Fan Reviews:
Review by Georges Vonfelt
Just coming out of the show and only one word exceptional. I have seen Eric many many times on stage but never so happy and playing on the top of the top, What a I Shot The Sheriff! I hope that the retirement is not real. Who plays on this level? No one; Eric plays as if he was mid-20s and not 70. Incredible
Review by Richard Smith
I have been a fan of Eric’s since he was in The Yardbirds. Fresh Cream was the second album I bought at the age of 12. Last night was the musical highlight of my life. Eric is like a great Bordeaux, he just gets better with age. No coincidence I think that the finest clarets of the 20th century date from 1945, the same year that Eric was born. They all are still improving!
Every song I had heard him play before, yet last night there was a freshness of the arrangements. ‘I Shot the Sheriff’ from 461 Ocean Boulevard, up until now one of my least favourite tracks, was just mind blowing. For me the concerts highlight and judging by the audience’s reaction they are in agreement was ‘Cocaine’.
Eric, thank you for your talent and being who you are.
Review by Gösta Kylsberg / Stockholm, Sweden
This was meant to be the concert night in London for us. But gladly, I and my partner managed to get tickets for the night before as well. So this was the second concert night. The Thursday night show (night 6) was no exception to previous nights. It was another strong show by Eric Clapton and his band.
The only change in the set list compared to the Wednesday night show was Pretending substituting Tell the Truth. The outstanding song was, as yesterday, I Shot the Sheriff. Maybe Eric played even slightly better (if possible…) than Wednesday night.
I cannot add very much to my review of the show on 20th May. Eric played and sang fantastic, the band was great, and, not to forget, Andy Fairweather Low, who opened the show, really showed what a talented guy he is, making jokes about his age, tuning abilities and played great songs, with the audience singing along in “If paradise was half as nice”.
The Thursday night performance was filmed (like the Wednesday night show), so now we just have wait for the concert-DVD to be released and added to the home concert movie collection. Because it will be released soon or…
Review by Hiroshi M.
My second and last night this time. Will this ever be my last seeing Eric performing at the RAH? I hope not.
The solo on Sheriff provided the audience with another breathtaking moment, as it always did on every other night. Let It Rain was certainly better than the previous evening with Eric’s more dexterous fingering on the fretboard.
That said, as a whole, the show ended as an above average achievement, less in the out-of-this-world elements that were exhibited in plenty last night. But it was still great, there should be no major complaint, no need to make a fuss for all those who attended the show for sure.
In order to attempt a more balanced view, I quote my Japanese friend who is an RAH veteran (he attended five shows, 17th-23rd, as well as both MSG shows) — unlike yours truly, he commented that the 20th was average and this was the second best RAH night to the 18th among those he had attended to the date. As is always the case, everyone has a different opinion on a different night.
Ultimately, however, the sixth night will be remembered for the brave couple of a gentleman and a lady (both middle aged) who dashed forward to the front once Eric launched into the solo on Cocaine, dancing dynamically and showered with the praise and cheers from all around, without doubt the biggest highlight for many. They draw more attention than Eric playing the solo! As Andy Warhol once stated, everyone will be world-famous for fifteen, er, two minutes.
