Concert Details

Fan Reviews:

Review by Steve Hoare
The wait is, for most of us painful, the anticipation and excitement unbearable but as the lights dim and the crowd roar it’s appreciation you know it’s going to be worth it. Watching Eric stroll out onto the Royal Albert Hall stage once again is just simply a wonderful feeling. He raises his arm to acknowledge the crowd and straps on his Strat and slides easily into the JJ Cale number ‘Somebody’s Knocking’. It’s a laid back groove that allows the band to ease into the show without breaking too much of a sweat, a nice steady warm up with tasteful licks just as you’d expect. It’s clear that with Eric being the only guitarist in these shows we’re going to get plenty of what we’ve turned up to see.

Since those Blues shows at the RAH in the early 1990’s ‘Key To The Highway’ has always been a personal favourite and so it’s with great delight that Eric launches into a full on electric version of this once again, his playing precise and crisp, not a wasted note in sight and the solo’s are smooth and searing, it’s a beautiful thing for me, goose bumps fill my arms and the back of my neck as the notes filter out into the hall, I guess this is why we pay our money. You wonder at such an early stage of the show how he can top what you’ve just heard but immediately the opening riff to ‘Tell The Truth’ starts and once again the feeling returns. The band are tight and on the money, drummer Steve Gadd drives the band and lays the solid foundation along with Nathan East on Bass that allows Eric to do what he does best, the section before the main guitar solo is like a gear change and once again Eric provides a lesson in taste and tone, it’s what all us guitar players in the audience aspire to.

‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ follows and is a treat for all us blues lovers, ‘You Are So Beautiful’ (sang by Paul Carrack) and ‘Can’t Find My Way Home (sang by Nathan East) follow and take the intensity down a notch. Eric then takes back the spotlight and plays a funky little intro to ‘I Shot The Sheriff’ the groove is happening and then the finest moment of the whole show kicks in as Eric launches into the solo, it’s simply outstanding, his ability to provide such light and shade, such attack and sustain in his playing is immeasurable, it’s moments like this when it’s so clearly apparent that he really is the master of his craft and why he has been and is so revered after all these years.

The acoustic section of the show kicks off with ‘Driftin’ and is followed by three of the famous ‘Unplugged’ albums finest songs ‘Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out’, a reggae infused ‘Tears In Heaven’ and of course ‘Layla’ which is greeted with rapturous applause, Eric looks happy and right at home.

‘Let it Rain’ is a nice addition, I can’t remember hearing this before in the 25 years I’ve been watching him, ‘Wonderful Tonight’ is an obvious choice but I think I’ve just heard it too many times now to get excited by it, on the other hand ‘Crossroads’ follows and despite how many times I’ve heard this I never tire of it, I guess Eric always makes it sound fresh and so full of energy, you still get a sense that he enjoys it, tonight is no exception. The obligatory slow blues of ‘Little Queen of Spades’ shows off the standard of musicians that Eric has always attracted in his bands, Chris Stainton on piano and Paul Carrack on hammond organ throw their hats into the ring and show what they can do, their solos are spot on but we all know where Eric’s heart lies and when he launches into his solo he once again proves that there’s no one quite like him on this planet, the notes wash over you and the spine tingling sensation returns once again with each note he plays.

‘Cocaine’ wraps up the proceedings with the crowd on their feet singing along. The band walk off stage as the crowd yells for more, a few minutes later they return, every one of them smiling. Andy Fairweather Low is with them and despite a shakey start they round out the show with Joe Cocker’s ‘High Time We Went’. It’s another truly magical evening at The Royal Albert Hall, one that I hope will not be the last and judging by the packed venue I’m not alone in thinking that.

Review by Diana Smith / Nottingham
Another superb concert on Wednesday 20 May from a truly exceptional guitarist and band, but tinged with sadness that, on this one night only, `Pretending’ was omitted from the playlist and, of course, that these shows may well be the last of their kind. What will I do without the annual highlight of an Eric Clapton show for the past 25 years?  At least this evening’s concert was being recorded so, hopefully, there will be a dvd available for purchase in the UK in the not too distant future.  Thank you for the music, Eric.