Guitar Veterans Keeping The Music & Legacy of Blues Rock Guitarist Jimi Hendrix Alive 

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer 

Although we lost (1970) the legendary Jimi Hendrix way to soon, the music and the legacy of the iconic blues rock guitarist continues to live on through the Experience Hendrix project. For nearly a quarter century some of the most gifted guitar players of the baby boomer generation and from today hit the road nearly every year, to celebrate Jimi's arsenal of memorable songs.

While his rock friendly radio songs include 'Foxy Lady', 'Fire', 'Hey Joe', and the seminal psychedelic hit 'Purple Haze', the guitar slingers on the 2025 tour revisited several of Jimi's obscure album tracks, as well as few Henrdrix covered from blues greats such as Robert Petway and Howlin' Wolf.

Before 1200 plus fans, the 2025 Experience Hendrix tour dropped into the North Charleston Performing Arts Center (Tues 4-8) offering up more than two dozen of Hendrix' well-known guitar classics. Among the artists paying tribute to Hendrix included guitar veterans Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Zakk Wylde (Purple Haze), Eric Johnson, and Devon Allman (son of Gregg Allman), who slayed 'Are You Experienced'.

Seasoned female guitar slinger Samantha Fish jams to 'Crosstown Traffic' and 'If 6 Was 9'. Up and coming guitarists Christone "Kingfish" Ingram and Dylan Triplett put their own spin on 'Red House'. Wylde and vocalist Henri Brown send up a riveting rendition of 'All Along the Watchtower', a Bob Dylan song that Hendrix made his own in 1968, becoming his highest charting single over a roughly four year career.

With each guitarist enjoying their time in the spotlight, Johnson thrills concert goers over five numbers including 'Power of Love' and 'Burning the Midnight Lamp', joined on stage by Fish for the 'Angel', featured on Hendrix' 1971 posthumous studio album 'The Cry of Love'. 

Shepherd closed out the show with several of Hendrix' more haunting tracks. Joined by his lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist (Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band) the two belted out 'Gypsy Eyes', and 'Voodoo Child', adding a powerful rendering of 'Come On', an Earl King R&B number from 1960, that Hendrix made his own when he included it on 'Electric Ladyland' his most commercially successful album ever.

Stripped down, the salute to Jimi needs only the incredible guitarists taking part as well as few soulful vocalists, and some kick-ass drummers, with a big screen backdrop providing non-stop footage on the man of the hour, or in this case two hours. And while the 2025 Experience Hendrix tour is coming to end, with the final show in Atlanta on Saturday April 12th, the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix will continue, and hopefully the 'experience' will carry on for years to come.

Much like Jimi looked up to cats like BB King and Muddy Waters when he first picked up the guitar, future guitarists will want to pay tribute to the man considered the greatest blues rock guitarist of all time. To keep up on all things happening with Experience Hendrix, including future tours visit https://www.experiencehendrixtour.com/