18 May 2013 - Eric Clapton & His Band

Review by Mike H / Milton Keynes
Wow, that was one amazing gig! Back home this morning reflecting on what was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. Eric was on super form and was playing as well as I can remember with tremendous energy. The set list was interesting with too many highlights to identify although the standouts for me were "Got to Get Better", "Blues Power," "Sheriff" and a mind blowing version of "Little Queen of Spades" with incredible solos by Chris and Doyle as well as Eric which brought the house down. Special mention must also go to Steve Jordan - an amazing drummer who powers the whole band with phenomenal skill and energy - the grooves and energy he created in "Got to Get Better" together with "Sunshine Of Your Love" were worth the admission price alone. I do feel that Jordan's presence back with Willie and also the return of  Doyle (who is playing superbly) have lifted Eric and driven his playing back to a different level. You will not see a more talented group of musicia ns anywhere and if they are all on fire as they were last night, it is something special. If you haven't got tickets, it is worth trying to pick some up. Well done Eric and band.

Review by Stephen Lofthouse
went to my first Eric Clapton concert over 25 years ago and between that time and Saturday night have been lucky enough to witness more than a couple of dozen EC concerts. Each concert has varied been fantastic and beyond belief inspirational, particularly for an amateur guitarist such as myself. Last night was the first time that I have ever been, and I can hardly believe I am saying this, disappointed. A set list that has, in my opinion, seen too little change over recent years, a lacklustre and over long acoustic segment and most of all a poor sound all contributed to the disappointment.

The evening started pleasantly enough with amiable but hardly inspirational versions of Hello Old Friend and My Father’s Eyes. I remember hearing My Father’s Eyes for the first time at the RAH, prior to it appearing on Pilgrim, and it was one of the greatest songs I had heard, ever! Last night for these opening songs Eric happily strummed his acoustic while allowing Doyle to handle the lead guitar duties. During the first batch of songs for which Eric picked up the electric it became obvious that the sound mix was ‘muddy’ with the vocals and Eric’s guitar simply buried. From where I was sitting, just six rows from the front and directly between Eric and Doyle, all you could really hear was Doyle’s rhythm parts. Doyle is a great player but I would also like to hear the rest of the band.

Things did start to warm up with Eric’s solo in Sheriff but that mix was criminal. The acoustic set was overly long, overly familiar and ultimately I was just not on the edge of my seat in the way that I usually am when sitting that close to the greatest guitar player in the history of popular music while he runs through some great songs. Paul Carrick’s fantastic version of It Ain’t Easy was the highlight of the acoustic set.

The closing electric set was very similar, if not identical, to the final part of many concerts from recent years with only Blues Power providing some interest and also some sterling guitar work.

I am not sure if this was intentionally the Doyle Bramhall show but the work of too many great musicians was buried in a poor mix and just occasionally it would be nice to be surprised by a song choice just as I was when Tell The Truth returned to the set list, or Crossroads was reworked or even Forever Man made an appearance.

Had I not spent a week’s earnings on securing these tickets I would love to see another concert from this tour just to check that I wasn’t dreaming last night.