08.09.18
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PW OPINION PW NEWS PW LIFE PW ARTS<br />
•INTO THE NIGHT•<br />
BY BLISS BOWEN<br />
‘The Blues is<br />
Alive and Well’<br />
LEGENDARY GUITARIST BUDDY GUY LIGHTS UP THE ROSE SATURDAY NIGHT<br />
•NITELIFE•<br />
Thursday Aug. 09 through Wednesday Aug. 15<br />
PLEASE NOTE: Deadline for Calendar submissions<br />
is noon. Wednesday of the week before<br />
the issue publishes.<br />
PASADENA, SOUTH<br />
PASADENA & ALTADENA<br />
1881 Bar<br />
1881 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena<br />
(626) 314-2077<br />
facebook.com/1881bar<br />
Fridays—Live jazz<br />
Saturdays—Gypsie jazz<br />
Wednesdays—Reggae<br />
The Blue Guitar<br />
Arroyo Seco Golf Course<br />
1055 Lohman Lane, South Pasadena<br />
blueguitar.club<br />
Thursday—Acoustic Asylum<br />
The Boulevard Bar<br />
3199 E. Foothill Blvd., Pasadena<br />
(626) 356-9304<br />
blvdbar.com<br />
Fridays—Drag performances hosted by Tia<br />
Wanna every Friday<br />
Cabrera’s Mexican Cuisine<br />
655 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena<br />
(626) 795-0230<br />
cabreras.com<br />
Thursdays—Live jazz<br />
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays—Karaoke<br />
Coffee Gallery Backstage<br />
2029 N. Lake Ave., Altadena<br />
(626) 798-6236<br />
coffeegallery.com<br />
Friday—Jennifer Leitham & Yarone Levy<br />
Saturday—Tall Men Group<br />
Sunday—Ellen Snortland’s “Now that She’s<br />
Gone” solo show<br />
Wednesday—Rize Up w/Roy Zimmerman<br />
Der Wolfskopf<br />
72 N. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena<br />
(626) 219-6054<br />
derwolfskopf.com<br />
Fridays—“Night Court” features Deejay Kind<br />
Cromang spinning vinyl soul, funk, disco and<br />
boogie<br />
Edwin Mills by Equator<br />
22 Mills Place, Pasadena<br />
(626) 564-8656<br />
edwinmills.com<br />
Friday—Ana Gazzola<br />
Tuesday—Close Quarters Jazz Quartet<br />
Wednesday—Matt Barber<br />
El Portal Restaurant<br />
695 E. Green St., Pasadena<br />
(626) 795-8553<br />
elportalrestaurant.com<br />
Fridays—Mariachi México<br />
Saturdays—Alanniz<br />
Sundays—Mariachi Bella<br />
Ice House<br />
24 N. Mentor Ave., Pasadena<br />
(626) 577-1894<br />
icehousecomedy.com<br />
Thursday—Matt Braunger and Friends<br />
Friday—Hollywood Comes to Pasadena; The<br />
Chill w/Josh Adam Meyers<br />
Saturday—Cool Beans Comedy; 5-Star Comedy<br />
w/Bob Zany<br />
Sunday—Harriet Rose: Don’t Worry, I’m<br />
Jewish; Fritz Coleman Speaks to a Generation<br />
Benefit for Union Station Homeless Services<br />
and Knights of Columbus; Dave McNary’s All-<br />
Star Variety Show<br />
–CONTINUED ON PAGE 26<br />
BADASS. That might as well<br />
be enshrined in quotes<br />
between “Buddy” and “Guy,”<br />
a la Bobby “Blue” Bland’s defining<br />
nickname. The Chicago legend’s<br />
revered by guitarists as much for<br />
his enduring tenacity as for his<br />
virile, searing tone. He never projected<br />
the earthy majesty of Muddy<br />
Waters or the hypnotic mojo of<br />
John Lee Hooker, and his onstage<br />
flash contrasted sharply with the<br />
tasteful restraint of B.B. King (an<br />
early influence). But rock icons<br />
Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Keith<br />
Richards and Stevie Ray Vaughan<br />
all bowed at the altar of Guy’s<br />
swagger and fearless style.<br />
No doubt flattered but also<br />
business-savvy, Guy encouraged<br />
those connections with the rock<br />
world — and its larger audiences.<br />
In his early years, after migrating<br />
from his native Louisiana<br />
to Chicago in 1957, Guy ran with<br />
the supportive likes of Willie<br />
Dixon, Freddie King, Otis Rush<br />
and Magic Sam. Despite recording<br />
for the venerable Chess<br />
Records, solo success proved<br />
elusive, so he played sessions for<br />
Koko Taylor and Howlin’ Wolf,<br />
and provided the fierce guitar<br />
spark to Junior Wells’ charismatic<br />
vocal and harmonica presence<br />
on 1965’s landmark “Hoodoo Man<br />
Blues.” Clapton, Jimi Hendrix<br />
and Jimmy Page publicly sang the<br />
praises of Guy’s albums for Chess<br />
and Vanguard — Clapton even<br />
co-produced 1972’s “Buddy Guy<br />
& Junior Wells Play the Blues,”<br />
and guested, along with Beck<br />
and Mark Knopfler, on 1991’s<br />
statement-making “Damn Right,<br />
I’ve Got the Blues” (a title Guy<br />
repurposed for his 1999 autobiography).<br />
Not until then did Guy<br />
finally experience the career<br />
breakthrough that had long been<br />
predicted for him.<br />
His studio recordings have<br />
received more mainstream attention<br />
since then, while a steady<br />
stream of compilations (especially<br />
the 2006 box set “Can’t Quit the<br />
Blues”) have introduced newcomers<br />
to his back catalogue. Most<br />
importantly, Guy, who marked<br />
his 82nd birthday on July 30, has<br />
retained his musical potency. His<br />
recently released “The Blues is<br />
Alive and Well” is a 15-track celebration<br />
with a starry guest list:<br />
Beck, Richards, James Bay, and a<br />
harmonica-blowing Mick Jagger<br />
all show up to pay their respects.<br />
In those collective hands, the<br />
album’s title speaks truth.<br />
“The last man standing on a<br />
empty stage/ If life was the book<br />
I’d be the last page,” Guy moans<br />
over defiant guitar lines during<br />
“End of the Line.” “Even though I<br />
got one foot in the grave/ I won’t<br />
be quiet and I won’t behave,<br />
no.” Swampy stomper “Whiskey<br />
for Sale” and “Cognac,” a greasy<br />
exchange of solos with Beck and<br />
Richards, both demonstrate that<br />
age has not extinguished Guy’s<br />
taste for mischief — nor his<br />
ability to outshine his acolytes<br />
with still muscular fretwork and<br />
vocals. Unlike many such releases<br />
by elder musical statesmen, Guy<br />
doesn’t need celebrity supporters<br />
to prop him up. He’s still showing<br />
them how it’s done. n<br />
Buddy Guy headlines at the Rose in<br />
Paseo Colorado, 245 E. Green St.,<br />
Pasadena, at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug.<br />
11; $88-$108. Doors open 6 p.m. Box<br />
office: (888) 645-5006. Buddyguy.com,<br />
wheremusicmeetsthesoul.com<br />
Brothers in Song<br />
DELGADO BROTHERS RELEASE NEW CD<br />
AT THE LANGHAM<br />
For some great Latin blues, check out the Langham Huntington, Pasadena<br />
Saturday night as the Delgado Brothers perform at a release party for their new<br />
CD, “Two Trains.”<br />
The band — three brothers and a friend — have been an LA fixture for more<br />
than 30 years now. The band delivers a sound that’s driven by a fiercely independent<br />
attitude, call-to-action lyrics and unified by a strong sense of family and a good dose<br />
of East LA soul.<br />
The group has succeeded by using their music to speak to the “every man”<br />
sensibilities of life, including love, loss and triumph, cutting across racial and socioeconomic<br />
lines. It’s based on life experience that’s relatable to nearly everyone. Each<br />
member brings to the musical table a unique style of musicianship that has helped<br />
make the band a worldwide phenomenon.<br />
Check them out at delgadobrothers.com. — John Sollenberger<br />
Music starts at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Langham Huntington, Pasadena, 1401 S. Oak Knoll<br />
Ave., Pasadena. No cover. Call (626) 568-3900 or visit langhamhotels.com/pasadena.<br />
<strong>08.09.18</strong> | PASADENA WEEKLY 25
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