“People used to say Eric Clapton is God. If that’s true, than Buddy Guy taught God how to play the guitar” said the spokesman for the National Brail Press —the sponsor of the concert— before Buddy Guy took the stage. Then five-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Buddy Guy played away at the House of Blues on Lansdowne Street last Friday night.
Guy came out in one of his patented black and white polka dot outfits, much to the delight of the packed crowd. He began the show with a fiery rendition of “Nobody Understands Me But My Guitar.” He continued by playing some of his more popular songs from his resurgance in the early 90s such as “Damn Right I’ve Got The Blues” and “Slippin’ In.” Halfway through the set Guy quieted down the rowdy crowd with the slow song “Skin Deep,” off of his 2008 album of the same name.
Guy is an absolute master of tension. He draws the entire audience in with the slowest, softest notes. Then as soon as he has them hypnotized, he blasts out a flurry of loud, fast notes that bend in all different directions from his guitar. Towards the end of the show, Guy brought out a special guest. Ten-year-old Quinn Sullivan of New Bedford, Massachusetts made his way on stage. Sullivan played with Guy for three songs. Sullivan shocked the crowd with his talent and improvisation skills. He battled Buddy Guy note for note during a jam in the middle of a song Sullivan wrote for an upcoming album he is collaborating on with Guy. Sullivan stayed on stage with Guy up through the finish when Guy covered a song by Albert King, whom Guy stated as “one of the best left handed guitarists of all time.”
“This show absolutely blew my mind,” said 20-year-old Robert Gibson, a psychology major at Boston University. Guy was absolutely amazing and it is no wonder why people regard him as one of the best blues players and the best live acts around.
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