The Side-Eye project lets the veteran guitarist fold decades of melody-first jazz into a nimble trio with rising players. This III+ edition leans on keys and drums, a modern echo of the lyric approach he refined after the passing of Lyle Mays.

A veteran melody-maker with new sparks

Expect a set that reworks classics like Are You Going With Me?, Phase Dance, and Last Train Home, with new sketches shaped for quick pivots.

A room that listens, then surges

Crowds tend to be a mix of student musicians, longtime record-heads, and curious listeners who value quiet rooms and big dynamics. You may notice people perk up when the brass-sounding guitar synth appears, a sign that a deep solo is about to bloom. Trivia fans: his debut Bright Size Life was cut when he was 21, and the blue-box synth tone comes from an early Roland unit he still favors. Another quirk is how he rotates young keys and drum voices through Side-Eye, keeping the book fresh while the core melodies stay intact. Just so it's clear, any setlist and production notes here are gleaned from recent shows and may shift on the night.

Pat Metheny Fans, Up Close

The scene skews mixed in age, with denim and dark button-downs next to conservatory hoodies and a few vintage band shirts. People tend to listen hard, then burst at the end of a solo, and the biggest cheer often greets the long held synth note near the end of Are You Going With Me?.

Quiet focus, big releases

You will spot guitar heads trading pickup and string lore by the bar, while piano students compare voicings they hear in Phase Dance. Merch leans simple, often Side-Eye branding and a couple of archival designs that nod to the ECM era.

Lore, merch, and gentle flexes

Between songs, stories about Midwest gigs, Lyle Mays, and early van days pass in low, affectionate tones. Post-show chatter is casual and kind, with people naming favorite records like Offramp and Bright Size Life rather than chasing photos.

Pat Metheny: How the Sound Breathes Live

The guitar voice leads with a soft attack and clear notes, then leans into long sustain when the synth rig comes on. Arrangements often start as small duos, guitar with keys or drums, before the trio snaps in on a clean figure.

Notes that sing, tech that whispers

Tempos breathe, with tunes stretching at the top of a chorus and tightening for the hits that frame a solo. A lesser-noted live habit is shifting familiar themes down a step so organ chords speak warmer and the bass drum sits fatter under the line. The band supports by leaving air under the melody, with keys favoring organ pads and crisp counter-lines, and drums riding on the cymbal to keep it buoyant.

Small moves, big lift

When the blue-box GR tone arrives, forms open up, letting the guitarist hold one long note while harmony turns underneath. Lighting stays simple and warm, nudging peaks without pulling focus from the interplay. Expect the occasional medley that threads a standard or an early group theme into a new groove, then resolves back to the hook.

If You Like Pat Metheny, You Might Like These

Fans of John Scofield will click with the elastic groove and blues tint that push long solos without losing the tune. If you like the spacious, textural side of guitar, Bill Frisell maps to the lyric focus and quiet drama in the ballads.

Kinship across modern jazz

Piano-driven improvisers such as Brad Mehldau share the patient build and the way harmony is stretched in small steps. For ensemble interplay and crisp modern chops, Snarky Puppy aligns with the tight hits, layered keys, and an audience of working musicians.

Where grooves meet melody

Scofield and Frisell carry the Americana color that peeks through these melodies, while Mehldau and Snarky fans expect long-form arcs and rhythmic puzzles. If those names sit in your playlist, this trio's swing, synth color, and singable themes should feel like home.