Where:
Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Comments:
No
flares or histrionics, Clapton shuffled on stage with an air of "Let's
get on with it" and tore into Key To The Highway, which set the tone for
the evening. The playing rarely less than brilliant, but you sometimes
got the feeling it was a bit of drag him being here. Don't expect much
new, the show is almost identical to the last tour with only one song
from the last album, but when he closes his eyes, throws back his head
and plays, Eric is still as good as he ever was. He more than did
justice to the hits and his playing in the extended acoustic set was
sublime and moving. He was too happy to share the solos his two
keyboard players, which became repetitive, but Tim Carmon solo in Gary
Moore's "Still got the blues" was a highlight. At other though times he
seemed to be going through the motions. After two hours and a
seemingly perfunctory Crossroads encore, with no band introductions or
bows he simply waved and walked off stage without so much as a
"fanguveymuchgoodnite"
The Audience:
Mostly
middle aged and worryingly well dressed for a concert. All controlled
by intrusive & overzealous venue security, patrolling the isles
armed with florescent armbands and torches. Why do we put up with being
treated like this?
Food & Drink:
A
veritable smorgasbord, everything from cocktails to popcorn and
ice-cream , reflecting the audience. I stuck to the coffee. Very rock'n
roll.
It Made Me Think...:
Part
of my "Last chance to see" project (he's 66+, how much longer can he be
bothered with touring?) and 4 days later I recall the show much more
fondly than on the night. Go early and see Andy Fairweather- Low
supporting - great fun.
First posted as "A Night Out With....." On Word Magazine website (www.wordmagazine.co.uk) 18 May 2011
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