[Slowhand] Seattle Review - Tacoma News Tribune

[Almighty Geetarz]

Eric Clapton plays to appreciative audience 
DIANE DE LA PAZ; The News Tribune 
A slim figure near the front of the KeyArena mirrored Eric Clapton's moods Tuesday night, and seemed to follow the guitar god's musical trajectory. 
Early on the man, dressed in black, stood while the rest of the crowd sat. As Clapton's electric and acoustic blues rushed over him, the man danced in an understated way, his face a portrait of bliss. During the opener, "Let It Rain," both performer and listener's heads tilted back, as if under a summer shower.


As the music raged forward, from "Hoochie Coochie Man" to "Milkcow Blues" to "Layla," Clapton's face changed into his signature pleasure-pain contortion, his guitar screaming, musing, then roaring into a wall of sound. Through it all, the crowd responded with adoration, happy to indulge even the tedious solos.


But the man in black disappeared. Clapton and his band, with two liquid-limbed backup singers, moved into a series of slow, seated blues. But it wasn't long before they plunged back into rock. "Badge," "Wonderful Tonight," and "Cocaine" brought fans to their feet, and prompted many to hold up their cell phones.


Then Mr. Ecstasy reappeared. Swaying, smiling, he basked in "Sunshine of Your Love," a fitting finale to Clapton's two-hour show.


Except that wasn't the end. The guitarist, who'll celebrate his 60th birthday next year, charged next into another blistering blues number. No acoustic calm-down closers for this guy.


"I can't get no," the band chanted, mixing the "Satisfaction" riff into their last song before leaving the stage. Oh, but we can, and did, get satisfaction.





Diane de la Paz: 253-597-8876
diane.delaPaz at mail.tribnet.com


		
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