The Experience Hendrix tour made its way through Western New York for the first time in four years Tuesday night. Even though it was April Fools’ Day, the lineup was anything but. This version was headlined by blues legend Buddy Guy. Buddy may have been the headliner in name but there were plenty of other headliners in their own right, such as Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jonny Lang.
The show started off with the only surviving member of the famed Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys in bassist Billy Cox. Billy sang the vocals on “Stone Free” and the show was a go from there. So many artists came in and out that an accurate set list of who appeared when and on what song is listed below.
Leo Fender would have been proud of the number of artists who proudly played Fender guitars during this show. Imitation is the highest form of flattery and guitarist Dani Robinson took that and ran with it. The mannerisms he displayed reminded me and many others of Hendrix.
I, personally, was excited to see former Parliament-Funkadelic bassist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bootsy Collins. Bootsy brought the funk on Hendrix’s most known tracks in “Purple Haze” and “Foxy Lady.” He along with Ana Popovic were highlights of the first (1st) set for me. Ana, I think, surprised many, including the always sound Dweezil Zappa as he kept looking and smiling and just shaking his head in amazement.
The second (2nd) set started with Doyle Bramhall II doing a solo acoustic number on “Hear My Train a Comin’.” He stayed on stage and did some dueling with Jonny Lang on “Spanish Castle Magic.” Jonny is very humble and very well respected amongst the fans. He has been on former Experience Hendrix tours and he knows how much to play and when to let others do their thing.
One of the most underrated guitar players in my eyes is Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Kenny always nails it and this show was no different. Kenny and his vocalist, Noah Hunt, enjoyed plenty of time before the main act Buddy Guy took the stage. Kenny played a beautiful orange metallic Fender that lit up the room.
Buddy took the stage and really wanted to let loose but couldn’t. If you’ve ever seen Buddy, half of his exceptional play is mainly being free and improvising. He wasn’t able to do that with the time constraints and others involved. He even made a comment that he couldn’t go further on one of his solos as others had to come out. This “Experience” (no pun intended) possibly didn’t suit Buddy well. But regardless, I think he appreciated paying respects to a man he got to know before he passed.
All in all, it was a great night of artistry and a great venue in UB Center for the Arts to host such an event. The sold out show should show that this should be a regular stop on any future Experience Hendrix tours.
First Set:
Stone Free (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Stan Skibby, Dani Robinson. Billy Cox, Chris Layton)
Message to Love (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/Stan Skibby, Dani Robinson. Billy Cox, Chris Layton)
Freedom (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Dweezil Zappa, Billy Cox, Dani Robinson, Chris Layton)
House Burning Down (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Ana Popovic,Dweezil Zappa, Chris Layton, Scott Nelson)
Can You See Me (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Ana Popovic,Dweezil Zappa, Chris Layton, Scott Nelson)
Power to Love (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Eric Johnson, Scott Nelson, Chris Layton)
Ezy Rider (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Eric Johnson, Scott Nelson, Chris Layton, Noah Hunt, Mato Nanji, Dweezil Zappa)
May This Be Love (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Eric Johnson, Eric Gales, Scott Nelson, Chris Layton)
Are You Experienced? (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/Eric Johnson, Scott Nelson, Chris Layton. Doyle Bramhall)
Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/Eric Gales, Mato Nanji, Bootsy Collins, and Chris Layton)
Foxy Lady (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Bootsy Collins, Mato Nanji, Eric Gales, Chris Layton)
Second Set:
Hear My Train a Comin’ (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Doyle Bramhall solo acoustic)
Angel (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Doyle Bramhall,, Scott Nelson, Chris Layton)
New Rising Sun (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Doyle Bramhall, Scott Nelson, Chris Layton and Noah Hunt)
All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan cover) (w/ Jonny Lang, Mato Nanji, Scott Nelson, and Chris Layton)
Fire (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Henry Brown,Jonny Lang, Doyle Bramhall, Scott Nelson, and Chris Layton)
Spanish Castle Magic (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Doyle Bramhall, Jonny Lang, Scott Nelson, Chris Layton)
Gypsy Eyes (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Noah Hunt, Tony Franklin, Mato Nanji, Chris Layton)
Come On (Let the Good Times Roll) (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover) (w/ Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Noah Hunt, Tony Franklin, Chris Layton)
Voodoo Chile (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Noah Hunt, Tony Franklin, Chris Layton)
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Noah Hunt, Tony Franklin, Chris Layton)
Who Knows (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Buddy Guy, Billy Cox, Tim Austin )
Louisiana Blues (Muddy Waters cover) (w/ Buddy Guy, Billy Cox, Tim Austin)
Them Changes (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Buddy Guy, Billy Cox, Henry Brown, Tim Austin)
Hey Joe (The Leaves cover) (w/ Buddy Guy, Billy Cox, Stan Skibby, Tim Austin)
Red House (Jimi Hendrix cover) (w/ Buddy Guy, Mato Nanji,Billy Cox, Chris Layton, Tim Austin)
We would like to thank Amy Treco from Bob Merlis in the credentials to review the show.
