From a 1999 concert review:
Rocker Diddley amazes fans with guitar playing
By Ramiro Burr
ENCORE 01/18/1999 MONDAY
S.A. Life 07E
First off, it was a fantastic show, An awesome display of virtuosity, power and grace.
Bob Diddley may have had some age on him, but the vibe he was sending out from the stage that night was electric.
Excerpts:
"He's a rock 'n' roll legend, but guitarist Bo Diddley was unassuming and unpretentious in concert Saturday night at Club Nocturne.
Instead, he channeled his magic through his guitar playing, an amazing display of verve and emotion-laden grooves, hooks and riffs. The hits were there, too, from "I'm a Man" to "Who Do You Love?"
Like Mingo Saldivar, Ray Price, or James Brown, Diddley was the type of performer that didn't have to jump or jive, scream or flash to get your attention. His performances were riveting.
More excerpts:
"The playing was simple and straightforward, with the bass player throwing down fat lines heavy enough to send vibrations across the concrete floor.
"The sound level was perfect: loud and full but not overwhelming, and distortion free.
"Most of the songs were lengthy workouts replete with improvisations and extended riffs. To casual fans, it may have sounded monotonous, but Diddley delivered rich and varied intonations on his guitar. And most of his songs, such as "I'm Sorry," a treatise on breaking up, are full of irreverent lyrics."
Like Ice T, Diddley also has a sense of humor he uses to keep the show rolling between songs. We'd love to run more excerpts from that show but we can't because of copyright laws.
Suffice to say, Diddley was a special, larger than life performer. Full of life and color, magic and charm. Think of Celia Cruz, or Ray Charles, or Little Richard and you get the picture.
More news: Bo Diddley, rock legend dead at 79
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