RACER X, Li-sa X, Unlucky Morpheus - "Scarified"

The performance from Paul Gilbert here isn't technically Racer X playing, it's the rhythm section from 2005 during his solo career. Specifically Marco Minnemann on drums (multi-instrumentalist virtuoso most known for playing drums in The Aristocrats with Guthrie Govan & Bryan Beller, though there's also a Koiai connection there, in that they toured together and he recently did an EP with their former singer Kotono) and bassist Linus of Hollywood (aka. Kevin Dotson, who is also a killer multi-instrumentalist). This comes from the performance DVD 'Space Ship Live' which came about by accident because they had a couple of days left over of already booked recording studio time, after completing the recording for his album 'Space Ship One' ahead of schedule. To make the most of it Paul hired some camera operators and filmed them playing through what was basically the live set for the upcoming tour, wearing astronaut outfits to match the visual from the front cover of the album. Li-sa-X's stage name/YT handle is totally inspired by Racer X and Paul Gilbert. Koiai's producer is her dad, who was her first guitar teacher and a pretty good instrumental player in his own right, going by the stage name Issei Ambo. In this performance the only thing she was struggling with was some of the bends where her tiny fingers didn't have the physical strength to do them, same as the tapping and some of the stretches. She'd only been playing properly 2-3yrs at this point so I hope you wouldn't consider this serious criticism on my part. Paul Gilbert still teaches regularly, he has his own online guitar academy and technically Li-sa is still his student despite turning 21 earlier this year, they've done guitar clinics together around the world in recent years in support of their roles as Ibanez endorsed artists. She has also done the same with Hazuki her fellow Koiai guitarist, who is almost like her unofficial older sister at this point, with them having worked together for nearly a decade. The original Racer X version of the song from their second album in 1987 was when they were a two guitar line-up, Paul being joined by his student Bruce Bouillet as second guitarist in the band, together with singer Jeff Martin, drummer Scott Travis and bassist John/Juan Alderete (who later went on to play with The Mars Volta & Marilyn Manson amongst others). The Quadratum by Unlucky Morpheus version of the song is closer to the original with Jill's violin and Jinya's guitar arranged to be emulating the two harmonised guitars. As you noted from the sheet music in the original the guitars were tuned down a half step to Eb, which was particularly commonplace for the style & the era, sounds a little heavier than standard and makes wide string bends easier with the lower string tension.

So we get "air flute" ... and lots of good stuff here ... notice Lisa X's performance done without cuts :) . This was fun ... sorry about the "collection of videos" but you handled it well. I did not know that a Robert Dick Glissando Headjoint was more expensive than many electric violins. I always learn something here. "Opportunity pineapple made me keep thinking of the old video "Pen Pineapple Apple Pen" ... if you don't know it you should look it up :p . Ok, now I have to go watch your Nuno reaction ;) .