August 7, 2026
Legendary Montreal Guitarist Frank Marino Returns for a rare free outdoor concert
The word “underrated” is almost ubiquitous when it comes to musicians — particularly guitarists, but Frank Marino is truly worthy of the term, if only for this one accolade: “Frank is a very powerful performer and was an inspiration to me at a very critical time in my musical
evolution.” — Steve Vai
Steve Vai played with Frank Zappa in the 1980s at age 20, and over the next couple decades he more or less reinvented what the electric guitar could do. This is massively high praise.
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I admittedly wasn’t well-versed in Marino’s back catalogue, but a couple friends who insisted attending this show was a must helped ensure I was prepared. I almost always appreciate an artist in concert more with a frame of reference from their recorded work.
But this was about far more than a man’s music. Apart from playing three songs at last year’s Live Aid 40 Montreal, he hasn’t performed live since 2010, and had announced his retirement five years ago due to nerve damage in his shoulders. One would never know that he is playing through intense pain “like a hockey player,” as he puts it. It has taken him years of extremely hard work to get to a point where he could perform again.
Fans delighted at the announcement of this gig in his hometown of Montreal, and the internet was buzzing for the days leading up to it. People travelled great lengths. The friend I attended the show with drove eight hours from New Brunswick. He and I spoke with the young woman at his merch table, whom we soon learned was Frank’s daughter. She assured us that she and her father were equally excited about what was soon to take place.
A stage was set up at the corner of Jean Talon and St Laurent. Our headliner was supposed to start at 9:15 PM, and he came on 15 minutes early. If this was in South America there may well have been a riot!
I’ve seen and heard thousands of rock guitarists, so admittedly my expectations are high and I’m always seeking something innovative, wondering what someone brings to the table that is uniquely theirs. Marino has often been referred to as a Hendrix knock-off, but it very quickly became clear that he is so much more than that.
His playing is as fluid as ever, and exceptionally musical with great phrasing. He’s not quite Al Di Meola or John McLaughlin, but he has dipped more than a toe into jazz fusion. And vocally he was still strong as well.
The show began with three of his well-known pieces — “The Answer,” “Dragonfly” and “Something’s Comin’ Our Way.” And then came “Red House,” and all eyes were glued on him. Perhaps it’s his own fault that he is forever tied to Jimi Hendrix when he has such a vast canon of his own material. But when you see his take on this piece and then experience the rest of what’s in his arsenal, you understand where he came from and how he became the player he is.
One thing that stood out to me was that his rhythm guitarist had a clean sound from his Marshall cabinet, which was pretty unique in a rock setting. It nicely laid out the red carpet for Frank to preach his sermon. His band was very tight and well-rehearsed, as these songs with all kinds of left-of-centre chord and time changes need to be played with precision.
But as solid as his band was, it was Frank’s solo spot that was the centrepiece of the show. One of his signature pieces is “Electric Reflections of War,” where he creates an effect of a 747 flying overhead with his Gibson SG’s whammy bar, feedback and delay, which is truly remarkable. His band rejoined him and they segued into a gorgeous medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” a Celtic-sounding “Tomorrow Never Knows” and a soaring “Amazing Grace.” His arrangement of the lattermost was utterly magnificent with its expensive chords and repeating the verse over and over again with a gradual crescendo. By the third time around I realized how truly special this musician is.
They finished with The Doors’ “Roadhouse Blues,” with a jam of wailing guitar and harmonica played by his friend Jim Zeller who guested on the song. It easily could have been like two cats scratching a chalkboard at once, but somehow it all worked beautifully.
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But as much as it was a musical marvel, it was also a hero’s welcome. I was surrounded by guys 20 and 30 years my senior singing every word of every song. Extremely dedicated fans to someone who is just as much a part of the story of the electric guitar as any of the biggest names of the past seventy years. There wasn’t a whole lot of showmanship — he’s a musician’s musician. And he’s also a dad rocker. Few people achieve both of those things, and Frank Marino has.
Hopefully this isn’t the end for Marino, as he still has plenty of gas left in the tank. In fact, compared to his live albums that are described as him at his peak, that’s exactly where he still is.
