Special guest Steve Lukather immediately raised the energy level with his fast & furious guitar playing on the Yardbirds classic Shapes of things. The night was also a celebration of the new Yardbirds CD Birdland on Steve Vai's Favored Nations label. Luke contributed to the CD on the renewed old song Happenings ten years time ago. Steve played that song live as one of his two songs as the lead guitar player. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter (Doobie Brothers/Steely Dan) also played lead guitar on two songs during the night. The night was a combination of songs off the new CD & Yardbirds classics. But the best was yet to come.
After the Yardbirds closed their set Luke, "Skunk" Baxter & Steve Vai (Whitesnake/David Lee Roth) all came out for an All-Star jam. Lukather took it upon himself to conduct the guitar group which also included Yardbirds lead guitarist Gypie Mayo. Vai had numerous gear problems but Luke saved the day by unplugging himself & playing impromptu guitar tech by plugging his cord into Vai's guitar. Luke then plugged his cord into everyones guitar one by one turning an embarrassing situation into a humorous one! Once the technical problems subsided it was a guitarfest with all four players taking turns & then jamming together. The blues/Zeppelin jam brought the house down. The Yardbirds were rounded out by John Idan on lead vocals & bass with Alan Glen on harmonica & vocals.
Stevelukather.com, June 25th 2003
