some ability, but he seems practically without ego. Very jealous. Cheers to you.
 
PunkKitty said:
Steve Vai now has a guitarist? He doesn't play guitar himself anymore?
Click to expand...
He has always had a second guitarist with him on tour to help flesh out the complex arrangements that make up most of his music...Mike Kenealy and I believe Greg Koch have also toured with him...
 
jelloman said:
He has always had a second guitarist with him on tour to help flesh out the complex arrangements that make up most of his music...Mike Kenealy and I believe Greg Koch have also toured with him...
Click to expand...

He's had bands with Keneally and Weiner as well as MacAlpine and Weiner...live musicians to recreate all the layers he puts on the recordings. And each of these guys is so freaking good they are actually up to the task of playing with Vai (not just in his band).
 
Dogsinotpalc said:
That's totally awesome John!

I am a Vai fan, but my favorite of all of the amazing musicians that had Zappa to thank for their big break is Mike Keneally. So being myopically loyal (to someone I don't even know), I'm was put off when Keneally stopped working with Vai and not particularly open to his replacement...not even realizing Weiner was in the band w/ Mike. I thought MacAlpine made sense, since Mike covered keys and guitar.

A couple of years ago I saw some teaching vids of Dave's and other clips and (as you well know) it turns out he's a very cool guy as well as a stellar guitarist. I'm sure he knows he has some ability, but he seems practically without ego. Very jealous. Cheers to you.
Click to expand...

thanks man!!! Before I left, we spoke about getting together to playing tennis at the club he goes to... how insane is that?!?!?!

hope it pans out!
 
mystixboi1 said:
thanks man!!! Before I left, we spoke about getting together to playing tennis at the club he goes to... how insane is that?!?!?!

hope it pans out!
Click to expand...

That's insane too. I'm a big tennis too and would love that...although if his level of tennis is as far advance from mine as his guitar playing is , he'd regret it.

Again, it doesn't seem like Dave could possibly be any cooler. It's like he's a regular person that happens to be an amazing professional musician. I assume a lot of them are like this, but you don't hear stories like this that often. Let us know how the tennis goes, if it pans out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top