Concert Details

Fan Reviews:

Review by Doc

I’d seen EC once before, during his ‘Pilgrim’ tour, and was absolutely moved by his playing and singing. But, that experience did very little to prepare me for what I was a part of at the Oakland Arena last weekend.

The setlist was the same as what has been described in so many of the other reviews on this page; and, what Eric wore that night is pretty irrelevant. What is relevant, is the music he and the other five world-class musicians that accompanied him – Andy Fairweather-Low, Billy Preston, David Sancious, Nathan East, and Steve Gadd – had to offer. As was mentioned by countless Clapton aficionados through the years, you never really know what you’ll get from Eric tour to tour; much less, night to night. But, I can say without reservation that what I heard from him Saturday night amounted to a religious experience (nod to legendary graffiti!).

From the moment the house lights dimmed and he walked on stage – in his customary, low key way – to the last note of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow,’ each song seemed to be building to an incredible crescendo. Along the way, there were laughs, cheers, and more than a few tears (to hear Eric sing the likes of ‘Bell Bottom Blues,’ ‘Tears in Heaven,’ and ‘River of Tears’ without getting choked up seems somehow cold and inhuman!).

And, the guitar work! The jumbo cams were all trained on Clapton’s hands for the better part of the night; and being a novice guitar player, this was a dream clinic on the six string! I couldn’t help but tap my feet and sing along to ‘Want a Little Girl,’ and ‘Have You Ever Loved a Woman.’ And, I had heard EC live once prior, when he was still playing the acoustic version of ‘Layla,’ and it was wonderful. But, hearing that riff plugged in, and the emotion in his voice as he wailed above the soaring guitar. . .I felt every physical and emotional reaction that people hope to experience through music.

In a nut shell, the night was incredibly moving – more so than any other concert I’d ever seen. I’m glad that I was there to witness such an event, and I’m sad that I may never see Eric live again. But I couldn’t have asked for a more spectacular last memory than the one he gave all of us at the Arena that evening. Thank you, Mr. Clapton!