Buddy Guy At 75: Living On Blues Power

Sitting at Moody Theater last week, it was hard to imagine that Buddy Guy is now 75 years young. Not much has changed over the years. He can still hit that one note that will make your head spin, he can still have you smiling with his control of an audience, and he can still have you amazed by his guitar prowess.

Let’s face it – Buddy Guy can tear it up now just like he did 30 or 40 years ago. If he’s lost anything, it would be a few hairs on his head. But other than that, he can still play with the same fire and brimstone that has been his trademark all these years.

It seems like just yesterday – make that circa-1991-yesterday or so – that I first saw Buddy Guy at Antones. As a blues guitar player myself, I knew the legend that was Buddy Guy. But I had no idea what I was in for that night.

When that special night finally arrived, the night I would finally get to see Buddy Guy live on stage, I walked in to Antones to find the place jam-packed. All of the seats were filled, and people were standing two-deep at the bar. The only place to sit was on the dance floor, right in front of the stage, at the feet of a blues legend. I could only stare in awe as Guy worked the crowd as only he can. He walked through the crowd during his solo, walked out the front door, and played out on Guadalupe!

Over the years, I have seen him a number of times – at Antones, at Stubbs, and at the Austin Music Hall for the Stevie Ray Vaughan tribute concert. Each and every time, he has given his all. Each and every time, I have found myself smiling, bewildered, laughing, thankful, and deeply touched. Blues power, indeed.

His performance at Moody Theater was nothing short of brilliant much as it has been every time I have seen him perform. There is pure emotion in Buddy’s musicianship. You can see it in his eyes, in the smile on his face, in the way he takes the crowd to the edge, brings it down a notch, and then cranks it back up in a blaze of bent notes. That has always been the thing that has amazed me about Guy: he brings new meaning to the word “performer” while being an impressive guitar player at the same time.

In my eyes, there are very few guitarists or blues players that can play one note that just hits you deep down in your soul. The list is pretty short, and Guy heads the list.

Buddy Guy is one of the few living links to the generation of bluesmen that put the blues on the map. He ties Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters to Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and countless others. He is a true blues legend. I feel fortunate to have witnessed his incredible blues presence. Buddy Guy is living on blues power, 75 years young, and smiling along the way. It is a sight to behold.

Photo credits: Azimo