[Slowhand] Post-Dispatch review of STL show last night

[Jeff French]

Sparks fly at Clapton concert 
 By Daniel Durchholz 
 SPECIAL TO THE POST-DISPATCH 
 Tuesday, Sep. 19 2006 
 
 Eric Clapton long ago may have disavowed the famous London underground graffito 
declaring "Clapton is God," but he brought a little slice of heaven to guitar 
lovers Monday at Scottrade Center. 

An incomparable instrumentalist, the triple Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honoree 
often is driven to greater heights when spurred on by other talented players. 
The formidable lineup backing him on this tour -- which includes guitar 
slingers Doyle Bramhall II and Derek Trucks, plus opening act Robert Cray -- 
virtually assured that sparks would fly. 

They did. Clapton was generous with the spotlight, allowing the others to shine 
throughout the concert. Still, he was seldom topped as he reeled off one 
jaw-dropping solo after another. 

The two-hour set was well-paced and featured songs from throughout Clapton's 
solo career as well as highlights from his days with Cream and Derek and the 
Dominos. The hard-charging rock of "Motherless Children" mixed well with the 
fluid balladry of "Wonderful Tonight," the slow blues of "Little Queen of 
Spades" and the reggae riddims (provided by drummer Steve Jordan and bassist 
Willie Weeks) of "I Shot the Sheriff." 

A four-song mini-set, played seated, if not exactly unplugged, broke up the 
show's full-on electric display. On "Nobody Loves You When You're Down and 
Out," Trucks, who is also member of the Allman Brothers Band, showed his 
considerable prowess on slide guitar. 

Though the concert concluded with requisite readings of "Layla" (played in its 
full version, including the gorgeous, soaring coda), "Cocaine" and 
"Crossroads," the highlight came much earlier. Cray joined the band for "Old 
Love," a solemn blues dirge on which Clapton unleashed a wrenching, volcanic 
solo, then backed away, turning the stage over to Cray.

How, one wondered, could Cray -- or anyone, for that matter -- follow that? 

Amazingly, he found a way, starting his solo with a foundation of long, low 
notes, building slowly and steadily toward a blazing finish. Audience members 
leapt to their feet, knowing if anyone could be said to win this particular 
duel, it was them.
 		
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