Concert Details

Fan Reviews:

Review by Chuck Credo
The band was in great form.  Any kind of idea that Clapton was taking a back seat with the guitar playing was instantly dismissed with “Tell The Truth”.  The outstanding solo of the night was definitely “I Shot The Sheriff”…the first time in the night that he had a standing ovation by the whole arena.  “Tears In Heaven” brought the entire house silent. We didn’t get “Layla”, .which was OK with me, but I would have liked to have heard the pedal steel playing some of Duane Allman’s licks on the 2nd half of the original version.  

Eric is NOT using the tweed Fender Twin amps for this tour. My tickets were in the 6th row and I could tell his tone was a lot brighter this time.  After fighting my way up to the front after the show, I think he’s using a Dumble!  It’s a small black amplifier placed next to the Leslie (which I don’t think he used all night).   Whatever this new amp was, it sounded fantastic! 

Not enough is being said about how incredible Steve Jordan is.  The energy and discipline that he brings to this band add a fantastic edge to the songs.   While I certainly love and appreciate the work of Steve Gadd, I prefer Jordan’s groove for Eric’s music.  The way that Jordan locks in with Willie Weeks is off the charts.  “Got To Get Better In A Little While” … We are use to some funk here in New Orleans, and that tune blew me out the water. 

An incredible show to celebrate an incredible career.  I am so glad Eric seems to like New Orleans, because he rarely skips a stop when in the area. Thank you, Where’s Eric, for all you do keeping us informed. Eric, we hope to see you back in New Orleans again!

Review by Patrick Olivier
Eric Clapton and his outstanding band received a very warm welcome in the New Orleans Arena as they  opened up the show with Hello Old Friend and My Fathers Eyes. It was really cool to see him open the show with his acoustic guitar and Doyle Bramhall II playing lead. It added anticipation for Eric’s first solo in Tell The Truth. From that point on the crowd was hanging on every note. Gotta Get Over was next with a solo that gave me goose bumps and at that point there was no doubt that Clapton still is God.  Then Steve Jordan started playing a funky beat and on came  EC with a wah  wah pedal.  It was a great intro to Gotta Get Better In a Little While, the funk was in the air and the show just kept getting better. Paul Carrack then took over vocals on a great cover of Squeeze’s  Tempted. I Shot the Sheriff was next with another exquisite solo by Eric that left me shaking my head in awe. Things settled down for the sit down set that included Drifting, Nobody Knows You When You’re Down And Out, Tears In Heaven, Goodnight Irene, and Wonderful Tonight. During Wonderful Tonight a couple dancing near the front got Eric’s attention. He smiled and giggled at them during the song and when it was over he pointed to them and gave them applause.  You can tell the Eric was having a great time. Paul Carrack was back on vocals for Ace’s hit How Long, which was a nice surprise. Next was my favorite part of the night. It was four great Robert Johnson songs Stones In My Passway , Love In Vain, Crossroads, and Little Queen Of Spades. These songs really showcased the talent of these great musicians. Chris Stainton and Doyle Bramhall II, both had top notch solos on Little Queen Of Spades while Steve Jordan and Willie Weeks kept it all together. The crowd then jumped to their feet as the band went into Cocaine and sang along to every lyric. The band then exited the stage and came back out for the encore to screaming fans with their cell phones and lighters in the air. Eric started jamming with distortion and went into the psychedelic Sunshine Of Your Love with more outstanding guitar licks. Paul Carrack then closed the show with Joe Cocker’s High Time We Went.

This concert did not need Layla to make it the best out of the 5 times that I’ve seen Clapton over the last 15 years. This was by far his best band and at 67 old Slowhand still has it.  Steve Jordan’s playing is so over the top it’s hard not to just watch him the whole time. Willie Weeks kept things funky. Doyle Bramhall II was challenging Eric all night. Paul Carrack’s soulful voice and organ was a nice addition. Greg Leisz’s pedal steel guitar added a great sound to a number of tunes. Chris Stainton’s piano playing was second to none. Eric Clapton’s voice and tone was perfect. The crowd provided a great atmosphere. It truly was a great concert and exactly what you expect from a Clapton show. No crazy special effects, no story telling, just a legend expressing himself the way he knows best, with his guitar.

Review by Dale Marston
No surprises in the setlist at NOLA; it was identical to that of the opener in Phoenix, only it excluded Layla.  EC’s band was tight throughout the night; most of the credit for this should be given to Steve Jordan and Willie Weeks.  Not to discount the efforts of EC, Doyle, Carrack, Leisz & Stainton, but Weeks and Jordan were the stars on the stage tonight.  Their performance on a 8 ½ minute Got to Get Better was incredible, but Jordan’s drumming on Sunshine was the highlight of the show!  EC had some stellar leads; the ones I enjoyed most were on the 000 Martins.  

Eric’s guitar regiment began when he strapped on his 000 Martin (I think it was a 000-45EC) to start the show (Hello Old Friend & My Fathers Eyes), then switching to a Charcoal Black Fender Stratocaster for Tell the Truth, Got to Get Over & Black Cat Bone.  He made a change before Got to Get Better to what looked like an identical Strat.  After I Shot The Sheriff, EC switched to an awesome looking Black 000 Martin with pearl inlays (I think it was a 000-42?) on which he played some his best licks of the night (especially on Drifitin!!)! After Wonderful Tonight, he switched back to the Charcoal Strat for How Long, and made an immediate change to a Strat tuned for slide on Stones in My Passway. EC then went directly back to the standard tuned Charcoal Strat to finish the show.