Wednesday night in Saratoga Springs, and one of rock guitar’s most technically gifted players is making a stop on the WROC World Tour. Doors open at Putnam Place at 6:30 PM — this one carries a 21+ age restriction, so plan accordingly before you make the drive.
About Paul Gilbert
Paul Gilbert built his name by co-founding Racer X and then Mr. Big, cementing himself as one of the architects of shred guitar in the process. Platinum album sales and sold-out shows around the world followed. What has kept him interesting over the decades is an unwillingness to stay in any one lane — his catalog moves through punk, pop, classical, blues, jazz, and progressive instrumental like he is collecting genres instead of settling into one.
The current tour centers on WROC, an album with a premise that sounds like a deliberate challenge: the lyrics are adapted from George Washington’s historical guidebook Rules of Civility. The record was tracked largely live, which means what you hear on the studio version is close to what you will get on stage. Gilbert summed it up: “I’ve got one in front of me for a monitor, and one behind me to rock the house. Classic tone that gets my pedals across loud, clear and full of WROC!”
About the Support: Greg Koch
Opening the night is Greg Koch — a Milwaukee-based guitarist his own peers describe as “one of the most famous unknown guitar players in the world.” Koch has Hal Leonard instructional credits, a catalog of viral guitar demonstration videos, and a recent release called Greg Koch Blues. He performs with The Koch-Marshall Trio, pairing his guitar with organ and drums for a lean setup that keeps the focus exactly where it belongs.
The Venue
Putnam Place — Saratoga Springs’ Premier Live Music Venue & Nightclub — is located at 63A Putnam St., Saratoga Springs, NY. This is a 21+ show in the Albany / Capital Region.
Tickets
Tickets are $50, available via TickPick. Doors open at 6:30 PM, showtime is 7:30 PM.