News

EC Opens South American Tour In Porto Alegre

7 Oct 11

Eric Clapton and His Band opened their South American Tour in Porto Alegre, Brazil on 6 October. In his first visit to the country in ten years, EC wowed the audience with a solid, two-hour performance. At any Clapton concert, "Layla" is a highlight. For this leg of the 2011 Tour, it has again been re-invigorated. It’s being performed in the style from his most recent release, Wynton Marsalis & Eric Clapton Play The Blues. For that project, Marsalis rearranged "Layla" as a Crescent City dirge to tremendous results. Other highlights from the Porto Alegre performance according to those in attendance were "Old Love" and "Cocaine".

The "sit down set" for the 20,000 strong audience consisted of "Driftin’", "Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out", "Lay Down Sally", "When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful" and the re-arranged "Layla".

Out on the road with Clapton are Chris Stainton (keyboards), Tim Carmon (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Michelle John (backing vocals) and Sharon White (backing vocals).

The band and crew now head to Rio de Janeiro for two nights at the HSBC Arena on 9 and 10 October. Gary Clark, Jr. will open on those dates, as well as the Sao Paulo concert at Morumbi Stadium on 12 October.

Eric Clapton & His Band: Set List – 6 October 2011
Centro de Eventos Fiergs, Porto Alegre (BR)
01. Going Down Slow
02. Key To The Highway
03. Hoochie Coochie Man
04. Old Love
05. Tearing Us Apart
06. Driftin’ 
07. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out
08. Lay Down Sally
09. When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful
10. Layla
11. Badge
12. Wonderful Tonight
13. Before You Accuse Me
14. Little Queen Of Spades
15. Cocaine
16. Crossroads (Encore)

Band Lineup – 2011 South American Tour
Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals
Chris Stainton – keyboards
Tim Carmon – keyboards 
Willie Weeks – bass
Steve Gadd – drums
Michelle John – backing vocals 
Sharon White – backing vocals