Concert Details
13 February 2009 – Eric Clapton & His Band
Location:
Venue: Osaka-Jo Hall
City: Osaka
Country: Japan
Band Lineup:
Eric Clapton – guitar / vocals
Doyle Bramhall II – guitar / vocals
Chris Stainton– keyboards
Willie Weeks – bass
Abe Laboriel, Jr. – drums
Michelle John – backing vocals
Sharon White – backing vocals
Support:
None
Show Notes:
This performance marked Eric’s 40th concert in Osaka since he first toured Japan in 1974. It was also night two of the 2009 Winter Tour and the second night in Osaka. There were some changes to the set list from the first night. Not only was the song order revised a bit, but Here But I’m Gone, Nobody Knows You (When You’re Down and Out) and Before You Accuse Me were added. Dropped were Isn’t It A Pity, Motherless Child and Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.
Special Guest(s):
Set List:
01. Hoochie Coochie Man
02. Key To The Highway
03. Tell the Truth
04. I Shot The Sheriff
05. Here But I’m Gone
06. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad
07. Driftin’
08. Travelin’ Alone
09. That’s Alright
10. Nobody Knows You (When You’re Down And Out)
11. Running On Faith
12. Motherless Children
13. Little Queen of Spades
14. Before You Accuse Me
15. Wonderful Tonight
16. Layla
17. Cocaine
18. Crossroads (encore)
Fan Reviews:
Review by Jii Aoi / Japan
EC’s fortieth Osaka show since his first Japanese tour visit in 1974. Another classic performance added to the city’s already growing list of "nights to remember".
Tight performances, fiery guitar solos lasted throughout the entire show. Sheriff was particularly impressive with the prolonged run off fast licks; the return of Eric the gunslinger in his glory, which even overshadowed the previous night’s version that was a highlight of the show in its own right. Tonight’s Sheriff was that good.
Almost all of the solos were inspired tonight. I felt, though, that Cocaine had more "edge" on the first night.
My personal gripe is my viewpoint. I was sitting on the left wing of the stage side where, though quite close to the performers, I spent most of the time watching the back of the guitar neck. I could see Eric’s finger movement only intermittently, which detracted from the thrill and the excitement to some degree.
The encore finished, all of the musicians gathered to the stage front and gave deep bows of appreciation four times, one more than usual. Eric looked happy and satisfied with both the performance and responses. As Eric and the band walked off, someone threw a bouquet of flowers to the stage. Eric spotted and picked it up, holding it up to the audience in the exploding roar. A happy ending to this time round of Eric’s appearances in Osaka where there is one of his strongest fan-bases in the world.
Everyone I talked to after the show gave it words of maximum praise, even those who had some reservations about the first night’s performance, which tells you something.