This is how I feel about Joe Satriani. I'm amazed what he can do with his instrument, and can watch him on concert videos for extended times, but can I actually sit down and listen to his guitar fret gymnastics, well no, not for an extended period of time
I agree !! What’s crazy is guys like Satch and Stevie Vai can be so amazingly melodic players . I personally like both these guys better when they slow down because they’re so tasty . I feel like the still have to appeal to their Guitar gymnastics, million note a second crowd which is cool but it’s not my thing . Vai has a song called “Tender Surrender” that is absolutely gorgeous. However , half way into the song he just goes into shred la-la land and it just kills the song for me . Check it out , you will hear what I’m talking about . Guys like Jeff Beck and Gary Moore (RIP) could play blazingly fast but they used it so sparingly that it Just made it jump out so much more when they did it . To me Eric Johnson is just the perfect blend of all of it !!