Exhausted but pleased, I'm back from a weekend in Denver seeing friends. Why Denver? Cuz that's where
Eric Clapton was playing this weekend. I went to the concert with
Michael and Laura (who I finally got to meet in person!). The concert was great. Here's the lineup:
24 July 2004: Pepsi Center Arena - Denver, CO
Opening Act:
Robert Randolph & The Family Band
EC's Band Lineup:
Eric Clapton - Guitar, Vocals
Nathan East - Bass, Vocals
Steve Gadd - Monster Drums
Doyle Bramhall II - Guitar, Vocals
Chris Stainton - Keyboards
Billy Preston - Keyboards, hammond organ, Vocals
Sharon White - Background Vocals
Michelle John - Background Vocals
Setlist for July 20, 2004:
01. Let it rain
02. Hoochie Coochie Man
03. Walk Out In The Rain
04. I Wanna Little Girl
05. I Shot The Sheriff
06. Me and the Devil Blues
07. They're Red Hot
08. Milkcow's Calf Blues
09. (If I Had) Posession Over Judgement Day
10. Kind Hearted Woman
11. Got To Get Better In A Little While
12. Have You Ever Loved A Woman
13. Badge
14. Wonderful tonight
15. Layla
16. Cocaine
Encore
17. Sunshine of Your Love (with Robert Randolph)
18. Got My Mojo Working (with Robert Randolph)
For the Robert Johnson stuff (Me and the Devil Blues, They're Red Hot, etc.) they went rather acoustic and intimate. Very impressive. Review from the
Denver Post is right on point:
In fact, after two hours of Clapton at the Pepsi Center on Saturday night, my only complaint is that "Wonderful Tonight" came off as an uninspired love song that's lost its relevance to its author.
But most of the show was expectedly on point. Clapton, looking up to his mike all the while and keeping his throat open and his head tilted toward the cheap seats, worked through the classics and, more important, tracks from his new record.
"We'd like to do a couple of Johnson songs," he told the crowd as he and his two guitarists took to chairs on the foot of the stage. And with that, they launched into a five-song mini-set from his recent disc "Me and Mr. Johnson," which made for the most interesting 20 minutes of the show.
I agree about their take on Wonderful Tonight. It was just schmaltzy and disjointed with the rest of the concert, and the band seemed bored with it. I love the song, but I'd be perfectly happy if he left it out of his concerts. He has so much else to give us.
The last time I saw Clapton in concert was in St. Paul on his 50th birthday. That tour (Pilgrim) was very introspective and "I'm turning 50, let me look at my life". This tour? It's more like "I'm nearly 60, screw it, I'm gonna play what interests me". Bravo!
