Buddy Guy: Live in Peoria

By: Jesse James Mazzoccoli

As the night crept by and the Sun slowly started to set, the backdrop changed from a pale blue sky to a multi-gray canvas with patches of pure darkness that were headed right towards us. Buddy Guy‘s band began taking the stage one by one and you could feel the anticipation growing, anticipation that we were soon to be greeted by one of the greatest performers and showman of all time. I don’t want to sound clichéd, but the word “legendary” is truly what comes to mind when you see Buddy Guy take the stage.

Check Out GI’s Interview with Buddy Guy

Guy’s antics, playing with and feeding off the crowd, are something that can only be experienced in a live context. One can see where the late, great Jimi Hendrix got much of his show-stoppin’, eye-poppin’ tricks from. As well, Guy surrounds himself with some of the best accompaniment in the business, and he gives them all a chance to share the spotlight. Each song in the set was extended to allow every member of the band showcase their soloing chops.

Three songs into the show, one of the grounds crew came up to Guy in between songs to discuss the approaching storm system. Concerns for the crowd and performers’ safety were growing with the nearing of huge black clouds that threatened to take the moon hostage. Being the great entertainer that he is, Guy said he’s play for us even if it did rain, and if the choice were up to him, I believe he would have.

The grounds crew lowered the movable roof on the pavilion tent as low as they could. It was all but touching the brim on the drummer’s hat. Then, Guy told the crowd that if the show was going to be rained-out, that he wanted to play a song that was quite appropriate. He then broke into a tear-jerking extended version of his classic, “Feels Like Rain.” The crowd was definitely moved.

As the monstrous black clouds fixed their position directly above us, and started lashing upon us its first drops of what became hours and hours of steady downpour, the grounds crew informed Buddy that for the safety of the crowd and the band they could only play one more tune, then call it a night.

As Buddy and his band tore the stage up for their grand finale everyone stood there dancing in the rain and singing along. Nobody seemed to mind that we were just fifty minutes into his set. This wasn’t because the crowd was ready to go home. It all comes down to one thing: quality, not quantity. He rocked that crowd in a mere 5/6ths of an hour, and it was beautiful. Buddy Guy is a true legend that illuminates pure class, and definitely a must see.

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