As a rule, two is usually better than one. Sure, there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing, but until you hit that point, the more the merrier. This applies to concerts as well as it does anywhere. Seeing a cool unknown opening act open for a band you love can be a thrill in its own way, but nothing compares to seeing two legendary artists sharing the bill. Such was the case at Mystic Lake’s showroom on Sunday night; two legends performing at the top of their game to a very receptive audience.
The first of these legends was the one and only Mavis Staples. A member of the iconic family band The Staple Singers, Staples has been making great (and important) music since the late ’50s. To say she’s had a fruitful career would be an understatement. It would be more appropriate to say she’s one of music’s most important living artists — a truly transcendent talent with a catalog to match. With that said, her run over the last decade and a half, starting around 2004’s Have a Little Faith album, has been strong even by her own lofty standards.
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Over that time, Staples has released several well-received albums, won her first Grammy, and collaborated with high-profile producers, all while maintaining a regular presence on the road.
Backed by her always-stellar band, Staples mixed gospel, soul, and blues as only she can. The result was moving, to say the least. To not feel uplifted watching Staples and her band play their set is near impossible. Taking a cue from their peerless leader, they practically ooze authenticity. Though they didn’t play the biggest hit in Mavis’ catalog, the Staple Singers #1 smash “I’ll Take You There,” it didn’t matter. Each song brought with it its own style, each a reflection of the singer performing it. From old Staple Singers hits (“If You’re Ready (Come go with Me)”), to covers (Funkadelic’s “Can you get to that”), the set had something for everybody.
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The other legend on the bill for the evening was Buddy Guy. One of the great blues guitarists of his (or any) generation, Guy’s set was eagerly anticipated by the audience. To their delight, he met and exceeded all expectations.
Opening with “Damn right I’ve got the blues,” Guy let the audience know exactly what they were in for — a solid helping of the blues. In the hands of a lesser artist, this could be a dangerous recipe, as we’ve all heard our share of boring blues jams. Luckily, Buddy Guy is not your Average Joe, bar-band blues guitarist. He’s Buddy freakin’ Guy! You don’t ascend to his status without serious chops and lots of hard work. Both were on display on Sunday night.
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His playing was, simply put, phenomenal. Showcasing tremendous dexterity, great pace, and his always-excellent tone, Guy blazed his way through a set that mostly consisted of rock and blues standards. Stopping only to cede the spotlight to his incredible band, he showed why he’s considered one of the best in the business.
The band was more than up to the task of playing alongside a legend. Though they were given healthy time in the spotlight relative to the somewhat short set, their playing never felt too indulgent or, worse yet, cheesy. They did what any great backing band does: add depth and dimensions to the music without creating too much clutter. From the beginning of the set, you knew that these guys were nothing short of the real deal.
The show was astonishing from beginning to end, with high energy and engaging performances by everyone that graced the stage. To see those two legends sharing a bill was special and the audience knew it. If there was a conclusion to be drawn from the show it was, simply, that the blues is alive and well.
