[Slowhand] Ragging and Whining

[DeltaNick]

All,

I am posting the below e-mail for another unlucky subscribewr who cannot.

What's curious is that 2-3 years ago, I myself couldn't post, and was not receiving the Slowhand Digest. But about 2 years ago, everything returned to "normal."

                DeltaNick

----- Original Message ----- 
From: David Strahl 
To: deltanick at comcast.net 
Sent: Thursday, 04 June 2009 12:40
Subject: posting difficulties


Hi,
I've not been able to post to Slowhand Request. Would you be so kind  
as to send this in for me. So sorry for the trouble.

RE. Ragging and Whining

Hi,
Hey, let's face it EC is human. I was at the Cream reunion at the  
Garden. It was borderline awful. Sorry I'm not just gonna rag on  
Clapton because I'm a huge fan. I've seen him many times. I know when  
he's on and I know when he's faking. Both Crossroads shows were  
stellar. The Winwood collaboration at the Garden was tremendous. I'd  
be going this time if it was in NY and not NJ. But that's a different  
story. In answer to Delta Nick's comments, Derek Trucks is the best  
thing to happen to EC in a while. I was at the Allmans final Beacon  
concert and it dawned on me. That boy makes everyone step up. He has  
that affect on other players. It's a unique quality. It also comes  
from that blues "gun slinger" thing. You try to "cut" the other guy or  
outplay him. Also having another guitar player allows for more  
interplay. If you're playing rhythm, you're not playing lead etc.  
Another guitarist might also allow you to reinterpret your older  
material. In addition I love what Chris Stainton does. His take on  
Cocaine was dynamite. Let's face it that song is tired so it needed a  
little nuance. ("dirty cocaine" YUK) But I digress. The reason you go  
to a few shows of a tour is because some are going to be brilliant and  
others not. You are well within your rights to speak up. Sadly ticket  
prices don't always allow for multiple shows so there's a lot riding  
on a given performance. Don't kid yourself. Clapton feels the pressure  
to put on a good show. It's natural. But it's the nature of the beast.  
Some performances will magically align themselves and will be other  
worldly and others well... I think Clapton does try different things  
to shake it up. I give him credit for that. His jazz chops need a  
little work. Maybe he should woodshed and do a more jazzy tour in the  
vein of that Montreux DVD with horns. Again, it isn't his real  
strength. One thing is for sure. I believe Clapton does keep  
challenging himself and that makes for great music.
peace,
David