Buddy Guy

"Aww, y'all got to shut the fuck up, now!" he said while playing The Red Jacket in 2002. "Shut the fuck up!"

He said it with a smile, sure, but he meant it. Every once in a while—especially in Dallas, I imagine—the younger side of Buddy Guy's audience gets a little too drunk and rowdy and therefore puts itself in danger of missing the "quiet side"' of Guy's performance. But, really, his music knows no real demographic boundaries—nor does it have too many creative ones, either.

In the early phase of his more than 40-year recording career, he was classified as a more traditional bluesman. But when he left Chess Records for Silvertone, he showed off a modernized, but still passionate, creative attack, starting with 1993's Feels Like Rain and especially highlighted on 2001's very dark Sweet Tea. Given that wide array in his arsenal, you can always count on Guy to come through live, with licks that pull from all points on the emotional scale, as he showcases a natural talent for crowd interaction.

It's pretty simple: Guy's a real showman, who always delivers your money's worth.