My time has come! Eric Clapton has finished his two shows at the Fleet Center in Boston. I have seen both. Here are my reviews for your enjoyment. I will review the first show in a much longer review, and the second show will be reviewed much shorter below.
The first night, June 11, 2001, was my 6th time seeing him live. After reading other reviews, this show matched up pretty well with what others are saying.
First of all, I caught half of Doyle Bramhall II. This kid has some legitimate chops. Just like his old man has. Definetly a player.
Eric strolled on stage at around 8:25. White shirt and blue jeans was the look. You know, of all
of his looks he has had over the years, this look fits him the best at this time of his life. He
just looks the most comfortable he has ever been in his career. I remember the first time I ever
saw him on the Journeyman tour in leather pants and a frilly shirt. The man looked like he'd
rather be wearing something else at times. Just my opinion. The man tonight looked at peace with
the world.
Key to the Highway to open up of course. It fits well with this setting of him alone on stage.
Then the rest of the band joins with Reptile. We hear Billy Preston for the first time on a solo
in this song. I tell you, Billy really adds something to the show. Some of his organ solos
tonight really drove the point home and excited the crowd. Then with Got You On My Mind we get a
nice Andy Fairweather Low solo. Of course, Eric had his own guitar moments in each song.
Tears in Heaven got the big response from the crowd. But surprising to me, Bell Bottom Blues got
an even bigger response. I was glad to hear that. Nothing against Tears in Heaven, but I always
associate that song with people who aren't big EC fans like me. The real fans get jacked up for
songs like Bell Bottom Blues. Eric's energy level seemed to boost up a notch in this song as
well. The show was starting to reach a more intense level.
Change the World raised it up another notch. This song does something to Eric I think. He tends
to put more passion in this song than most others. He had been pretty passionate so far, about
what you'd expect from him. In this song, he really seems to lose himself and go into a zone. It
was brilliant to watch.
Acoustic set over... time to plug in the strat. He had a colorful mixed color strat for this set
which began with My Father's Eyes. Now Eric really began to hit his stride with the electric
solos. There were plenty of solo riffs from him to last for two shows tonight. He did so little
soloing on the Reptile CD that it seems he went the other way for the live show and made it a point
to include a blistering solo in just about every song. River of Tears was the next song, and this
was the first song to give me chills. It has always been a big favorite of mine. Billy Preston
added in some great organ and then Eric took the soloing to the stratosphere. It might have been
the most incredible solo of the night in my humble opinion.
He finished off the Pilgrim set with Goin' Down Slow and She's Gone. I enjoyed those two. The
crowd seememd to as well, though I felt that Goin Down Slow was the bathroom and refreshment break
for more people. I was wondering which song was going to be that song for those casual fans to
break away like they do. However, there was no real rush by the crowd. For the most part, we all
stayed put for the show. He had our attention.
Now, he switches to ol' Blackie. I Want a Little Girl is next which showcased his singing very
well. Travelin' Light was next. That would be the last song from Reptile. The only
disappointment for me... no Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight. I really hope that song is on tomorrow
night. It is my favorite from the album.
Hoochie Coochie Man got a big response from the crown and featured a blistering Billy Preston solo
as well as an equally blistering answer from Eric. Have You Ever Loved a Woman was just as good,
and featured another Billy solo and a beautiful piano solo by David Sancious. Someone said earlier
that Eric wasn't too happy with his playing at one time earlier in the tour and would replace him.
He seemed happy with it tonight.
Time to roll out the big hits. Cocaine got almost everyone on their feet for the first time. I
thought the crowd could have had more energy at times, but they did save it all for the end.
Wonderful Tonight I have always enjoyed more live than the recorded version. I also agree with
others that I miss Katie Kissoon's singing in this. David Sancious and that mouth organ of his was
pretty good, but it wasn't Katie. Also... during David's part, the song almost took on a soft
reggae feel to me. Eric's guiatr playing had a slight reggae tinge to it and it worked.
The next moment is one I have been waiting for for 9 years since I last saw him do it... Layla
plugged in and electric! Those first notes got the crowd crazy. There was a rush of people in the
aisles on the floor to the front for this song. Just the way it should be. To those of you who
have seen him do Layla live and electric before, I will say that the pacing of the song in this
version was maybe slightly slower than I expected. But very slightly. It would only be noticed by
someone like me who had seen him do it that way three times before in the early 90's (the acoustic
version in the Pilgrim tour does not count in my book). But it was absolutely brilliant
nonetheless. Billy and David shared the piano solo in sync with each other. David had been
playing guitar for the first time in this song, then hopped back behind the ivories at the right
time.
The encore of course was Sunshine of Your Love. This might be my favorite song to hear live. Andy
sang some parts of it and he can belt it out. He had been pretty reserved in the night save for
one solo. He had been content to be in the background playing and singing behind Eric. He stepped
up and delivered a strong vocal. Of course, Nathan delivered his part as well. Nathan East is the
only member of the band that has been with Eric each and every time I have seen him. Nathan is the
master of the bass... there is none higher! One surprise... no drum solo from Steve Gadd. I would
have liked to seen him tear it up.
As he ended with Somehwere Over The Rainbow, which I had been waiting for since I first heard he
was doing it, a smile came over me. I had spent the show sitting and soaking it all in. I wasn't
going crazy and dancing... I had done that before at an EC show already. This was the first show I
have gone to alone, and as a result got a nice seat in the front of the balcony next to the stage.
Easier to do that on a single ticket. I smiled because I couldn't think of a better way to end it
all off. While everyone else was applauding, I sat there and quietly thanked Eric for all he has
shown me through the years.
Here is the setlist...
Key To The Highway
Reptile
Got You On My Mind
Tears In Heaven
Bell Bottom Blues
Change The World
My Father's Eyes
River Of Tears
Goin Down Slow
She's Gone
I Want A Little Girl
Travellin' Light
Hoochie Coochie Man
Have You Ever Loved A Woman
Cocaine
Wonderful Tonight
Layla
Sunshine Of Your Love
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Just returned from the second night at the Fleet Center. What else is there to really say that I didn't say in the first review? It's like seeing your ffavorite movie again. Always worth the trip.
The difference in the set list tonight was that Five Long Years replaced Have You Ever Loved a Woman. I didn't get to hear Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight, however this choice was just as good in my mind. Five Long Years has always been a favorite of mine, and Eric does it better than anyone. Blistering solos by David Sancious, Billy Preston, and Eric in this one. Eric even punched the air with his fist 4 times at the end of it which he always does for this song. I always love to see him do that. Great show of raw emotion as he punctuates each line at the end.
The solos tonight were equally as impressive as last night. I think tonight I would have to say my favorite moment was during Bell Bottom Blues. Tonight's crowd in my mind was a bit hotter than last nights. They seemed to be singing along a bit louder to this song tonight than last night. I liked that... it gave me the chills earlier than last night.
There is an outside possibility that I may have seen him for the last time live tonight. He seems to be hedging on the possibility of future tours. First he says he doesn't want to do anymore, then he says he might not rule out smaller tours. Basically, just in case this was it, I tried to savor every moment through the last few songs. I think I succeeded from the opening riff to Layla to the last notes of Somewhere Over The Rainbow. My eyes followed him right off the stage, thanking him again in my mind for 7 memorable concerts I have seen. From two Journeyman shows in 1990 in Philadelphia, from the 1992 show in Mansfield MA, from the 1995 blues show in Philly, from the Pilgrim show in the Fleet Center in 1998, to the two shows this week... I will never forget the brilliance!
Thanks Eric! Hope you get to do some fly fishing soon... you've earned it!
Steve Skalish
June 12th, 2001
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