REVIEW: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story

REVIEW: Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story

Eden Court

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DECADES before the notion of "geek chic" became hip and happening, a gangly, glasses-wearing teenager made rock ‘n’ roll history by ignoring the negativity of the naysayers and following his heart.

Buddy Holly’s story is as compelling today as it was in the aftermath of his tragically early death in a 1959 air crash at the age of just 22. The musical legacy he left behind in that short time – influencing everyone from the Beatles and Rolling Stones to Bob Dylan – cotninues to take the breath away.

That inspirational story and peerless back catalogue are brilliantly combined in Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, a fixture at Eden Court until Saturday night.

The opening night audience certainly got value for money and then some as Glen Joseph, hugely endearing in the lead role, just kept on rocking until nigh on 11pm. He not so much steps into the shoes as inhabits the very spirit of Holly, shining from first introduction as a reluctant country-singing young buck to triumphant encore as a sweat-drenched rock ‘n’ roll icon.

The well-oiled touring show balances storytelling with music, packing in plenty of hits without turning simply it into a karaoke tribute performance. In addition to live performance, it’s success lies in capturing the essence of what happens in a recording studio – from spark of creative genius to inspirational end product via plenty of frustration, false starts and outtakes.

In a pre-video era where radio was king, portions of the story are effectively told through snippets of breathless DJs across the country giving listeners updates on the progress of the boy from Lubbock, Texas.

Older members of the audience enjoyed a run-through of one of the greatest back catalogues on records. A few of the younger ones, perhaps, appreciated an object lesson in following your dream.

The show continues at Eden Court, Inverness, until Saturday.