An allstar panel of guitar godzillas stomps the stage at the Count Basie this evening, with the coming of the Generation Axe package tour.
While it’s always been a voice-friendly venue for singers of all stripes, the Count Basie Theatre has also served as a guitar-shredder’s showcase for major players like Jeff Beck, Pat Metheny and recent Red Bank returnee Joe Satriani. But when the allstar tour known as Generation Axe rolls into town tonight, May 9, devotees of such instrumental Illuminati may find themselves seeing and hearing quintuple.
“Supergroup” seems an altogether too modest way to describe this unprecedented assembly of guitar avengers; one that combines several headline-worthy masters of metallic-fusion alloy with some surprising jam-mates, and a climactic convergence that promises even more hyper-stimulating surprises.
Featured is triple Grammy winner Steve Vai, the platinum-plated, Satriani-mentored speedster of the strings who apprenticed with old master Frank Zappa as a teen — and whose subsequent star-trek has seen him ably abet David Lee Roth, Johnny Rotten and Whitesnake while releasing over a dozen celebrated solo albums. He’ll be sharing the stage with arena-rocking Swedish master Yngwie Malmsteen, the “neoclassical metal” master whose 30 year career includes a “Concerto for Electric Guitar and Orchestra” recorded with the Czech Philharmonic.
Ocean County native Zakk Wylde, former guitar lieutenant for Ozzy Osboure and field marshal of Black Label Society, completes the triumvirate of headliners, on the heels of his 2016 solo release Book of Shadows II. Nuno Bettencourt, who first came to the public eye as a member of the early 90s band Extreme (“More Than Words”), struts the stuff that’s made him an in-demand tour sideman and session ace for the likes of Rihanna, Janet Jacson and Dweezil Zappa.
Representing a younger generation on the Generation Axe frontline, Tosin Abasi makes a Shore area debut independent of his instro-prog band Animals as Leaders. The five star attractions will be backed on their spotlight sets by bassist Pete Griffin (Zappa Plays Zappa), Malmsteen keyboardist Nick Marinovich, and Animals as Leaders drummer Matt Garstka — and the 8 p.m. concert culminates in a five-way jam on “some well-knwn songs (as well as probably a few unexpected, unearthed gems).
Tickets for tonight’s Generation Axe: A Night of Guitars ($59 – $129) are still available right here, where you’ll also find details on available VIP options priced at $225, $325 and $425.
