What a weekend for music in Montclair, with blues icon Buddy Guy literally running up and down the stairs of the Wellmont and a surprise visit by Run DMC of Run DMC at Montclair High. Michael Reitman, who caught Buddy Guy’s performance, sent this photo and writes:
Bluesman and seminal Blues guitarist Buddy Guy rocked The Wellmont.
Buddy wowed the crowd, and this image was taken, quite literally, while he was roaming the stairs between the mezzanine and the lobby during the show. Traditionally it’s part of his act to mingle with the audience, he has a wireless set up on his Stratocaster, so he continually plays The Blues while getting up close and personal.
And over at the Rockin’ the Suburbs, a student-organized event to raise money for a recording studio for Montclair High School, a surprise visit by Run DMC electrified the crowd.
Dillon Rand, an organizer of the event, sent us this report.
DMC came on mid-day around 4pm today and went for about 45 minutes, in a mixture of speaking and rapping.
He put forth a great message, by saying things like “Music succeeds where politics and religion do not” and also explaining that success in hip hop does not have to come through profanity, violence, and degrading women. How? He is living proof (a Rock N’ Roll Hall of Famer).
Other guest speakers throughout the day included (all Montclair residents) Ben Chavis, former President of the NAACP and co-founder (with Russell Simmons) of the Hip Hop Summit Action Network, Jonathan Alter, Newsweek editor, and Professir X, a handicapped advocate for stem cell research who promotes his cause through music.
This of course, along with Sugar Hill Gang, highlighted the festival.
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
DMC photos by Ian Bliss. Other Rockin’ the Suburbs photos by Fran Liscio.
Dang! I had this on my radar a few weeks ago, but didn’t have the date on my calendar. I missed Run DMC in my own backyard??!
Sounds like a really cool event–congrats to the kids who organized it.
I think Buddy kind of stole the roaming with guitar thing from Albert Collins, another blues guitar master. Seen ‘em both many times. Before the days of wireless Albert would use his extra long guitar cord to walk out of the bar and into the street while playing searing leads — a magical and crowd pleasing gimmick.
I was at the Buddy Guy show too, in the back by the bar. He ended up standing right in front of me:
Buddy Guy at the Wellmont
What an amazing performer.
I saw Wyclef Jean at a small venue (the name escapes me)in the city a couple of years ago. In the middle of a solo, he walked off the stage and played his guitar right there in the crowd. Really cool stuff.
I wasn’t there but by looking at the pictures and the report from the organizer it sounds as though DMC performed, not Run DMC. That would necessitate Reverend Run being there and I only see Darryl McDaniels. Correct me if I’m wrong, or else you should correct the post.
Thanks bejeezer. You are right, and I’ve corrected the story.