Eric Clapton has been around a long time now. I first saw him in the mid seventies, about 35 years ago. Since that time, he got himself clean and sober (since 1987) and has gotten quite comfortable in his own skin. Memory is a funny thing so I won't pretend to be able to describe in detail the Clapton shows I saw at that time. I do remember two shows with George Terry as the other guitarist and one with Albert Lee. My clearest recollections are of a show in Huntington, West Virginia where myself and some intrepid travelers from Ohio University got pretty close on the floor at this general admission concert.
I bring these old memories to the fore because the shows in which I have seen Clapton this decade, 2004 in Columbus and 2008 at the Blossom Music Center have impressed me greatly, probably even more than the shows in the 70's. Both shows this decade had Doyle Bramhall on second guitar with him. I also had the luck to catch a random Clapton appearance in Columbus when he stepped out for three songs with his old friend Jimmy Vaughn in 2006.
So this show was unique for me in that it was the first time I have seen Clapton without another guitarist to partner with. This is the first tour since 1997 that Clapton has toured without a second (or third) guitarist with him. Clapton has remained stubborn in preparing and touring a set show each tour with little or no variation in the set list. Even the Rolling Stones have allowed themselves some flexibility on their last two tours, but not Eric. I do wonder how it might change what he is up to if he would allow himself some spontaneity. So this year, Clapton may play 50 shows but only 25 different songs. Contrast this with an extreme example, Phish in 2009 played a bit over 50 shows and over 200 different songs.
"Goin' Down Slow" opened the show, an old blues song written in 1941 by Jimmy Oden. While he might be going down slow, but it is actually an up tempo blues song. I liked this for an opener, Clapton doing a tasteful but not extravagant guitar solo. "Key to the Highway" come next. Two old blues songs to start the show, I'm O.K. with that. "Key to the Highway" is associated with Charles Segar and Big Bill Broonzy and first turned up on recordings in the early 40's. Clapton first did it on his only Derek and the Domino's studio album which features he and Duane Allman trading some blistering licks. Here it is relatively short with Eric opening it up just a bit more than the first song. Another Derek song, "Tell the Truth", written by Bobby Whitlock and Clapton came next. I should say, this and Key are old favorites of mine and always a treat to hear. Eric brings a bit more intensity here and, I should have mentioned earlier, is in good voice. One of the big differences with Clapton in his later years is that he has gained confidence and style in his singing such that he really can reach back on the blues numbers and bring something from deep within. This song builds again in intensity, bringing a bit more than the last. More blues follows with "Old Love", a song Clapton wrote with Robert Cray and Eric Patrick. Here, in the forth song Clapton delivers a blistering solo, a slow build, beautifully constructed, climaxing with some quick and smooth licks. Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff" had an interesting little intro that I had not heard Clapton use before. Clapton's version of this song has not changed much over the years and is always enjoyable to hear. Again, this builds to a great climax and ends the first part of Clapton's show.
The now expected sit down part of the show. Clapton has been doing this now for a number of years. Chairs and acoustic guitars are brought out on stage. Clapton's acoustic playing is quite beautiful, the tone full and rich. Another 1940's blues number, "Driftin' Blues" credited to Charles Brown, Johnny Moore and Eddie Williams came next. This is another long time favorite of Clapton's and a wonderful example of slow acoustic blues. "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out", more old blues, this time from the 1920's written by Jimmy Cox. Another slow number, this time with the band joining in. More beautiful acoustic blues. "Running on Faith" is kind of a pop blues number, sung in heart felt fashion by Clapton.
The electric guitar returns, chair put away for another day, but this last part of the show starts with the popiest song of the evening, "I've Got a Rock and Roll Heart". I don't know if it was written for Clapton, but he had a hit single with it in the 80's. He and George Harrison wrote "Badge" together for Cream in the 60's. Eric has probably played this at every show since that time. The lyrics are rather opaque ah, but that bridge guitar riff is classic. It turns out that the name of the song came from a misreading of George's poor handwriting, Badge for Bridge. What is cool about that is that the bridge IS what is most striking about the song. Clapton later added the "Where is my badge" lyric and has done it that way for many years. The lyrical guitar part did not disappoint. "Little Queen of Spades" is another old blues number, this one written by the great Robert Johnson. For me this was the highlight of the show. Walt Richmond and Chris Stainton on piano and organ (not sure which was which) both played extended solos, showing off their talents with Eric climaxing the song with his most extended soloing of the night. Again, while Clapton is not an innovative guitarist, his lyricism, phrasing, musicality and alility to build a solo to a brilliant climax were on full display in this song. "Before You Accuse Me" is an uptempo blues song from the fifties written by Bo Diddley. This is one I didn't know and thoroughly enjoyed, more hot guitar licks. Clapton must love "Wonderful Tonight" though I never have. It is quite popular though and a crowd pleaser. Here it also serves as a respite between moments of intensity. I must say, the guitar solo was heartfelt and well done. The set closes with a rousing version of J.J. Cale's "Cocaine", long associated with Clapton. He gets to show off some rock and roll power chords and whips the crowd into a frenzy. The single song encore was another Robert Johnson song, long associated with Clapton since his Cream days, "Crossroads". This is not the blistering fast version immortalized on Cream's Wheels of Fire album. This version was more mid tempo but giving Eric ample opportunity to get in some last blues licks.
I was surprised that this was only a 90 minute show as I was expecting a full two hours. The fifteen songs were well done and the show had a good flow, alternating between moments of intensity and reflection. I must say that I do like Eric better with another guitarist. This may not be so much that Clapton plays better with another guitarist pushing him a bit but that he has always picked great guitarists to play with him. He also has always been ok with other guitarists fully showing what they have got. My only real complaint then is that I wanted more. I did like the heavy leaning on the blues, ten of the fifteen songs. Eric does seem happy to please himself with his sets these days, that is probably a good thing.
Roger Daltrey was the opening act. He has been excoriated in the press and on blogs regarding the Super Bowl performance. There is no defending it except to say that the whole idea of trotting out a musical act for a twelve minute show is dumb anyway. The only one I remember ever really liking was the Prince show, whenever that was. I did not have high expectations for Daltrey, as much as i love his Who work. I was surprised at how much I liked his brief 45 minute ten song set. It was a treat to hear "I Can See For Miles" as the Who has largely neglected this over the years. I had never seen it in the 5 Who shows I have seen. "The Real Me" is another Who favorite of mine and it came across surprisingly well, with the famous bass runs nicely in place. Daltrey stretched a bit with three non-Who songs, "Days of Light", "freedom Ride" (that he mentioned in connection with the great Taj Mahal), and "give Me a Stone". I liked these a lot, especially "Freedon Ride". "Real Good Looking Boy" is a somewhat obscure recent Who song, Pete Townshend's old guy homage to a young Elvis Presley. "I'm a Man" is a Bo Diddley song the Who covered on their first album, way back in 1965 (Muddy Waters also did a version of this). A brief truncated "My Generation blues" flowed into Mose Allison's "young Man Blues" made famous by the Who's Live at Leeds version. It was the same intense arrangement. This was the only place where I felt they lost their way a bit but the two guitarists got it together with some power chords and wild riffs. Pete Townshend's famous and these days ubiquitous "Baba O'Riley" finished the show, pleasing this crowd of mostly long ago teenagers singing about teenage wasteland.
Daltrey has never been a guy with much range and he has made up for this with power. He may not have the power he had in the seventies but I thought he acquited himself well in this set.
I would like to dedicate this post to Jim Miller, who died of a sudden heart attack while at this show. He loved live music and saw/heard lots of great things in his too short 54 years.
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