BB King - The Thrill is Gone

When the headliner cannot sustain the excitement and fervor the opening act began, perhaps its time to hang up the guitar pick and consider spending more time with the great-grandkids?

The Hard Rock Live featured blues legend B.B. King on Tuesday, and the electricity his vibrant counterpart, Grammy-winning blues singer, Buddy Guy sparked, was shut off quickly when Mr. King deemed it more appropriate to speak the blues as opposed to sing them.

In the hour that the icon was on stage, the audience was gradually dulled from story, after story, after story King shared in the form of what mimicked a casual conversation with guests, instead of the powerful, tingling, deep soulful blues melodies that would've more appropriately illustrated his points.

At one point in the evening, people began shouting requests at the singer in an effort to cut short his trip down memory lane. There was no “Lucille,” there was no “Hummingbird,” there was no “Paying the Cost to be the Boss.” Actually, Lucille, his legendary guitar, didn't even have to be there.

Those who found it necessary to fork out the ranging ticket prices starting at $50 and capping off at nearly $200 to see the blues legend before he retires, saw the blues legend retired, speaking about his great-grandchildren, friends, Viagra, women, kisses, and a plethora of other topics that regressed us all back to the days when we were forced to listen to Grandpa's stories about his stint in WWII while wishing we were doing anything but.

At the moment when we thought something good was about to happen, because anyone who speaks for nearly that long is preparing for an intensive, guitar solo that is sure to blow our head back, instead decides to do a cover of “You Are My Sunshine.”

If there comes a next time we see B.B. King it might be opening up for Buddy Guy.