Concert Details

Show Notes:

Proceeds from the benefit concert helped fund a CT Scanner for the Pediatric Oncology Hospital Pausilipon in Naples and the work of the charitable foundation, Open Onlus, which is committed to fighting childhood tumors and cancers.

One fan in attendance told Where’s Eric!, “It was definitely worth the trip from Rome! At the beginning, Pino came on stage alone, said a few words and introduced EC. The two of them then played Boogie Boogie Man and Napul’è on their Strats. Eric walked off and the the band went on stage to perform a rich and solid set of Pino’s biggest hits: Je So Pazz, A Me Me Piace ‘O Blues, Quando, Che Male C’è, Quando, O Scarrafone and others (not exactly in this order). Then, Eric came back for a short but very strong solo set, preceded by a very cool instrumental jam including Key To The Highway, Hoochie Coochie Man, Crossroads (2010s Crossroads Festival arrangement), Wonderful Tonight and Cocaine (Pino joined for these last two, singing in Italian the second verse of Wondeful Tonight). Then, there were some other Pino solo songs, like Sara, Io Per Lei and the gorgeous closing with Yes I Know My Way, turned into another stunning jam. I have to highlight Steve Gadd’s solo on the last, moving. The encore was nothing but perfection, THE one I have been waiting for for years, plugged back in. Yes, LAYLA! Eric sang it very well and made a fabulous job with the solo, both after the third chorus and during the coda. Pino enriched it with great guitar tremolo playing, deeply resembling Duane’s or Derek’s slide work. Willie Weeks even helped on the backing vocals, sharing EC’s mic. Just perfect.

Another long-time WE! follower said, “Clapton gave a really inspired Crossroads and an aggressive Cocaine between softer but Italian melodies. A nice evening in a wonderful land.”