Hard Rock/Metal

SatchVai Band displayed its instrumental prowess at Mesa Amphitheatre

April 22, 2026

SatchVai Band Concert 2026 — SatchVai Band Concert at Mesa Amphitheatre, Mesa, AZ on April 10th. 2026

Review by Val Tapia
Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: Danny Zelisko Presents (https://dzplive.com/ )
Venue: Mesa Amphitheatre, Mesa, AZ (https://www.mesaamp.com/ )
Date: Friday April 10^th, 2026
Tour: Surfing With The Hydra Tour

Hmmm… let’s see now. Great weather? Check. Great venue? Check. Combine those factors with two of rock’s most significant guitar virtuosos of the 1980s joining forces together in the SatchVai Band, it all added up to one happy (and laid back) audience on Friday April 10th.

SatchVai Band Concert at Mesa Amphitheatre, Mesa, AZ on April 10th. 2026

Yes, the SatchVai Band consists of guitarists Joe Satriani and Steve Vai along with third guitarist Pete Thorn, bassist Marco Mendoza and drummer Kenny Aronoff. Taking the stage at 8:00 p.m. sharp at the gorgeous Mesa Amphitheatre, the 110-minute, 18-song set commenced with the band’s latest single “Dancing” off their forthcoming debut album— scheduled for release later this year.

It was a little odd seeing the (official) video of the song played on the screen, but it did get a few laughs out of the crowd due to its comedic script. It was also directed by Satriani’s son ZZ.

To the band’s credit, the first three songs of the night were all SatchVai songs. It was their way of saying that this was a real band that’s interested in the now, not just merely rehashing Satriani and Vai’s past solo work.

Another newbie, “I Wanna Play My Guitar” featured lead vocals by Mendoza. On the original studio recording, the lead vocals are handled by no other than the legendary Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple (Mk. III) fame. Not an easy task to take on I imagine, but Mendoza pulled it off… “okay”, I suppose.

On this tour, Satriani and Vai incorporate a “tag team” approach, as Vai described to Beneath A Desert Sky in a recent interview. Immediately following “The Sea Of Emotion, Pt. 1” Satriani exited stage right while Vai went into “Zeus In Chains” followed by “Little Pretty” (both from his 2022 album Inviolate).

I guess it wasn’t too surprising that the 2500 fans in attendance (that number according to Mesa Amp staff) would get at least one song in hybrid form. With that, “Ice 9” (from Satriani’s 1987 classic Surfing With The Alien) and Vai’s “The Crying Machine” served that expectation pretty well. When one sees them mesh so well together onstage, it’s a wonder why it took 50 years to put this band together. But I digress.

Next, it was time for Satriani to take “center stage”, if you will, for an exceptional rendition of “Flying In A Blue Dream” and the inevitable “Surfing With The Alien”. The most significant aspect of Satriani’s music is that he never forgets the importance of the song. Those two songs alone exemplify that viewpoint perfectly.

For that reason alone, I contend that’s the exact reason why his music has held up well over time, compared to many of his contemporaries in the guitar world. Starting with an incredible guitarist named Yngwie Malmsteen. But that’s another topic for another day.

It was very impressive to see how Satriani and Vai found that happy medium of collaboration onstage as well. A song like “Sahara” (from Satriani’s 2022 album The Elephants Of Mars) really benefited with the “blending in” of both guitarists’ styles so well. That’s what true musical chemistry looks like onstage.

Most importantly though, neither of them tried to “outdo” the other at any point during the show. It was clear that they left their egos at the door and did what was best for the band and the audience. In fact, Satriani seemed to have come out of his shell more onstage than ever before.

Compared to Satriani’s shy mannerisms during the Flying In A Blue Dream Tour in March 1990 at Celebrity Theatre, it was surprising seeing him interact with the audience a lot more now compared to then. At the height of his career no less.

I overheard a couple of fans in front of me saying they hoped Vai would bring out the infamous “Hydra” guitar. And yes, good readers, they got their wish. After a killer rendition of “Teeth Of The Hydra”, Satriani joked that he’s “glad” that he doesn’t have to “change the strings on it”.

Whether it’s with SatchVai Band or Satriani solo, it’s imperative that “Satch Boogie” is performed. I’ll just say that it still goes down a storm in 2026.

Rounding out the main set with both guitarists onstage for Vai’s “For The Love Of God” and Satriani’s “Always With Me, Always With You” they proved that there is room for instrumental music on the touring circuit today. Good to see the SatchVai Band wanting to keep that flame burning.

Speaking candidly, the three-song encore was somewhat lackluster in my opinion. Yes, Satriani’s “Crowd Chant” (from 2006’s Super Colossal) is okay. However, in short order, “One Big Rush” crushes it. That is quintessential Joe Satriani.

As for covering Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” and Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild”? Well, that was completely unnecessary. Yes, I get that they wanted to conclude their show on a fun note with songs that everybody knows. But with two exceptional musicians like Joe Satriani and Steve Vai in the same band? Really?

To that point, why not play dual renditions of Vai’s “The Audience Is Listening” (yes, a song with a Van Halen bent to it just like “Satch Boogie”) and Satriani deep cut “Circles”? Or “(You’re) My World” from his 1995 self-titled album, a lost classic if there ever was one. But again, I digress.

Animals As Leaders Concert at Mesa Amphitheatre, Mesa, AZ on April 10th. 2026

Opening act Animals as Leaders was impressive overall. It was great to see the L.A.-based trio get a 10-song, hour long set. Trust me, that doesn’t happen very often with opening acts. At most, shows with one opening act get 45 to 50-minutes to “win” over people who aren’t familiar with their music. Not a minute more either.

I have to admit I chuckled at some of the expressions on some older attendees’ faces who (I presume) felt that their music was a little too “extreme” for them.

Songs like opening number “Gestaltzerfall” and “Micro-Aggressions” really do take instrumental music to the next level for new generations of listeners. I can understand why SatchVal would take them out on tour. As for “Physical Education”, that was perhaps the standout song in the set.

The final verdict? Despite the predictable covers during the encore, I’ll give the Surfing With The Hydra Tour four out of five stars. On musical integrity alone.

A job well done gentlemen.

SatchVai Photos

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