Jazz-rock Guitar Master Al Di Meola Seduces Yoshi's SF

About fours years ago, a musician friend raved about Al Di Medola's 30+ year career and called him the best guitarist he'd ever heard. A world-renowned contemporary composer and jazz guitar virtuoso whose style is in a league of its own. I did a little research and discovered that Al has won some of the most prestigious guitar awards and got his start with Chick Corea in 1974. He's created 21 albums in addition to collaborations with legends like Luciano Pavarotti, Paul Simon, Phil Collins, Santana, John McLaughlin, Steve Winwood, Herbie Hancock, Jaco Pastorius, Les Paul, Frank Zappa, Jimmy Page, Stevie Wonder, and many more.


I immediately jumped on the opportunity to see him live with his six piece "World Sinfoni" band. We landed at Yoshi's San Francisco at around 8:45pm to enjoy some Sake before the 10pm Al Di Meola show. Al highlighted several songs throughout his storied career while exuding great passion for his latest endeavor; La Melodia Live in Milano.

The show was especially interesting for someone like me who wasn't very familiar with his work. The sounds and vibe literally took me around the world and into Al's life. The band is comprised of world musicians from Budapest, Havana, Italy (Peo Alfonsi & Fausto Beccalossi) and Puerto Rican/Cuban decent (Gumbi Ortiz).

In particular, I was blown away by Fausto Beccalossi who played the Accordion like noone. Al introduced Fausto by saying that accordion was his first instrument, but he decided to stick with the guitar. He also expressed great love for Gumbi Ortiz who has played with Al for 20 years.

Al Di Meoli won a few new friends Friday night and I hope the band enjoys their stay in San Francisco this weekend!

Snoop Dogg's West Fest at Fillmore SF

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Diggity Daz out of the motherf$$kin cut once mo'

So grab a seat and grab your gin and juice and check out the flow"

Damn, this shit took me way back to 11th grade cruisin' around Philly wit "
Tha Dogg Pound." This was truly a memorable Sunday evening in San Francisco at the famous Fillmore. Snoop Dogg rolled in without his band and ran wit his DJ and a host of West Coast all-stars including Tha Dogg Pound, Western Union, Mistah F.A.B, Warzone and special guests Warren G. and Too Short!!! This was all an effort to have some fun with old friends and introduce some new ones. Snoop was also promoting his latest album Ego Trippin', which hit stores May 11, 2008.



View the West Fest Fillmore concert videos here:



With his pimp cup microphone cradle, Snoop bounced on the scene with an opening rendition of blah blah blah and followed with classic Doggystyle hits like Tha Shiznit, Gin & Juice, Lodi Dodi, Ain't No Fun. One early highlight happened as Snoop made one of several Dr. Dre honors before bustin' out my favorite shit "Deep Cover" with Daz & Kurupt on stage.

The show progressed from early Doggystyle and Dre recordings to his Death Row days with a tribute to 2Pac. The packed Fillmore crowd was covered in Chronic smoke by the time Warren G. hit the stage performing his classic "Regulate" track. The show ended with Oakland's OG Too Short movin' the crowd to "Blow the Whistle".

Hot in the City... San Francisco Tonight!!!

Billy Idol rocks the house down at the Fillmore in San Francisco!! After unexpectedly coming upon tickets, we found ourselves going to see the legendary 80s icon, Billy Idol with his crew including Steve Stevens. Prior to the show, we reminisced with all those sweet 80s tunes we've always loved, White Wedding, Dancing with Myself, Eyes without a Face. Idol's show totally blew away what we had been expecting. Not only did the band perform those classic hit after hit, but they did it with such an unexpected flare of blues, rock, punk and just sick guitar sounds. Idol came out song after song switching up his wardrobe each time. Surprisingly he looks great for 52 with his spikey bleach blonde full head of hair and he still blows you away with his voice. Into the 3rd song he reminisced with the audience about his first performance in SF back in 78 and being f***ed up on some methadrine drug.



Steve Stevens solo guitar performance left you in trance with influential sounds mixed with the Fillmore's trippy lighting effects. The entire band raged hard core on stage with such exploding energy as they continuously mixed up the show switching up instruments and even Idol himself beating on those drums. The audience went nuts singing along as Idol twisted up "Hot in the City... San Francisco Tonight!" and rocked out with Mony Mony as their encore while the keyboardist and drummer joined Stevens, Idol and other guitarist on stage with a hot 5 player guitar session. Idol and the bands performance left Brett and Christie blown away realizing that this was a once in a lifetime show to put down in the blog!! You rock Idol!!

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Billy Idol Set list (Fillmore, June 27, 2008)

Cradle of Love

Dancing with Myself

Flesh for Fantasy

John Wayne

Shock to the System

Sweet Sixteen

White Wedding

Speed

Eyes without a Face

Hot in the City (with an sf twist)

Ready Steady Go

LA Woman (with an sf twist)

Rebel Yell

Mony Mony

View the Billy Idol Fillmore concert videos here: