Subreddit devoted to Eric Clapton and all of the bands he was in as well as new news on Eric Clapton. We also have a Discord channel (https://discord.gg/KFYFnWb)
EC kicked off his summer tour at the Utilita Newcastle Arena. The almost two hour set offered a great mix of old blues numbers, extended jams and the hits from Cream, Derek & The Dominos and his solo works.
There was no Layla, or Wonderful Tonight but fantastic performances of White Room, Sunshine of Your Love and Cocaine. My favourite track was an acoustic performance ‘Back Home.’
Eric looked relaxed and enjoying the show. During some of the longer jams, when his band were playing solos you could really seem him smiling and enjoying their performances.
There was a good selection of Merch with T-Shirts around £35, Sweatshirts and posters around £60 and the programme was £15.
It was great to see him tour the British cities before he reaches London later in the summer.
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Great review!
He loves playing live. It’s one of the best parts of seeing him play. Knowing that him and his band are having a great time playing on stage for the audience is pretty special.
I wish he'd told his face he was having a great time! And maybe let the audience know too! No audience, no show,no career !
What a show, really enjoyed myself.
I give it 8/10 and Agree about the jams ect he looked like he appreciated the band he was sharing the stage with literally hands off guitar and listening. Nice setlist, very blues themed & feel 1 more hit song would have tipped it to a 9/10 but for anyone who has tickets you are in for a treat.
P.s it was way too hot in the arena
Eric doing what he does best! Honestly glad he didn't do Wonderful tonight, he's better off sticking to the blues and the set was full of his own blues tracks along with covers of stuff like Hoochie Coochie Man, Little Queen of Spades and Crossroads.
Glad he's changing his setlist up a bit. I last saw him in 2019 and saw his setlist from his most recent tour was nearly identical. Thankfully Newcastle was full of surprises.
A few people commented YT videos at their disappointment of no Layla or Wonderful but I thought it was great to see him play the blues 😀
I've never liked wonderful tonight so wasn't too bothered. I don't blame him from finally dropping Layla from the set, he's probably sick of playing it. Same as Mark Knopfler with Sultans of Swing.
Went to Birmingham tonight, great performance, Layla missing was a bit gutting as that would have been the cherry on top.
10/10 drops to 8.5/10 for that omission, sorry!
I wonder if he'll play Layla for the Albert Hall 🤨
Doubt it
I heard Patti Boyd sold his love letters to her in January so maybe he got pissed and decided not to play it?
I also saw him in Manchester and there were a few boos at the end for finishing so quickly
I just came from the show on Manchester. Everything amazing. Is true about what you said of the song. But I’m a bit disappointed the way he left the stage. He didn’t introduced the band, didn’t say tank you, didn’t say goodbye. I also would have loved to see him playing layla or woonderful tonight but doesn’t matter. It’s okay in doing something totally different …. But was very disappointed the way he left. Just raising his hand. Maybe I’m asking too much ahha. Anyway love you EC
He did introduce the band when they had played solo parts, I didn't catch the drummer's name or fully hear the organist's name but heard Chris Stainton, Nathan East, and Doyle Bramhall.
Gabriel, I totally agree with you. He didnt say a word to the audience in the whole gig. The music was fantastic. But they way he just walked off... its was so odd. At least say, this is our last song, and then everyone bow together or something to kind of mark the end of the gig. The encore being a single song was unexpected too. Again, just stops and walks off the stage. People have travelled far and wide, paid for hotels etc. At least show some appreciation for your audience paying around £2 million for that performance.
Clapton is as good as ever a rock legend. Not a beat missed his voice 10/10 truly everything I hoped to see
Going to see EC in Dublin on thursday. I was hoping to hear Layla live, primary reason I've got the tickets. Really hope he does play it. Dream come true to hear it live
I'm named after the song and going on Thursday too, I'll be devastated but I'm preparing myself for him not to play it
I’m going too but he hasn’t played it so far on the tour, so not expecting it.
He’s not playing it out of spite for Boyd who recently sold all his private love letters he sent to her at auction
Tbh rather disappointed in lack of interaction with audience & some favourite songs missing. Would have like some of his oldies, particularly from Backless. One song encore seemed grudging and mean. Again no appreciation of his audience and their investment in his career, the concert as a whole. Would it have killed him to speak/ thank/ acknowledge us ? Never again. Nit of a miserable b'stard imo.
I have to agree and am sorry to do so. I first saw EC 43 years ago and a few times since and this was undoubtedly a disappointment. Heavily indulgent in his taste and not that of his audience: I was not alone amongst a mass of grey hair, but there were plenty of younger fans there, and the show was dragged down by the older, heavier stuff. A great, great talent, but we came (and paid) to see him, not his band. My companion was an EC live 'virgin' and commented that the warm up act (Andy Fairweather-Low) was really engaging and EC seemed like an arrogant diva. I had nothing to answer that with. Actually, I will remember AF-L's performance with great affection.
Totally agree, although missed quite a bit of Andy Fairweather-Low's act because day chatting in Backstage Bar/ club (miserable place!) and there weren't any announcements. What we did see was really enjoyable & AFL was a pleasure, seemed genuinely happy & appreciative,too..Shame EC seems so damned miserable, what a contrast to Jeff Beck, Alice Cooper, Bruce Springsteen etc
Yes, I hadn't heard Wide Eyed and Legless since it came out a scarily long time ago. Now can't get it out of my head. You could see the audience reaction to EC's playing of a 'classic' when he rolled into Cocaine - and it was the best live version I've heard. Just terrific. A pity he didn't do one/two more of those.
Or just be courteous,grateful, engaging.
I totally agree. We’ve been looking forward to the show for months and rather disappointed with the choice of songs and the lack of any engagement with the audience…. At nearly £100 per ticket I felt he could have made more of an effort to be “present” I felt a bit like he couldn’t really be bothered!!
Coming all the way from Bulgaria for this concert and spent incredible amount of money i was so disappointed not to hear his trademark songs like Layla, wonderful tonight, change the world and fathers eyes.
Very disappointing without Leyla or Wonderful tonight. Mr Clapton was only present in the second half.
Not playing Layla or wonderful tonight is like Sinatra NOT singing My Way .
waited 40yrs to see him ,VERY DISSAPOINTED
That's a shame.
You've had 40 years to see him play those songs. That's about 20 world tours.
Getting disappointed over Clapton not playing 2 hits while the man's live performance have always been about album tracks and blues covers is a bit silly. Both Layla and Wonderful tonight have consistently sucked the life out of his live shows in the past 20 years because the entire band zones out.
Same experience from London show. I regret attending and buying a ticket