Blues icon Buddy Guy delivers a powerful and joyful NPR Tiny Desk performance that defies time itself. Approaching his 90th year, Guy’s presence is electric from the first note, his understated speaking voice giving way to a commanding howl once the music begins. Armed with his signature polka dot Stratocaster, he tears into selections that affirm the spirit behind his latest album, ‘Ain’t Done with the Blues,’ a title that feels both celebratory and resolute.
As one of the last living architects of modern blues alongside legends like B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker, Guy’s legacy is unmatched. A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Kennedy Center Honoree, National Medal of Arts recipient, and nine-time Grammy winner, he remains a living bridge between generations of blues history.
The set opens with “Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues” and rolls into “Hoochie Coochie Man,” before welcoming Miles Caton for selections tied to the film Sinners, where both portray blues singer Sammie “Preacher Boy” Moore. Their interplay becomes a masterclass in mentorship, with Guy weaving stories of blues tradition while Caton rises confidently to the moment. Backed by Dan Souvigny, Ric Hall, Orlando Wright, and Pooky Styx, the performance is a vibrant reminder that true blues artistry only deepens with time.
SET LIST
“Damn Right, I’ve Got the Blues”
“Hoochie Coochie Man”
“Travelin’ “
“I Lied to You”