[Slowhand] Sometimes Too Cool

[darmel at sbcglobal.net]

DN - I think that you make some excellent points and well said, "Overall, I
like Clapton's music. I also like his guitar playing. And I will see him
again if he tours the US. But I certainly believe that he could give us SO
much more."

I think the time of the NBTB Tours of 94/95 was the last time that his
priority was guitar. We have observed that since then he usually prefers not
to showboat. He tends to be "polite" sometimes to a fault, but in the
Concert For George, I suspect that EC would have deemed it inappropriate to
showoff because the object was to honor George. Clapton's performance in
"While My Guitar Gentle Weeps" was quite good in my opinion but also
"guarded" and "safe." Not on the edge. I guess, he wanted to make sure that
he didn't mess up anywhere. I don't blame him for that. I would have loved
to hear him rip up like he did on the boot "Live in Japan" where George
credits Clapton's contribution "psycho guitar."

I have never heard Eric play really on the edge with BBK. Out of respect? I
don't know. With "Marky" (Knopfler), however, he is NOT shy evident in his
performance of "Same Old Blues" on the Montserrat DVD. They're mates - so, I
think that he feels okay to "step out" a bit.

Am I sick of W2N? Ya shur u betcha! But that doesn't mean that every song he
performs has to have a rippin guitar solo in it to be "good." I love the
subtly of "Only the Broken Hearted." Some of the acoustic "Layla" versions
I've heard are amazing (without the electric keyboards). "Change the World"
is among my very favorites.

In a live Clapton performance, what I truly appreciate is the way he mixes
it up. I don't get bored. There's much variety. I loved the transition from
electric "She's Gone" to the acoustic (no one else on stage) "Driftin" from
the last tour. I do think, however, that it is time for Eric to dig into his
vast archives and resurrect some great old songs (Little Wing) and retire
some tired ones in his current repertoire.

Overall, my characterization of our man was best summed up by the stoner in
the crowd at the 3rd Irving Plaza show November94 who, after a truly amazing
"Forty-Four" performance during a lull in the applause, shouted out for
everyone to hear, "You are too cool" to the hysteric laugher of the band.


Mel Boss
darmel at sbcglobal.net