[Slowhand] Re: StL reflections

[Bryce Utting]

John Broholm <jbroholm at sbcglobal.net> wrote (in a fantastic review, btw):

> Let’s put one thing clear, and no arguments. Robert Cray is the best 

> opening act ever. Period. He *had* the crowd right from the start, and 

> he translated his club-style act and his more-intimate guitar dynamics 

> into an arena almost effortlessly. He played 35 minutes . . . I wish 

> he’d had one more number.


I'm surprised to read this, so I guess there is an argument.  (uh-oh.)

Back in April, I had the absolute delight of seeing Buddy Guy live in 
Auckland (and wooooooEEEEE!!!!, the blisters on my ears are still 
tingling).  Cray opened, and...

I've never been so bored.

Sure, he was tight, polished, has a GREAT tone (something not to be 
treated at all lightly), and I had a fantastic spot right at the front 
of the stage, about six feet directly in front of him.  (His amps were 
about another four feet behind him, so I was hearing that great tone 
straight off them: *very* nice.)

And he was about as passionate and dynamic as Adam Sandler reading 
Leonard Cohen.  Cliched and predictable, yes.  Memorable?  Not in any 
good ways...

About the only interesting thing he pulled all set was his stock 
A-string 5th-6th-5th slide, but it seemed like he was doing that every 
second or third measure each solo.  I worked out why I haven't bought 
any of his albums since Some Rainy Morning (mostly indistinguishable 
from the three or four others of his I've got) when I realised I was 
singing along to his solos under my breath *and hitting almost all the 
same notes*.  That's almost as predictable as MY playing.

(Jim Pugh's organ solo is best not mentioned, too.  I'd wonder if the 
long trip had worn them all out, but in all honesty I didn't hear 
anything much different to the albums.)

I know he's got some great stuff in him, and that when others push him 
he can deliver something special.  I saw absolutely none of that on the 
night though, which was truly sad.

And then Buddy Guy (BUDDY GUY!!!) came on stage and melted the full 
house's ears with ninety minutes of scorching solos unlike anything 
recorded *ever* (why IS that, dammit?) and I was happy again and I was 
so close when he came down the steps for his crowdwalk I had to duck out 
of the way of his headstock and I got a pick right from The Man's hands 
at the end of the set and that was the *greatest night of all time*.

So we can at least put THIS clear, with no argument: Buddy Guy is the 
best headline act ever.  Period.  ;>

(okay, so I've only seen EC once so far.  he should come visit more 
bloody often, dammit.)

(and the review's definitely appreciated, btw: *strongly* looking 
forward to January, and Derek Trucks.)


butting

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