[Slowhand] EC in Omaha - Review

[Jeff Engelmann]

      Published Friday
      July 23, 2004

      Review: Clapton's mojo works for crowd

      BY NIZ PROSKOCIL
        

     
      WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER  
With his fingers doing the rocking, Eric Clapton blew the roof off Omaha's Qwest Center during a sold-out performance Thursday night. 

       
            Eric Clapton had the crowd firmly in his hand at the Qwest Center Omaha Thursday night. 
     
When the blue stage lights went up around 8:30 p.m., the guitar god sauntered out before more than 15,000 fervent followers who rose from their seats, clapping and cheering wildly. 

Wearing blue jeans, a short-sleeved buttoned-down shirt and wire-rimmed glasses, the 59-year-old legend looked more like a college professor than a rock superstar. 

Backed by two female singers and five top-notch musicians - including keyboardist Billy Preston and guitarist Doyle Bramhall II - Slowhand opened the night with the breezy "Let It Rain," the bluesy "Hoochie Coochie Man," the upbeat "Walk Out in the Rain" and the soulful "I Want a Little Girl." 

Clapton then performed Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff," which featured one of the night's many red-hot guitar solos. 

What followed was a mini-set of Robert Johnson covers from Clapton's latest CD, the tribute album "Me and Mr. Johnson." 

The Johnson segment included the acoustic "Me and the Devil Blues" and electric versions of "Milkcow's Calf Blues" and "Kind Hearted Woman Blues." 

Though the Johnson interpretations were well-executed, they were the weakest moments of the night. Many fans used the time to head for the bathroom or refill their beer. After all, fans who shell out big bucks for a concert ticket expect to hear the hits. 

And while Clapton's voice is a capable one, his main appeal is his wicked guitar-playing. Clapton was at his best when his fingers worked the fretboard with finesse. 

His guitar solos on the Derek and the Dominos song "Got to Get Better in a Little While" and the Cream classic "Badge" left the crowd howling for more. 

Toward the end of the show, when he performed signature tunes "Cocaine" and "Layla," he had the audience firmly in his hand. 

It turned into one big lovefest when Clapton performed his mellow hit "Wonderful Tonight," which prompted a fair amount of couples to play kissy-face and slow dance in the aisles. 

For the encore, Clapton shared the stage with the smokin' pedal steel-guitarist Robert Randolph, who opened the concert. 

Randolph and Clapton jammed together on Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" and the classic "Got My Mojo Working," which closed out the evening. 

Earlier in the night, Randolph unleashed a mind-blowing 30-minute set of relentless ear candy that had fans nodding their heads, clapping their hands and stomping their feet. 

The only thing bad about the set was that it was too short. Luckily for fans, Robert Randolph & the Family Band performs tonight, sans Clapton, at Lincoln's Rococo Theatre. 


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