Peter Frampton’s Circus: No Clowns – Just Guitars
Peter Frampton kicked off his Guitar Circus revue last year with acts like Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Roger McGuinn, and B.B. King, who joined him at various points during the tour. This time around, it's blues legend Buddy Guy and Randy Bachman from Bachman–Turner Overdrive, or The Guess Who, if you can remember back that far.
Born and raised in Louisiana, Buddy Guy became a pioneer of the Chicago blues scene. It was disappointing to see his talents limited by The Mountain Winery’s strict curfew policy of no music after 10:30 p.m. They have notoriously shut down major acts in the past if they violated it.
Looking at his watch after suddenly cutting a song mid-set, Guy apologetically told the audience, “I’m going to have to stop a few of ‘em short, but I do make albums, you know.”
The Rock 'n’ Roll Hall of Famer gracefully played his honey-blonde Strat during quiet moments but later created chaotic sounds with a drumstick. Guy proudly announced he’s now 78 years old, and for a special guest appearance, he brought out his son Greg, who played guitar during “Let The Doorknob Hit Ya.”
Buddy Guy. Photo Steve Roby
Guy’s short sixty-minute set ended with a medley of songs by the late Junior Wells, his harp hero with whom the guitarist had a long musical partnership.
After a 30-minute set change, the stage lights dimmed, and a pre-show announcement was made restricting photos to the first three songs. Three weeks ago, at a concert in Carmel, Indiana, an obsessive fan wouldn’t stop taking photos during the performance. In a fit of anger, Frampton grabbed and flung the fan’s cell phone into the rafters. The 64-year-old rock icon explained to tonight’s crowd that he was only making a statement.
Everyone knows where you are. You texted them earlier. You don’t need to share your location every second of the day. I appreciate you not taking photos or videos because you’ll never watch that stuff. It’s not of good quality. – Peter Frampton
The circus part of the performance started with a projection of vintage freakish sideshow posters like “The pretty fat lady” and “The man with the elastic eyes,” while The Beatles’ “Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!” played in the background. Frampton then performed a series of hits along with some new songs, including “Heart to My Chest” from the mini-album *Hummingbird in a Box: Songs For a Ballet* (Phenix Phonograph).
Midway through, Frampton brought out Randy Bachman for two of BTO’s biggest hits from 1974. The 6-foot-tall Canadian rocker, now 70, still has his chops and pipes.
During "Do You Feel Like We Do,” Frampton acknowledged it was originally recorded at San Francisco’s Winterland arena, and although bassist Stanley Sheldon still plays with him, he lost drummer John Siomos and keyboardist Bob Mayo ten years ago.
For the encore, Bachman rejoined for an intense guitar duel with the show’s ringmaster on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” No curfews were broken, and the show ended promptly at 10:28 p.m.
Program Notes
Band: Frampton's Guitar Circus: Peter Frampton, Randy Bachman, Buddy Guy
Date: Aug 26, 2014
Location: The Mountain Winery, Saratoga, California
Buddy Guy’s I Got The Blues Band: Orlando Wright (bass), Tim Austin (drums), Ric Hall (guitar), Marty Sammon (keyboard)
Set List: Damn Right I've Got the Blues | Five Long Years | Someone Else is Steppin' In (Slippin' Out, Slippin' In) | Hoochie Coochie Man | She's Nineteen Years Old | Dirty Mother Fuyer | 74 Years Young | Boom Boom | I'll Play The Blues For You | Drowning on Dry Land | Mad Love (I Want You To Love Me) | Let The Door Knob Hit Ya | Junior Wells’ Medley: Hoodoo Man Blues/ Messin' With The Kid
Peter Frampton’s band: Rob Arthur (keyboard, guitar, vocals), Adam Lester (guitar, vocals), Stanley Sheldon (bass), Dan Wojciechowski (drums)
Set List: You Had to Be There | Doobie Wah | Lines on My Face | Heart to My Chest | Show Me the Way | Money | You Ain’t See Nothing Yet | Taking Care of Business | Black Hole Sun | Baby, I Love Your Way | Do You Feel Like We Do
Encore: While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
Photos: Steve Roby
