The Artist kicked our behinds once more this morning and wasn't apologizing! He was extra excited this time and so were we. Rumor had it that the band No Doubt was in the house watching and might join the band on stage. And as the Artist, Larry, Morris, Estelle, Kirk, Mike, and Kip hit the stage with "Higher", the rumor became fact! I turned around only to see Gwen Stefani chillin with Bush's Gavin Rossdale and the rest of No Doubt while they were checkin out the show from the back staircase. Tommy Barbarella was running around somewhere, too, sporting his new dreads. Let's just say, the anticipation started to grow.



After the heavy audience participation of "Higher", it was "funky finger up" for a tight version of GCS's, "The Jam". Larry got mean during that final solo! They eased into, "Teddy Bear" and "Courtin' Time" which fit perfectly together, showing how versatile it can get a Paisley show. And threw in a couple old Sly tunes for good measure. "Thank You" and "Everyday People" were the ones selected, much to the pleasure of the people who came to party.



The Artist was going through guitars like outfits during the set which was cool to see. After blowing up the spot on, "Habibii", he'd switch to the, "Blue Angel", then to his old style axe and at one point he even snatched the, "One-eyed Bass" for bit. It was good seeing him pick that thing up again.



The band did a LONG version of, "Come On" and fell on a groove that was too funky to move away from. They stayed for awhile as the Artist started making little remarks to Gwen from onstage. At one time he joked that she was running the sound. Of course he didn't refer to her by name. He'd call her Gwen or just G.S. After the funk stopped it was time for the blues!



"The Ryde" seemed to fit the mold quite nicely as the Artist showed us exactly what blues guitar was all about! I don't know how many times I can say this but each time I go to Paisley, the guitar playing just gets better and better! His guitar playing on, "The Ryde" was just too sick and far outshined the released version! At one point, he even had the thing squealing in cartoon like voices!! The audience was laughing at this as the man's ability is just plain SILLY! "Um....Eric, who? Clapton, what? Cream? Wasn't that on, 'Diamonds And Pearls'?" He even amazed HIMSELF! He approached the mic after the "hurricane" started to die down, ready to turn something out vocally, and just started crackin up! Kinda like, "What am I supposed to say after that?" He just held up Habibi and said that he was "just checking to see if it worked". Um, it worked! Overtime, on holidays, and for only seven bucks! However, I don't know how many times I can listen to this Guitar God without being frustrated that I don't have that kinda stuff to listen to and study at home! Maybe one day.



The band was jamming on something as the Artist welcomed Mayte to the stage! She came on and really worked it for the crowd. We ate it up! I think everyone was really glad to see her. I wished we could see more of her like we used to! After that, the first farewells were said and the band went of stage for all of a minute! They were soon back on as the Artist started ripping into the guitar solo for, "Let's Go Crazy", only to start a great version of, "She's Always In My Hair". He did, "U Got the Look", "Kiss", and closed with, "Gett Off".



These hits definitley got their share of audience particpation as well. We were invited to sing the entire last verse of, "Kiss"! At some point during the night, the Artist admonished Gavin Rossdale for resting is head on the railing like he was tired. The Artist pointed at him at put rested his head on a "pillow" of his two hands. Everybody looked and kinda chuckled at him. Apparently, he was wiped out, too!



Unfortunately, the Artist's guests didn't join him onstage. And as he started to realize this, he started poking fun at the even more! He started talkin about G.S. and said that she looked just like this girl in the front row who was invited onstage to dance! This was obviously a joke, due to the fact that this girl was big and she was black! If youve seen Gwen, you know she's just a little cute blonde girl and looked nothing like this guest, who was invited on stage. She held her own and as the final farewells were said she was helped off stage by Mike Scott.



That's about it!

Great guitar once again!



Makes me long for a new hardcore guitar cd!