Updated 24 May 2010: Review by Slowhander
This is going to be one of the toughest reviews for me to write EVER!! I was left speechless last Friday night and being Monday afternoon I still find it difficult to communicate as words keep failing me and there are so many highlights to mention!!!
My 3 day trip to London in the company of my mother was worth every penny that we spent on flights, accommodation and ticket expenses… It was great to unexpectedly meet up with long time friends and then attend two awesome performances at the Wembley Arena. One of the best investments I am likely to make EVER. A whole terrific experience – one that both my mother and I will treasure for the rest of our lives.
Same setlists for both nights but with a setlist like that…. who cares? The selections of songs was simply sublime…. It’s true that it was a pity to see Little Wing being dropped from their previous tours…. but instead we got different songs, which included Midland Maniac…. a Steve Winwood song I had never listened to before but with room for Eric to play so many beautiful licks on its outro!!! It was a very nice discovery for me. Also we got terrific performances of “Going Down”…. (not to be confused with “Going Down Slow”)….. a song that I had only heard on John Mayall’s “In The Palace Of The King” album so far… and which has now got to be a favourite of mine!! Thank Heavens Low Down and Split Decision survived previous tours, much to my enjoyment!!
Tough Luck Blues – a blues number that seems to have given Little Queen Of Spades a break – was stunning on both nights.
Listening to Pearly Queen live was a dream come true….. Hard for me to believe the first time EC ever played that one live was at the Rainbow Concert back in January 1973…. just 5 days before I was born!! One of my favourite tracks on that album….. I find it amazing that I was lucky to be able to hear him play it live 37 years later!!! Wow…
Presence Of The Lord, Well All Right and Can’t Find My Way Home… all fantastic revisitations of Blind Faith classics…… Voodoo Chile stole the show on both nights….. with Eric showing why he was called once God!
This is not politically correct, I know, but I only hope a good bootleg surfaces soon because how much I would love to listen to these two shows again… only God knows!!!
Wish I had won the lottery long ago: I would be on tour – not at the office with a job to keep – right now.
The band:
Guitar, Vocals – Eric Clapton
Guitar, Vocals,Hammond Organ and Piano – Steve Winwood
Bass Guitar – Willie Weeks
Keyboards – Chris Stainton
Drums – Steve Gadd
Backing Vocals – Sharon White
Backing Vocals – Michelle John
Setlist:
01. Had to Cry Today
02. Low Down
03. After Midnight
04. Presence of the Lord
05. The Shape I’m In (The Band)
06. Glad
07. Well, Alright
08. It’s Too Bad
09. Pearly Queen
10. Forever Man
11. Midland Maniac
12. I’m Going Down
13. Georgia ((Eric electric seated)
14. Driftin’ (Eric acoustic, Steve included)
15. How Long (acoustic)
16. Layla (acoustic)
17. Can’t Find My Way Home (acoustic)
18. Split Decision
19. Voodoo Chile
20. Cocaine
Encore:
21. Dear Mr. Fantasy
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