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Concert Review: Buddy Guy at the Sun Center 8/11/2014
 
  by: JoeS - Springfield, PA
started: 08/16/14 2:58 pm | updated: 08/16/14 2:58 pm
 
The Buddy Guy concert at the Sun Center on Monday Aug. 11th was like a present of a blues legend wrapped in a box of a great young blues artist with a surprise bow. Quinn Sullivan, the box, is an accomplished blues/soul artist. What is remarkable is that he is just 16. He appeared on Ellen DeGeneres in 2001 at 5 and his career has been steadily progressing with the likes of Buddy Guy using him to warm-up his audience.

Quinn took the stage and about half way through his first number, the crowd was just mesmerized. Just like his mentor Buddy Guy, he also plays a Fender Stratocaster. Boy, does he give that thing a workout. To top it off, he is a gifted singer with enough soul to make collard greens plush. He played mostly original tunes off of his two albums Cyclone and Getting There. “My Sweet Guitar” and “Cyclone” are the bookends of his range from riffs that remind you of the great Jeff Beck with a voice that has a bit of that Robert Plant pleading. It is no wonder why one of the greatest guitar masters and blues artist has this young man on the bill.

This is only the third time I've got to see Buddy perform. The last time was a decade ago and the only thing that has changed is, I've aged. He is a timeless treasure of talent, wit and charisma. When you are a music addict like myself, you appreciate that Buddy Guy is one of the reasons that you have had the pleasure to enjoy the likes of Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and the many rock, funk and soul artists. His influence is deep and wide.

Buddy appears and we all stand and cheer! He smiles and asks us to give Quinn another round of applause. “Damn Right I've Got the Blues" set the tone for the night, tight and salty. We all got a big laugh when he did “74 Years Young”! Buddy stopped a couple of bars in and said, “Shit, I'm 78 Years Young!” If he has aged in the last 20 or so years, it is very subtle. The power, the speed and the dexterity he demonstrates is as amazing as ever, in some ways more amazing. He was soaking up the adulation of his audience. His appreciation of that adulation is only surpassed by the joy he shows when he performs.

Buddy demonstrates his love of the blues by bringing along the likes of Quinn Sullivan. On this night, he asked if any young folks in the audience brought their guitars and would like to play. There were at least 8 or so kids jumping up and down. He picked this young lady of 16. She came up to the stage and yes she had a Stratocaster, probably why he choose her? He asked her if ”She knew who Eric Clapton was?” She answered, "you mean Layla?” he said yes and she blistered us. Buddy laughed so hard he lost his voice. He then asked “how about Led Zeppelin?" Yes she launched into “Whole Lotta Love.” The crowd got up and went just crazy. Buddy was about 75% through the show and let her stay and play with Quinn and his band for the rest of the concert.

The high point was when he ventured into the audience during “Drowning On Dry Land.” It was an opportunity to get a picture and see this genius close up. When he went back up to the stage he gave away guitar picks. I did not get one.

He finished the evening with two of my favorites, “Voodoo Child” and “Strange Brew.” He did some guitar gymnastics, behind his head and between his legs. At his point we all knew the end was near and our excitement got to Buddy and he went on for another 15 or so minutes!

There was no encore just a warm goodbye!! It was an honor and something special to see this living legend, this genius, this musical historian, this great performer. He deserves and has received all the awards: Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, 6 Grammy Awards, National Metal Of The Arts. This was a great concert on every level. The Sun Center is easy to get to, parking is simple and only $10, and to top it off - not a bad seat in the house. See the great Buddy Guy you'll never forget it.
 
 
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