It’s not every day that you get to watch guitar legend Steve Vai live on stage. Calcutta had the rare opportunity when the guitar guru touched down in the city as part of his Inviolate tour following up on the launch of his latest eponymous studio album. After touring more than 180 countries across the globe, he concluded his tour at the Ballroom of JW Marriott Kolkata on December 9. SkillBox in collaboration with LiveBox hosted, planned and ensured the smooth sailing of Vai’s Inviolate India 2023 tour. Vai performed in Calcutta after his shows in Mumbai and Bangalore and what he brought to the City of Joy was an emotional rollercoaster, an electrifying performance and a sonic treat!

The Grammy-winning artiste was accompanied by his bandmates Philip Earl Bynoe (bassist), Jeremy Colson (drummer) and Dante Frisiello. Vai performed his magic on his three-necked guitar, Hydra, and his other guitars, grooved like he’s just grown younger with the years, interacted with and mesmerised the audience with his charm, sass and energy.

It wasn’t just his much-loved pieces like Tender Surrender, Whispering a Prayer, Bad Horsie, and For the Love of God that impressed the crowd. The artiste who’s reigned the world of music for the last 43 years proved that he remains unbeatable when it comes to delivering a high-octane performance on stage. His suave, smooth-like-butter moves, coupled with the way he can play the guitar like it’s a game he’s mastered, made the audience swoon. The excited fans whipped out their placards, and their flashlights and indulged in a musical fiesta. The sheer texture and quality of the sounds he can produce jolt people out of their reverie and plunge them deep in thought on how rhythms can be jarring and impactful, how instrumental music can win you over if it’s done right.

After he wrapped up his performance for the night, t2 got to sit down with Vai for a quick chat. With a heart-warming smile, he spoke to me as if we were friends meeting after ages. The concepts of his songs have been born from deep philosophical and spiritual studies that he’s indulged in. Here’s what the legend had to say: “I started to come to India in 1995. I came three times before but I didn’t perform. Then I came back and played at certain festivals some years ago. But this experience was spectacular and so different and it’s because I came as a solo artiste. The experience of Calcutta and India in general is very unique because of the country’s unique environment at concerts. It’s unlike any other place I’ve been to. (Smiles) The people, the food, the art and the audiences, I have to tell you, they’re just crazy good. They’re so respectful and supportive. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect really. But I faced such a warm welcome. And I can see them humming to the different melodies and they’re so supportive and emanate a great energy,” said the maestro.

When we asked Vai about how he conceptualised Inviolate, he said, “Inviolate came together during the pandemic. It was actually a lockdown record because I was planning to do a different kind of record. But once there was a lockdown, I couldn’t do it because obviously nobody could come to the studio. So I started to feel that I should release some material for the fans as everybody else was in lockdown. I started recording a few things and Little Pretty is one of them. I did an acoustic version of The Moon and I, and then I had to get shoulder surgery because I tore my ligament. And I couldn’t play with one of my arms, so I did a song with one hand and it’s called Knappsack. Then I released some studio jamming with the fans and it got quite popular. And then the Hydra came — the three-necked guitar! I got a push to go on a tour and I wanted to do a major tour where I could perform at every territory that I could go (smiles). In Calcutta, it was the last show of that tour. We did 185 shows in 55 countries. This was the last show of the tour and it was very special.”

Steve Vai jamming with bassist Philip Earl Bynoe

He continued: “I wouldn’t say Inviolate was conceptualised. It was put together with songs that could work together. I thought it was a good time for me to focus on the guitar. Some of my pieces are very produced and compositional but with this, I felt, ‘Okay let me just focus on the guitar’. The way it has been received is fantastic! I like the word ‘inviolate’. What it means is unviolatable (sic), unable to damage, unable to touch and unable to harm. I came across that word in some spiritual studies that I was doing. It refers to the human spirit. The human spirit is inviolate. It’s actually not even from this world or the universe. But there’s only one thing that’s inviolate, untouchable and that’s the human spirit.”

Jeremy

Dante

The crowd at JW Marriott Kolkata chanted and cheered, “Steve Vai! Steve Vai! Steve Vai”, as the legend stole the spotlight with his sass, groove and magic fingers, belting out his compositions on stage!

Organiser speak:

“SkillBox just wrapped up hosting the iconic guitar maestro Steve Vai and his phenomenal band in India, and our joy knows no bounds. The tour resonated splendidly across three vibrant cities — Mumbai, Bangalore, and Calcutta — drawing enthusiastic crowds of fans. Steve and the band delivered a spellbinding performance, showcasing some of the most extraordinary moments this country has witnessed. Reliving this experience would be a privilege, and SkillBox eagerly looks forward to what’s next,” said (l-r) Anmol Kukreja (founder and CEO of SkillBox), Amarjeet Singha (president of touring & festivals) and Roydon Bangera (chief business officer).

"I have been touring as the local tour manager with our major bookings for a year and it's been a roller coaster ride, to say the least, but also so rewarding and humbling to see great artistes like Steve Vai in person and to have been able to interact with them, have inspiring chats about things that are important and their music. Every tour has different dynamics and it's always a learning process because India logistically isn't a very easy country to tour and have back-to-back shows! Although it's not been entirely easy, artistes and their crew like Steve Vai, and Jacob Collier (he finished his latest album while on tour on the first gig day of the Indian Solo Piano tour which was also my birthday and it will be one of the most memorable ones ever) have made it so nice and warm to be able to do our jobs. This also wouldn't have happened without our small but lean and mean team who helped leaving no stone unturned to make my job go smooth, so a big shoutout to them and all the local volunteers and vendors. They know who they are and I can't thank them enough. All in all, it's been a great year and we are looking forward to next year as we hit the roads again in February with The Midnight and then Tesseract in April! Believe me I am so excited because we have a lot more lined up," said Kallol Bordoloi, head of artiste and repertoire at SkillBox.

Opening act: Amyt Datta and Electric Power Quartet

“Our upcoming album is Electric and it is in the process of being mastered and should be ready soon. It’s always thrilling to go up on stage and perform and it was quite special to play before Vai. It was great to see people responding to our music in such an incredible way. It was indeed inspiring. I hope good music always has support for it to carry on…,” said Amyt Datta, who performed pieces from the upcoming album along with the Amyt Datta Electric Power Quartet as an opening act before Vai took the stage.

Bassist Aakash with Amyt Datta Electric Power Quartet

VAI FANS AT THE GIG!

“Among the virtuoso rock guitar players Steve Vai is definitely one of my favourites! I still can’t believe that I got to hear Whispering a Prayer, Building the Church and For The Love Of God played right in front of me by the man himself! His showmanship and his deeply expressive playing completely bowled me over,” said blues guitarist and singer/songwriter, Arinjoy Sarkar.