Joe Satriani

Joe Satriani is a guitarist's guitarist, someone who can also speak to the ears of nonnoodlephiles. By taking technical, blatantly wankcentric music and rescuing it from the cliché so common with other shredders (Yngwie Malmsteen being the ugliest example), Satriani creates layered music as opposed to a two-dimensional backdrop for his guitar prowess. 1992's instrumental "Summer Song" is just one example, and the song would end up elevating a lowly car commercial to catchy jingle status for an entire summer. Once teacher to a cast of well-known guitarists (Metallica's Kirk Hammet, Exodus' Gary Holt, Testament's Alex Skolnick, Larry Lalonde of Primus, and Charlie Hunter), Satriani's latest album, Is There Love in Space?, further refines the subtlety and restraint he displayed early on in his career. -- Saby Reyes-Kulkarni

Check out Joe Satriani at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, October 9, at Pompano Beach Amphitheatre, 1801 NE Sixth St., Pompano Beach. Tickets cost $33 to $43. Call 954-946-2402.