A ticket to see Eric Clapton at The Royal Albert Hall for my birthday?! BOOM! Yes please!
So I found myself making what’s become a well worn pilgrimage to the iconic London venue to see ‘God’ is always a pleasure… but, has the newly turned octogenarian, guitar master, still got the Blues?
Opening with the wonderful rock bombast of White Room, the affectionate roar of the congregation nods to the real sense of occasion that is unfolding.
Eric, relaxed and as dapper as always, keeps the chatter between songs brief, as his stellar band ease through Blues standards Key To The Highway and Hoochie Coochie Man before another from the Cream catalogue, the evergreen, summer of love anthem, Sunshine Of Your Love played to the delight of many who were perhaps there 58 years ago!
In direct contrast, as we’ve become accustomed to over the years, we are then treated to an intimate acoustic set.
This part of the show finds Eric and his band turn the Albert Hall into an American Juke Joint for half an hour. This part of the set included faithful renditions of Blues classics plus a welcome airing of the brilliant Blind Faith tune Can’t Find My Way Home,’impeccably sung by long time collaborator and legendary bass player, Nathan East.
Throughout the evening, Eric generously gave his band members chances to shine and contribute superbly to these timeless songs.
There were probably fleeting thoughts of “He’s not played Layla, Wonderful Tonight or I Shot The Sheriff” along the pews but, personally, I welcomed the inclusion of (slightly) less familiar material from the catalogue, such as Old Love, Tell The Truth, Golden Ring and the aforementioned Can’t Find My Way Home.
Whilst the rock finale of Cocaine hinted at resurrection from a misspent youth, the song nevertheless drew hearty sing-a-long crowd participation and many gathered at the foot of the stage to celebrate one more time.
There were broad smiles all around as Eric waved goodbye from the pulpit to his adoring followers after another top performance.
See you next year? Absolutely…. God willing.
SB
