[Slowhand] Review: EC & SW, Verizon Center, Washington, 13 June 09

[Nicholas Aleshin]

This was a GREAT show! It started off like last year's at Madison  
Square Garden (MSG). I think the girl singers added on some tunes, but  
didn't really detract. Some arrangements changed, and there were some  
different songs. I'd divide the show into three distinct sections:

1. The Good Stuff (1-12) - This is where the band played their best  
and for those who wanted to hear Clapton play guitar. The band's take  
on "Glad," a Winwood instrumental was solid, improvisational music  
that has evolved since last year at MSG, with Clapton taking a more  
active role in the foreground with his guitar. This section of the  
concert was more than half the set list.

The highlight for me was the show's blues tune: "Tough Luck Blues,"  
the B-side to Big Maceo's 1941 single, "Worried Life Blues." On this  
one, Clapton really outdid himself: lots of beatiful, flowing blues  
guitar. It started like "Have You Ever Loved A Woman." Twice during  
the song, it came to a stop, like BB King's "How Blue Can You Get" ("I  
took you out for dinner, you said 'Thanks for the snack.' I gave you  
seven children, and now you wanna give them back!"), although the  
words are entirely different. The crowd went wild and were  
appreciative of EC's playing. However, this was one of those blues  
solos to die for! It's what I am looking for in every Clapton show,  
and often do NOT hear. But when EC & SW play together, the quality of  
EC's guitar playing improves immeasurably: it was REALLY stupendous! I  
think this one was even better than "Double Trouble" at MSG last year.  
I sure hope someone recorded it, because it's one of the best Clapton  
solos I've heard in decades: simply magical!

Other guitar highlights were "After Midnight" and "Little Wing."  
Although I never cared for the song "After Midnight," Clapton has  
turned it into a guitar exploratory, which I truly enjoy. Folks,  
several years back, I opined that I'd like to see Clapton concentrate  
a bit more on his guitar playing, but was told that I was stuck in the  
past. Not so! At both last year's EC & SW concerts in NY, and this  
show, EC is doing EXACTLY what I requested. To me, THIS is what it's  
all about.

2. The Sit-Down (13-17) - This section served as sort of an  
intermission for the band, as Winwood took a solo "Georgia On My  
Mind," accompanying himself on Hammond B3 organ. Next, Clapton played  
acoustic guitar. Although the band joined in, they did so highlighting  
the soft, acoustic sounds. And Steve Winwood, also on acoustic guitar,  
sat down with Clapton as they played a wonderful version of "Can't  
Find My Way Home," that was both intricate and mellow, as on the  
"Blind Faith" album. This was really beautiful. And I really liked the  
rollicking version of "Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out," as  
did the audience.

3. The Crowd Pleasers (18-21) - The last three songs plus encore were  
the crowd pleasers. Fortunately, there was no "Wonderful Tonight," as  
the crowd went nuts and stood for this last quarter. "Crossroads" was  
performed in the "Willy And The Hand Jive" style, and "Voodoo Chile"  
had a different feel from the version done last year at MSG, but was  
still very good. "Cocaine" has never been a favorite of mine, but most  
people stood and enjoyed. With the earlier "Tough Luck Blues," I can  
easily handle listening to "Cocaine."

The Bad - For some strange reason, there were bright lights BEHIND the  
band, and they often shined into the eyes of the audience. Although it  
got a bit better as the show went on, this really sucked. If anyone  
from the show is reading this, "Stop it NOW, as the crowd really  
dislikes it. It's a turn-off." The crowd on the floor may not have  
witnessed this, as the lights were probably too low up front. But in  
the stands, it was literally blinding, especially for the first couple  
of songs. Later on, the lights were colored, and not quite as bright.  
I wonder what numbskull came up with this asinine idea.

I simply LOVE EC's guitar playing -- especially his blues guitar  
improvisations -- when he plays like this. And this isn't any trip  
down Memory Lane; it's NOW! Thank you, Eric. Keep up the GREAT work!  
And to Steve Winwood, I don't know what you do, but when he plays  
guitar with you, Eric is a man possessed. Keep doing what you do.
A friend mentioned that Clapton and Winwood should drop their solo  
efforts and link together permanently in this type of 5-piece band. I  
second that motion!

This was one for the memory books, a really great concert. I've always  
liked Steve Winwood and still have several Spencer Davis Group LPs.  
Getting to see and hear EC & SW together is a real treat. The band is  
exceptional, all true professionals. Although I prefer Ian Thomas on  
drums, I guess he couldn't accommodate this tour, and Abe Laboriel,  
Jr. -- his father a famous jazz bassist -- did a wonderful job. The  
female singers didn't intrude, as I'd been apprehensive that they  
might ruin a good thing. And as his solo spot began, Winwood said, "We  
hope you're having a great time, as we are." I think he really meant  
it, as it was a great concert that we truly enjoyed.

				DeltaNick