[Slowhand] EC's between song banter

[Shanahan]

Hey Slowhanders,

Just saw Eric on Sunday night in Sydney.  Fantastic as usual.

We feel very privileged indeed downunder, two tours in as many years.

I have just had dinner with a couple of friends who saw Eric play the night
before in a Vineyard venue a few hours drive north of Sydney.

One had seen Eric last in Britain in the late 70's, for the other it was his
first time.

This couple love Eric and his music and thought the concert was brilliant,
though they are certainly not of the dedicated Slowhand variety and would
only possess about 10 or 15 CDs of his.

Now that that's out of the way I'll get to the point.

They loved the show but were surprised that Eric didn't speak to the
audience at all, except for thank you's.

For me, I don't care about the talk or even the 'thank you's' when it comes
to it.

When I thought back on all the gigs I've seen of Eric's I realise he rarely
addresses the audience.

Is this something that happens all over the world with our man, or does he
just have a beef with Australian audiences?

Can anyone shed any light on why he would be so limited, talk wise.

There were numerous times when he could have elaborated just a little.

For example when he finished the Curtis Mayfield song "Here But I'm Gone",
which BTW was absolutely outstanding and gave me chills (and I have never
heard the song before), he

could have mentioned any aspect of Curtis in passing.


For me, as I have said, EC only has to perform and I'm as happy as a pig in
shit, but I was at a loss to explain to my friends why Eric is so.

Cheers

Tone