On April 9th, over one thousand blues devotees made the journey to the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre (formerly Count Basie) in the heart of Red Bank, NJ. Who could draw this kind of crowd on a Tuesday night? That answer is very simple, the one and only living blues legend, Buddy Guy! Resuming his Damn Right Farewell Tour after some postponements last year, Buddy is back and better than ever. With different opening acts throughout the tour, we were lucky enough to have another blues giant, Bobby Rush, start the evening for us!
Bobby Rush, at the age of 90, walked on to the stage with a smile on his face and looking quite sharp. Rush played a few tunes for us intertwined with his comedic anecdotes and playful repartee with the audience. At one point, he also came down from the stage and walked through the crowd playing harmonica and continuing his stories, which really got the crowd going. Rush has a discography like no other with hundreds of songs and credits to his name and, at the age of 83, he won his first Grammy, which just goes to show, the blues are alive and well!
After a brief intermission, the ‘Damn Right Blues Band’ took to the stage to kick things off. Consisting of several of the best musicians in the world – Tom Hambridge (drums), Ric Hall (guitar), Orlando Wright (bass) and Daniel Souvigny on the keys, we knew we were in for a good time. Buddy Guy came on stage after a short intro, which led into an absolute master class of the blues lasting almost two hours. Donning his signature overalls, classic smile and Fender Stratocaster, we sat back and just soaked it all in. One of my favorite things about seeing Buddy live is how engaging he is with the crowd. Whether he’s laying down some crunchy blues riffs or telling stories about his life, we’re all hanging on to every word and note.
Buddy’s set is ever changing, which is fun because you never know what you’ll hear. Mixed with original songs like Damn Right, I’ve Got The Blues and Skin Deep and classic fan favorite covers of Hoochie Coochie Man (Muddy Waters) and Grits Ain’t Groceries (Little Milton), there’s something for everyone. His antics on stage of playing his guitar with a drumstick and towel show a lighthearted side that proves he’s still having fun and enjoying the moment. When Buddy talks, the crowd is silent because we all want to absorb each word from his lips straight to our souls. At the end of the evening, Bobby Rush came back on stage and played a few numbers with Buddy, which was very special to witness as well.
At 87 years young, Buddy is one of the greatest blues legends of all time. With 8 Grammy wins and countless other accolades, it’s truly an honor to be in his presence. The Damn Right Farewell Tour is just getting started up again and there are numerous upcoming tour dates to choose from. I urge you to get a ticket and witness Buddy Guy at least once in your life if you haven’t had the opportunity yet. I guarantee you won’t regret it!
