Man, you can really associate the Lydian mode with Vai/Satch. I was listening to the mixolydian clip as I know that's one of Dave Grissom's favorite modes...I guess this is the mode Beck was mining in "Led Boots."
What a find interesting is figuring out which mode to play over which progressions. It's easier to make out when the backing chords have the notes contained in the mode (diataonic progressions) but say the bassist is just playing root notes or you're playing over simple root + 5 chords, the mode would determine the feel of the song.
Mark lifted the lid on the whole MODES thing in a way that I had never fully grasped until he created this thread - checkout the link to the demo clips on the first post of the thread. This is such a great example of how rockstah was always ready to contribute above and beyond to help out people on this forum. An awesome guy. Rest in peace bro.