Buddy Guy, Wailers, Yardbirds

Coming to you early this week because Tuesday night is Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and probably a bunch of other Hall of Fames guy, Buddy Guy. Buddy Guy is one of our greatest living blues guitarists and has influenced Hendrix, Clapton and Stevie Ray among others. He's one of the last living links to the Chess blues masters like Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. I've seen him twice and he puts on a great show. The only knock on Buddy is sometimes he may resort to "tricks" like playing behind his back, doing medleys, etc. to the point where you just want him to shut up and play guitar. But the show at Toad's Place will hopefully see a minimum of that since the crowd will be there to see him and won't be a festival crowd. Buddy plays Tuesday night at Toad's Place. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door, $40 for Gold Circle. Doors open at 7 PM, show starts at 8 PM. DJ Williams Projekt will be opening.

The Wailers are at Innsbrook on Friday night. Gate opens at 6 PM. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. There will be no Gold Circle at this show, thank God. Sometimes, I think the Golden Circle can suck the life out of a show. The Goldeners are more likely to sit on their ass and give nothing back to the band. Outdoor Rock and Roll shows weren't meant to have seats. You want to sit, go see some freakin' smooth jazz. You want to get in the front row, get there early and stand your ground. The Wailers were, of course, Bob Marley's back-up band. I saw them last year around Christmas and they were a lot of fun. The lead singer doesn't try to be a Marley imitator and just does his own thing. The band can still kick it.

On Saturday night, the Yardbirds are playing at the Capital Ale House downtown in their new Music Hall. Phil reports that the Music Hall is a very good venue. And the beer selection should be better than your average place. The Yardbirds were the band that gave a start to Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck, the holy triumvirate of British blues rock. However, I don't think any of them will be playing on Saturday night. There are two original members in this version of the Yardbirds, Chris Dreja - rhythm guitar, backing vocals and Jim McCarty - drums, backing vocals. Their track record would lead one to believe that they may have a good lead guitarist. Doors open at 9. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

On TV, you can check out Grace Potter on August 7th - Good Morning America (ABC) and August 10 - Craig Ferguson (CBS). Set your TiVos.

I went to the simpsonizeme.com web site and this is me as a Simpsons character:I think its a pretty good resemblance. They actually base it on a photo though I had to make the nose a little bigger. And they got the circles under the eyes right.

Until next week.....
Tony Jordan