Experience Hendrix aligns the stars

The Experience Hendrix tour made a stop in San Diego county at Harrah's Resort in Valley Center, and the nearly three-and-a-half-hour show would've made Jimi proud.

Guitarists Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society), Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang, Doyle Bramhall II, Mato Nanji, Ana Popovic, the Black Crowes’ Rich Robinson, Eric Johnson, and Buddy Guy performed Hendrix tunes from “Purple Haze” to “Angel.”

Drummer Chris Layton (Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble) backed up most of the players during the show, including pulling double duty with Buddy Guy's drummer Tim Austin. Noah Hunt, of the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, and Henri Brown covered vocals. Bass duties were covered by Tony Franklin, also from Kenny Wayne Shepherd's band, and Billy Cox, who played in both the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsies.

The highlights of the evening, at least for me, were Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s performance and, of course, seeing blues great Buddy Guy. Zakk Wylde put on an impressive show, playing not only keyboards, but shredding on the guitar, even getting up close and personal by going out into the audience.

Seeing these star rockers individually is a treat unto itself, but seeing them all perform in one evening, sometimes sharing the stage with each other, is an Experience.

• Concert: Experience Hendrix
• Date: October 9, 2014
• Venue: Harrah's Resort Southern California Event Center
• Seats: Pit