Gettin’ The Blues With The Legendary Buddy Guy In Charlotte
Damn Right Farewell Tour Stops At Ovens Auditorium
Since I’m a rock chick at heart, it makes sense that I’m also a fan of the blues, the genre that started it all and there’s absolutely nobody who exudes the blues more than the legendary Buddy Guy. When he announced his Damn Right Farewell Tour, I knew I had to experience Buddy in action one more time. Born the son of Louisiana sharecroppers, Buddy got his start on a handmade guitar before graduating to his first Harmony acoustic. Before long, Guy was moved to Chicago and gigging as a session player at Chess Records with the great Muddy Waters. Since then, Buddy has become a true blues legend, winning 8 Grammy Awards, and the Kennedy Center Honors, and has been voted one of the best guitarists of all time.
With a resume like that, Guy could easily sit back and rest on his laurels but his creative juices are still flowing. He is still putting out new albums including his latest The Blues Don’t Lie and has embarked on a whirlwind farewell tour at the young age of 86. Yes, that’s right folks, 86 years old and still going strong. Perhaps the blues is the true fountain of youth. The tour recently made a stop right here in the Queen City and Charlotte music fans packed Ovens Auditorium for a night with the legend that they would never forget.
Our evening got started with Christone Ingram, aka, Kingfish, a young blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter that is quickly making a name for himself in the blues world ever since his 2019 debut album Kingfish on Alligator Records. In addition to being nominated for a Grammy Award, the album went to #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts and spent an amazing 91 weeks on the charts. Ingram took the stage backed by a talented group of musicians and quickly won over the hearts of the audience. This young man can wail! He may be young but he has an old soul because I would put him note for note with any bluesman anywhere at any time. Kingfish is the real deal. His guitar work is an emotional ride, taking us to new heights and down deep valleys in a whirlwind that simply takes your breath away. His latest release 662 pays homage to those elder bluesmen as well as his hometown area code in Northern Mississippi, a much more personal record than his debut and one that explores not only where he came from but where he is heading. I’m sure we will be hearing a lot more Christone Ingram in the years to come as he carries the blues torch proudly for a new generation of music lovers. The bottom line here is this is a legend in the making. If you’re heading out to a show, get there early because his set should not be missed.
Now, after a set like that, it would be difficult if not impossible to top the talent and energy, but coming up next was not just any musician, but the one and only Buddy Guy. I think we all knew we were about to experience a taste of greatness but little did we know just how fantastic it would be.
Buddy’s band appears first kicking things off with an intro of “Damn Right, I’ve Got The Blues” which of course was a perfect start to the Damn Right Farewell Tour. Buddy soon joined them, taking his spot at the center microphone, Fender Stratocaster in hand and it was on. We got a little Willie Dixon’s “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man” as Buddy went through a series of guitar tricks, handling that Strat like the seasoned pro he is.
In between legendary songs, Guy entertained the fans with plenty of stories, and one thing for sure is Mr. Guy is very spry for 86 years old. As my father always says, “I’m not dead yet,” and neither is Buddy that’s for sure. His stories were full of sexual innuendo as he made thrusting motions with his hips and his language was enough at times to make a sailor blush which only made me love him all the more. Hell, if I have half the energy he does at that age, I’d be happy indeed.
But of course, this is a blues show, and at the heart of the blues is Buddy’s incredible guitar work. He had many tricks up his sleeve, playing with a drumstick and I think what was a hand towel at some point as he held that Strat up to the stack of amps so we could feel it deep down into our bones. It’s not all the tricks that make Guy one of the greats though. It’s his sound and his style that does it. I truly think that he was born to play the blues. Maybe that sounds cliche, but it definitely takes a special something that not everyone has to allow the emotions and feelings to come pouring through the way Buddy does. He is in a league of his own and we were all in awe of his talent.
Whether you’re a hardcore fan of the blues or a more casual listener, an evening with Buddy Guy will definitely have you declaring “Damn Right, I’ve Got The Blues,” as you witness just a little of his magic for yourself. As of now, the tour runs through early October, so don’t miss your chance to grab tickets while you still can.
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Tour Dates:
Apr 10 – St Kilda, Australia – Palais Theatre
Apr 12 – Sydney, Australia – Enmore Theatre
Apr 14 – Sydney, Australia – Enmore Theatre
Apr 27 – Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
Apr 28 – Iowa City, IA – Hancher Auditorium
Apr 29 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center
Apr 30 – Nashville, TN – Brown County Music Center
May 09 – Green Bay, WI – Epic Event Center
May 10 – Clear Lake, IA – Surf Ballroom
May 11 – Omaha, NE – Holland PAC
May 13 – Corbin, KY – Corbin Arena
Jun 08 – Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Jun 09 – Ridgefield, CT – Ridgefield Playhouse
Jun 10 – Lewiston, NY – Artpark Mainstage Theater
Jun 13 – Northampton, MA – Pines Theater
Jun 15 – Kingston, NY – Ulster PAC
Jun 16 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort
Jun 17 – Syracuse, NY – New York State Blues Festival
Jun 18 – New York, NY – Central Park Summerstage
Jun 22 – Milwaukee, WI – Summerfest
Jun 23 – Grand Rapids, MI – Frederik Meijer Gardens Amphitheater
Jun 24 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Jun 25 – Huber Heights, OH – The Rose Music Center at The Heights
Jun 28 – Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Jazz Festival
Jun 30 – Montreal, QC – Montreal Jazz Fest
Jul 01 – Portland, OR – Waterfront Blues Festival
Jul 07 – Rotterdam, NL – North Sea Jazz Festival
Jul 08 – Cognac, FR – Cognac Blues Passions Festival
Jul 11 – Paris, FR – L’Olympia
Jul 16 – Prague, CZ – Congress Centre
Jul 19 – Sdot Yam, Israel – Caesarea Amphitheater
Jul 20 – Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel – Culture Hall
Jul 29 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green*
Aug 01 – Las Vegas, NV – The Smith Center*
Aug 03 – Bakersfield, CA – Mechanics Bank Theater*
Aug 04 – Rohnert Park, CA – Weill Hall
Aug 05 – Lincoln, CA – The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino Resort
Aug 09 – Spokane, WA – First Interstate Center
Aug 10 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
Aug 17 – South Bend, IN – Morris PAC
Aug 19 – Cleveland, OH – Jacobs Pavilion
Aug 23 – Highland Park, IL – Fiesta Ravinia (with George Benson)
Sep 06 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl
Sep 07 – San Diego, CA – Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Sep 14 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond Festival
Sep 28 – Greensburg, PA – Palace Theatre
Oct 03 – Boston, MA – The Wilbur
Oct 04 – Medford, MA – Chevalier Theatre
