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Clapton Performs at Bercy, Paris

6 Apr 04

Clapton performed his second French concert of the tour on 6 April 2004 at Bercy in Paris. The set list was changed around a bit this evening.

Set List:

Let It Rain
Hoochie Coochie Man
Bell Bottom Blues
I Shot The Sheriff
Milkcow’s Calf Blues
When You Got A Good Friend
They’re Red Hot
Kind Hearted Woman
Got To Get Better In A Little While
I Wanna Little Girl
Change The World
Have You Ever Loved A Woman
Badge
Wonderful Tonight
Cocaine
Layla
Sunshine Of Your Love (encore with Robert Randolph)
I Got My Mojo Workin’ (encore with Robert Randolph)

Review by Eric Chauveau

What can I say ? … the show was quite ordinary until EC take a fantastic solo on I Shot The Sheriff. What began like an already heard (and badly swinging) version turned into a "crowd pleaser" : thrilling solo & the backing band with a a buldozzer grove. After such an impressive solo, the show really starded and everybody was pleased. What a joy to hear "Got To Get Better In A Little While", really funky. It was also nice to see EC sharing the stage more than in the past. He gave good occasions to chris Stainton, B. Preston & D. Bramhall to shine. Even if D. Bramhall is not my favorite 2nd guitarist, I must admit he gives some youth to the team. Nevertheless, he seamed a bit shy, maybe not giving his best.

What can I say else … the slow blues were brilliant … There was an intersting version of Change the World : he began playing acoustic on his new Black Martin, made a short acoustic solo and then endorsed his new Crashocaster III for a blistering final.

The encore with R. Randolph was really fun, played at full speed.

Review by François Casson

Eric was in good shape. He seems to be happy to play. The show last for 2 hours and was full of energy and joy. The setlist was exactly the same as the Hamburg’s one.

The show began with a very good and groovy version of "Let it rain", song that I had never heard live before. Nice. "Hoochie Coochie Man" was played in a different version than during the others tours with the girls and East on backing vocals. Original and good. After "Bell Bottom Blues", EC played an incredible version of "I Shot The Sheriff" with the best guitar solo (what a crescendo …) I’ve ever heard ! That was obviously the highlight of the show (along with "KHW"). Then EC played four track from his new album with the excellent "They’re red hot" and a fantastic version of "Kind Hearted Woman" another highlight of the show (I love those blue licks …). After a version of "change the world" which was a bit week, EC played a nice version of "I Want A Little Girl". Then He played an excellent version of "GTGBIALW" (groovy and powerful : just perfect !). On "HYELAW", Eric missed completely the intro (awfull !) but gave a nice solo at the end of the song. Then there were the "greatest hits" : good but now overplayed … I wish EC would not play the same old songs over and over ! The encore was very good owing to Robert Randolph who burnt the house down ! What a great guitar player !

EC played the guitar at his best and he sang incredibly good, never got out of tune : he definitely has improved his voice. The Band was allright (especially Chris, Steve & Billy). Doyle was not very good at the beginning of the show. But he improved (hopefully !) his level as the show went on. At the end he played some greats licks on "Layla". I’m not sure that EC doesn’t miss Andy …