rob@ctvax (06/28/85)
Concert Review (do we still do these apart from the Dead?) Yngwie Malmsteen and Rising Force Arcadia Theater, Dallas, Texas, 27 June 1985 Malmsteen is hailed as the next Eddie Van Halen, hence the title seen on T-shirts parodying the "Clapton is God" slogan from the sixties. Well he could be, if he had a backup band like Van Halen. Unfortunately, the rest of Rising Force is fairly average, but that permits Malmstten to shine and shine he does. The Hendrix influence is obvious (frottage with the amplifiers, playing with his teeth etc.) but Malmsteen has a style all his own. He is certainly very fast (Roll over Alvin Lee! B-) ), faster than McLaughlin, but pyrotechnics aren't everything. His classical influences are very evident but the thing that struck me most was a sense of oneness with his instrument, the ability to always be in control and ready with a run to fill in at any time. In this sense, he reminds me most of Hendrix, who played like he was born with a guitar in his hand. It was a good show, they played for about 90 minutes. If the tour comes to your town and you like flash guitar, go see them. Get there early to see the opening act, Talas (sp?). The bass player did a couple of incredible solos, including single hand pull-offs and hammer-ons with both hands simultaneously! "They'l get my guitar when they peel my cold dead fingers off the fretboard." Rob Spray ...convex!ctvax!rob