Concert Details

Fan Reviews:

Review by Big Tom / Milford CT
I have just seen Eric Clapton and his Band at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville CT. This is the 20th time I have seen Clapton since 1974.
I must tell you that there is always something that just amazes me about Eric. Last night was no exception. The first six songs just had me memorized and I was just saying WOW song after song. Starting out the show, one of my favorites was Tell The Truth. The band was right on from the beginning and I have to say that less was more last night.

With just one guitar player (Doyle Bramhall) with Clapton and Chris Stainton handling all the keyboard duties, the clarity of the band was noticeable. A more upbeat version of Key to the Highway was also right on. Bramhall’s guitar and vocals never sounded better. The next two songs – Hoochie Coochie Man and Little Wing – were the songs of the night for me. Hoochie Coochie Man had me in chills. Little Wing sounded like Clapton had something to prove – which he never does. It was just amazing how this man at 63 can still show that he is the MAN.

The acoustic set shows Clapton’s versatility and how the blues is in his blood. From there on in, it was all electric and it just was the best. It was good to see Clapton play slide on Motherless Children – he is so good at it, I wish he would play more of it. He gives Doyle so much room playing that you can see that it is a true band. And I loved Chris’ playing both piano and organ. Is there any more versatile and pro bass player than Pino? Unreal – so steady.

Paying tribute to the passing of Bo Didley, EC played before You Accuse Me. Finishing out the show with Layla right into Cocaine and the encore with RR on Mojo was the icing on a great cake. You know the set list was perfect and for those that just want to hear the EC hits, buy a CD. I could care if Clapton played Layla again. He really shows he is the Master Blues Man and my GUITAR GURU – as always THANKS ERIC for letting me see you for the past 34 years!

Review by Catherine
If you are a die hard Eric Clapton Blues fan, such as myself, tonight was for you. No matter how many times I have attended one of his concerts, watching the intensity of his playing is amazing. Chris Stainton’s solos were a major highlight of the two hour show.
However, me and my sister both felt that for the price we paid for our tickets, tonight was lacking in too many areas. The sound system at Mohegan Sun is extremely loud and tinny sounding. There was a definite lack of excitement and energy in the audience. Nathan East, Steve Ferrone, Chuck Leavell, Andy Fairweather-Low and Ray Cooper are sorely missed, adding that energy and audience involvement which is lacking now. Found it interesting that Eric did not introduce the members of the band, something he has done in every concert in the past.
While the encore of "I’ve Got My Mojo Working was excellent, a one song encore is not the norm when it comes to past Eric Clapton concerts. Actually, the concert came across as being rushed. Speaking to numerous concert goers in the casino, the majority came away with the same feelings.

It is refreshing to hear old songs such as Motherless Children, Little Queen of Spades, etc., some songs should be retired…Wonderful Tonight, Hoochie Coochie Man, etc. Please add Have You Ever Loved a Woman, Old Love, Bell Bottom Blues, to name a few.
All said and done, I highly recommend seeing Mr. Clapton perform, his playing and vocals seem to get better as he ages. Will I see him again in concert, should the opportunity arise, YES! My hope is that he his band be comprised of musicians who compliment the greatest guitarist our generation has ever seen and that he listens to his loyal fans and re-thinks his set lists.

Mr. Clapton, I personally thank you for all the joy and happiness your music has brought into my life for so many years.

Review by Joe, Jess and Greg
I have seen Clapton on six or seven occasions. I remember the time Mark Knopfler was the second guitarist in the band and I thought it would stand as the best show ever. In 2006, I was disappointed with the sound and the overall presentation at Mohegan Sun Arena. This year the got it all together:
– The sound system was perfect
– The band was perfect
– Clapton was flawless
– The arena staff was perfect
– The ticketholders were the best group I ever attended a concert with
– The air conditioning was exactly perfect
– And last, the weats we had in section 25 … perfect.
The people who attended got to see a legend at his finest.

Review by Greg Gallagher
Clapton was awesome. He was in great form and the band sounded great. I am used to Andy Fairweather-Low as his sideman but let me tell you, the southpaw Doyle Bramhall II can fill in anytime.

Chris Stainton on keyboards was in great form too. Unreal show. It was great to hear Motherless Child and Motherless Children and my personal highlight came early when they performed Little Wing! I only wish he did another encore, because Mr. Randolph brought up the energy on stage and it would have been nice to see it go one more song.

I have been to 14 EC shows and this is up there at being one of the best. Clapton was at ease, probably because he did not "have to play" anything from an album, he could perform what he wanted. I am sorry I could not go to Great Woods* to see him!
* Renamed Comcast Center during this week in 2008 in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Formerly Tweeter Center.

Review by Lenny / Norwalk CT
Don’t know where to start. Haven’t missed an Eric tour in 20 years. Had to let my wife and 14 year old son go without me to see Eric and Stevie at the Garden because I had severe Bronchitis. Made a career choice. See Eric, or one more day in bed and get back to selling cars.So, it was with incredible glee when I found out E.C. was touring later in the year. I pretended it was just for me, when he found out I was sick for the Garden show.

But, let’s get real. I have taken my wife of 31 years to many of these shows, and she is one of those, "I only want to hear the songs I know" people. So, she loved 2006’s Mohegan show when he did Let it Rain, After Midnight, Anyday, Crossroads, Layla, and so on. I warned her, after reading the Wheres Eric website, that the set list was not going to be to her liking. She only knew 5 songs. I didn’t take her with me to see Cream because I knew she would not like it. Although when you think about it, it was the ultimate Eric concert because he had to play all the guitar.

Back to Mohegan. I purposely missed most of Robert Randolph because I knew my wife was going to be bored with most of the Clapton set, so I was not going to push it with Randolph too. We came in for the last 2 songs and he was excellent.

Now we will get past my wife and get to the show. Eric was great. People mistake his lack of emotion as boredom. Believe me. That’s the way he plays. I’ve seen it for almost 30 years. Never talks to the crowd, which I think I have finally gotten used too, though I told my wife before the show that I bet he says something about Bo Diddley having died that day, which he did. He dedicated Before You Accuse Me to Bo. He said we heard some sad news today, Bo Diddley passed away, and this song is for him. In 30 years I honestly think that is the longest line he has ever said to a crowd.

And he played his usual 2 hours. When you think about it, playing the blues is more guitar, and that’s what I’m there for. To see and hear him play guitar. I read one of the above reviews where someone said that Eric should say if the tour is going to be a Blues tour, or a more traditional hits concert. There is some validity to that statement, but if you are a real fan, it should not matter. If you only know Eric from his radio play, then you were probably going to be disappointed. I met people that didn’t know the set list, and I did not tell them. Let them find out, and hopefully enjoy.

As far as the playing, again, it was excellent. I have to say that the encore was one of the most incredible songs I have ever seen and heard. I will try to explain.

Two tours ago, when Eric closed his shows with Over The Rainbow, I thought that was probably the best ending to an Eric concert since 1970 something when Santana and Mahavishnu John joined Eric for Stormy Monday at Nassau Coliseum. Eric and John M. went at it so hard that Carlos put down his guitar to watch. Now let’s fast forward to Monday night. Randolph and Eric went at it on Mojo Working. Randolph would play, and then Eric would play. And then Randolph would play and motion to Eric to play harder. This went on for at least 3 times. Cmon man, you are the greatest guitar player in the world show me. AND HE DID. And he did something I have never seen in all the Eric concerts I have ever been to. Eric laughed. You might think this is no big deal. But this is from a man that shows no emotion on stage. He smiled and laughed, and my wife stood and rocked out with the both of them on a song she never heard before. That’s how great that encore was.

And then Eric did something else I don’t think I ever saw him do after a show. We were sitting near the stage exit, and he took a towel and wiped his head and face. That’s how hard he worked. Normally it’s all business and routine and the show is over. Randolph made him work harder than he had intended to, and he loved it, we loved it, and you loved it if you were lucky enough to be there Monday night.