Buddy Guy keeps blues alive during his January residency at Legends

During a dangerously cold night in Chicago’s South Loop, Buddy Guy’s Legends was on fire.

Friday night marked the 10th show of blues master George “Buddy” Guy’s annual January residency at his namesake venue.

“This is his house,” Buddy Guy’s son, Greg Guy, said. “When he goes on tour, he gets paid everywhere he go. He don’t get paid for playing here. He loves it.”

While the 89-year-old musician declared his retirement in 2024, Buddy Guy “Ain’t Done with the Blues” just yet, as the title his 2025 Grammy-nominated album suggests.

Since moving to Chicago in 1957, the Louisiana native has become a living legend known for his innovative guitar skills and transcendent blues music. He is one of the last surviving connections to the city’s electric blues era. His late friends and close collaborators have included B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Junior Wells. His music and playing style have influenced rock icons like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Though he no longer does long tours, Guy continues to return to Legends each January. His final (sold out) shows this year will be Thursday and Friday.

Fans braved the frigid temperatures and biting wind to see the bluesman, some traveling from out of state.

“I didn’t want to leave my house, but this was well worth it,” Chicago local Xandry Bullock, 25, said. “You can listen to recordings for the rest of your life. You can go to other shows that are influenced by this, but I mean, you can only see Buddy Guy here, this month, really. He only plays in January, so what a treat.”

Blues singer Laretha Weathersby, 64, opened the show with high energy and plenty of dancing. By halfway through her set, every seat in the house was filled, and the standing-room areas were packed shoulder to shoulder.

She performed original songs and covers, including “Proud Mary” by Tina and Ike Turner, which had the crowd clapping and singing along with her.

“We’re warming it up for the one and only Buddy Guy,” Weathersby said as she closed her set.

At 10 p.m., the band filed onto the stage. Moments later, Guy emerged from a door to the left, and the crowd erupted. Fans in the seated section stood to applaud alongside those in standing room until club staff asked them to sit back down.

Guy blew a kiss to the crowd and waved, wearing a salmon-colored suit, black fedora and black and white wingtip dress shoes. He sported a sunburst Fender Stratocaster and launched into “Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues.”

When Guy finished the song, the room filled with cheers, whistles and applause. He followed with “Nine Below Zero,” originally recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson II. After singing the line “she done put me down for another man,” a few audience members chuckled.

“I didn’t write this (expletive) song, I’m just singing it,” Guy said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

He made similar jokes throughout the set, often paired with profanity and a cheeky grin. Each time he smiled, his gold-capped teeth gleamed under the lights.

Between songs, he told stories primarily about his childhood, moving to Chicago, and his family. He repeated a few stories, but the crowd didn’t seem to mind.

About an hour into the set, Guy stepped off the stage and into the crowd, guitar in hand. As he walked across the checkerboard floor, he stopped every few feet to jam, eventually pausing at the bar for a shot of Rémy Martin XO cognac before continuing on.

Midway through his lap around the venue, a staff member held out a microphone as Guy played and sang “Take Me to the River,” originally by Al Green.

“I feel like I should play all night,” Guy said.

“Yes!” several audience members shouted back.

Although his voice has aged, Guy shifted from powerful belting to soulful, raspy vibrato. He showcased his trademark guitar techniques, including strumming with a drumstick and rubbing the guitar against his body to create a squeaking sound. He took periodic breaks to blow his nose or sip cognac from a mug with his signature polka-dot pattern.

Guy later thanked his family as his daughter, Carlise Guy, and son, Greg Guy, joined him onstage. While Buddy tossed guitar picks into the crowd, Carlise sang lead vocals and Greg played guitar alongside the band. Together, they performed “Little by Little,” originally sung by Junior Wells.

For his final song, Guy performed Willie Dixon and Muddy Waters’ “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man,” slowly walking through the crowd one last time with a microphone. He paused to smile at fans and exchange playful comments.

“Give it up to my band and staff for putting up with me,” Guy said to the crowd. “Thank you very much, I love you.”

At 11:30 p.m., Guy wrapped up his 90-minute set and headed toward the entrance to meet fans, take photos and sign autographs.

Jordan Pryor, 31, said the sole reason she traveled from Tallahassee, Florida, was to see Guy perform. As a birthday gift, her godfather gave her a Fender guitar signed by Guy.

“This is the best day of my life,” Pryor said.

Other fans echoed her excitement, such as Chicago residents Paul and Libby Boulus.

“It’s one of the most influential musical moments in my life,” Paul Boulus said. “He’s a living legend. He also still just absolutely rips.”

The couple decided to come to the concert after watching Ryan Coogler’s Oscar-nominated film “Sinners,” where Guy appears in a small cameo at the end.

“We go to a lot of shows, music is our life,” Paul Boulus said. “This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.”