By Tim Kelly
Legendary bluesman Buddy Guy has been entertaining audiences since the 1950s.
Guy put his unique talents on display Monday night before a rapt audience at the Ocean City Music Pier, showing that he’s still got plenty of magic left.
The Music Pier was rocking along with the man Rolling Stone ranked as No. 23 among the greatest guitar players of all time. Guy, who will be 83 on July 30, made it clear he can still bring the blues, Chicago blues and blues rock.
Early in the show, it was apparent that the audience was in the presence of greatness.
Guy was one of the stalwart headliners of this year’s Ocean City Summer Concert Series at the Music Pier, which beings a wide variety of musical acts to the resort.
Tickets for future shows are available at the Music Pier Box Office, or by calling 609-399-6111 or by visiting Welcome Centers on the Ninth Street Causeway Bridge, City Hall and around town.
Guy wows the crowd when he takes the show into the audience.
During his performance, Buddy Guy pranced across the stage and throughout the auditorium of the historic venue, delighting a sellout crowd of young and old alike.
“He’s a wild man,” one concert-goer exclaimed. “Imagine how much energy he had back in the day.”
Showing that he still has plenty in his bag of tricks, Guy plays behind his back while rolling across the stage.
It would be hard to imagine a more energetic show from a performer less than half Guy’s age.
He beat on his guitar with his towel and it was magical.
Now in his eighth decade as a performer, his Ocean City show was but one of more than 180 live gigs he still puts on each year. Buddy was clearly enjoying himself just as much as the audience enjoyed listening to him.
While using just his towel and a drum stick, he mesmerized the crowd.
At one point in the concert, Guy left the stage and interacted with the fans as he worked his instrument while walking up and down the aisles. The crowd was really shocked when he left the venue and proceeded out the doors onto the Music Pier's north-facing balcony and played while overlooking the ocean. He then came back in and walked straight out the southern doors and played there while dozens of fans followed him.
Guy briefly took his show outside the Music Pier to the amusement of all.
Guy returned to the venue without ever missing a beat.
It’s no wonder Guy has been cited as a main influence of such guitar legends as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards (Rolling Stones) and Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin).
Bill Wyman, the now-retired longtime bass player for the Rolling Stones, said of Guy, “guitar legends do not come any better than Buddy Guy. He’s feted by his peers and loved by his fans for his ability to make the guitar both talk and cry the blues. Such is Buddy’s mastery of the guitar.”
If one doubted such platitudes, they were laid to rest at the Music Pier. For that matter, the platitudes were enhanced.
The crowd screamed for more as the band took a bow. It was clear that everyone enjoyed the evening.
Michael Allegretto, Ocean City's director of Community Services, presents Buddy Guy with some welcome gifts from the local business community.
