[Slowhand] Re: Slowhand Digest, Vol 3, Issue 395

[John Shortridge]

Excellent review. I was there and fully concur. I think it was the most 
passionate, urgent playing I've seen from Eric in quite some time.
John


> Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 07:58:28 -0400
> From: blues4jr at aol.com
> Subject: [Slowhand] Pepsi Center review
> To: slowhand at planet-torque.com
> Message-ID: <7BD9A9B8.3D8FFD42.00955D93 at aol.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Very inciteful review. Especially the "Who could we possibly watch 20 
> years from now..." part.
>
> John
>
>
> Legendary Clapton at his thrilling, soulful best
> By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News
> July 26, 2004
>
> After Eric Clapton's amazing Pepsi Center show three years ago, some 
> fans grumbled that he wasn't quite on top of his game - yet, they 
> acknowledged, it was still the most thrilling guitar performance of 
> the year.
> No one at the Pepsi Center on Saturday night could have made any such 
> complaint.
> In just a bit under two hours, Clapton covered all the things he does 
> best, from Robert Johnson blues to soaring rock anthems, with energy 
> and passion that you don't see out of most 25-year-olds - much less a 
> guy who turns 60 next year. It's a reminder that Clapton is simply a 
> treasure, and perhaps one that we've taken for granted far too long.
> Who could we possibly watch 20 years from now who'll have one-tenth of 
> Clapton's history, influence, style and power? There are many 
> fast-playing guitarists out there, many inventive guitarists out 
> there, but no one who can touch Clapton for the naked emotion and soul 
> put into his notes.
> Maybe he was more fiery at one time, but now we get a man who has had 
> a lifelong relationship with the guitar, which over the years has been 
> his muse, his gift, his downfall and his salvation. Playing the guitar 
> is as natural as breathing for him.
> He still has plenty of pyrotechnics to spare; guitar rave-ups were the 
> highlight of nearly every song, especially Hoochie Coochie Man, I Shot 
> the Sheriff and a tour-de- force version of Have You Ever Loved a 
> Woman that featured extended solos from each member of the band.
> You can't say enough about the band. Clapton has surrounded himself 
> with brilliance. Chris Stainton and Billy Preston both got standing 
> ovations for keyboard solos. Guitarist Doyle Bramhall II added wah-wah 
> shadings to I Shot the Sheriff that were enough to make the song seem 
> new. Bassist Nathan East was impeccable as always, his playing 
> bringing Let It Rain to life.
> The only drawback - and the only reason this show doesn't get an A+ - 
> is that despite the inclusion of some rarities, Clapton still doesn't 
> grasp that he's an album artist. People don't necessarily need the top 
> hits, as demonstrated by the screaming approval for Kind Hearted Woman 
> Blues. Fans would be just as rabid for Run So Far or I'm Tore Down.
> Still, from the club shows to the arena, Saturday's show was easily 
> the best Clapton I've witnessed.