[Slowhand] EC UK Tour 2009

[Michael Sawin]

 I guess it's time to add my 2c worth regarding the current UK tour that Eric is now more than half-way through.

 

As soon as I heard the band line-up, my heart sank. Out went Abe (who may not be the most technical drummer but is fun and adds enthusiasm to the show), out went Doyle (who was now in his usual band,the Arc Angels, as support) and in came Andy F-L, Steve Gadd & Tim Carmen. Regular readers and concert goers will, at this point, be nodding their heads in agreement. It didn't bode well, and as I drove up to Liverpool for the first mainland UK date (the REAL first date had been in Dublin, Ireland a couple of nights before ), I tried to work out a possible set list. If it was to be a case of out with the new and in with the old, then we would get the likes of 'Gin House', 'Reconsider Baby' & 'Layla' (acoustic) plus the usual stalwarts, 'Cocaine' 'Little Queen Of Spades' & 'Wonderful Tonight'. Ho-hum. Well, as it happened, the set-list was a million miles away from what he's been playing the last 4 years with all his acknowledgement to the past, namely the Dominos & Blind Faith. And there were a few surprises in there.

The Echo Arena in Liverpool is on the site of the large tent where Eric had joined John Mayall and Mick Taylor 6 years previously. I felt Eric hadn't really shone that night and so it was to be again in the new mega stadium with all it's plastic seats and plastic beer. The Arc Angels opened to only a mildly appreciative audience.  I think they really should play in 2/300 seat halls, not mega stadiums. They seemed a little nervous and didn't exude any warmth or have any rapport with the audience. Shame, really, knowing their pedigree. After a quick changeover, on came Eric. 

The set list was interesting with 'Goin' Down Slow' as the opener. It was a little ponderous but, what the heck-new band so give 'em a chance. They then launched into 'Anything for Your Love'. Now those of you who have heard that most excellent version which EC played as the opener for his UK tour in 1992 in Brighton might well be licking their lips in eager anticipation. Well, don't. This was, by far, the most turgid version I think I have ever heard. Drag-you bet it did, with absolutely no life. It didn't get better with the next offering 'Key To The Highway'. Gone was the beautiful recreation of the Dominos song we had been recently privileged to hear and it was back to 80's. It was more like a pub band playing. 

Then we had a bit of a surprise with 'Old Love' and, to his credit, Eric pulled this one up by it's socks, despite Tim's 'widdly widdly' solo. Dogs 4 blocks away were howling in pain!

Then came my favourite EC song. It must be the structure of the song but you rarely hear a duff 'Sheriff'. This one was  OK.

Next, as we have had for the last few years, Eric began the sit-down section of his concert. Is it me,but I really do feel that after working hard and gaining some sort of momentum, it all seems to be lost with the acoustic set mid-gig.  Far better, surely, to start with the acoustic set and then build up the energy. 

It had been like that at Hyde Park in 2008 when Eric, for me, had played one of his finest, energy-filled first thirds of a shows for many a year. Then it all went gut-stringed and he had to build up the energy again.

In  Dublin the crowd had been treated to an electric 'Layla' but it was back to the old days with a languid acoustic version. A new surprise was 'Lay Down Sally' ( a song we used to groan at when he over-played that in the late 80's

and early 90's) but this was jolly but pretty uninspired. Now I'm not Dylan's biggest fan but Eric's dire cover of 'Not Dark Yet' really hit a low point for me. With it's rather naive lyrics and plodding pace, I was seriously thinking about ending it all. Happily, dear reader, I decided all was not lost with a bouncy cover of Big Maceo's 'Anytime for You' . This one seemed to be from the 'Nothing But The Blues' era and I liked it. Then, nadir of the whole show was 'Over The Rainbow'. Sweet mother-why? And why at that point and not at the end (as in 2001)? You're not going to believe it but the whole audience sang along with him on this one. This was Eric lite and I really, really hated it. Of course Eric now was on the run-in to the end of the concert with passable versions of 'Badge' 'LQOS' and then that pub classic 'Before You Accuse Me'. Time for a rest for that one, surely? Of course we then had 'Wonderful Tonight' (again, workmanlike and not too shabby, either). Finally we had Cocaine with a.....ahem....'solo' by Andy that defied the laws of music and sensibility. Please, Eric-you're the lead guitarist, whoever else you have is the rhythm guitarist-let's keep it that way, eh? He does indulge Tim & Andy and generous as he is-let's start drawing a veil over that, shall we?

The encore, Crossroads, was short and to the point, with Eric delivering a no-nonsense solo and then that was it.

 

I heard after from people really near the front that Eric was sucking throat lozenges throughout so his display could have been down to that. 

I was disappointed with the show-not so much with Eric but with his band who obviously needed more rehearsals. 

I really didn't feel I was getting my moneys worth.

So, on to the next date, the MEN Arena in Manchester. Now this was more like it. The set was identical but the musical approach was not. He came on smiling and that seemed to permeate through the whole show. There were some great versions of 'Sheriff' 'Old Love' 'LQOS' and at the end of the show I felt the travelling and effort had  been worth it. 

 

As I knew long ago what the band was going to be, I decided not to buy tickets from the Albert Hall for every night but to pick a few days and attend them. I missed the opening night (first time since 1987!) but what the heck!  I spent some quality time with my grandson. 

So far I have been to the 17th, 19th, 23rd & 25th. And do you know what? I'm beginning to enjoy the shows. There's been a bit of tweaking of the set with ' Nobody Knows You' now being in there and one night-which I didn't attend (but his daughter's did) he played 'Three Little Girls' Aaahh! And he has played 'Everything Is Going To Be Alright' instead off 'BUAM'.

Last Saturday on 'Old Love' when it came to Tim's solo, he played to motif to 'Sunshine' and the whole band picked up on that and performed a memorable version. Also during 'Sheriff' Eric played the riff to 'Layla' in the middle of it and added new colour. 

This tour will be remembered by me with far less affection than the last 2 or 3. As he is about to launch into his U.S. tour with Stevie Winwood, why not bring that to the UK first?  Yes, I know they played their debut in the UK, but compared to the MSG, the words 'Chalk and Cheese' come to mind.

All in all I feel that this tour was Eric being a little lazy-throwing some guys together and hoping it works. I was impressed that Eric had Doyle and Derek in is band recently. There are some great new guitarists out there-why not use 'em? Willie Weeks was solid as was Chris Stainton. But great pedigree that he has, I feel it's time to rest Steve Gadd (sacrilege, some of you will say). And Tim Carmen. Why?

But, as we know, we belong to this forum and buy or download everything that we can because we know what he really is capable of, in a live context. And I guess we also forget that he is in his mid 60's (stop using that Grecian 2000, Eric) so after so much work and effort that he has put into his music, especially in recent years, no-one should complain. I'll shut up now.

 

 

 Oh, and Steve...keep up the 'Heads On A Stick' thing. Humour, my dear boy, is an essential in life!






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