Concert Review: Eric Clapton at Gwinnett Arena in Atlanta

There are few things more iconic in music than Eric Clapton. Its impossible to have a discussion about the best guitarist of all time without mentioning his name. He is the only three time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (Creme, the Yardbirds and solo respectively). He’s won seventeen Grammy Awards, influenced countless musicians and has even given back with his Crossroads drug treatment center in Antigua. It wouldn’t be far fetched to take the easy way out by saying Clapton is the greatest thing since sliced bread and wrap this review right here. The question, planted in mind coming into his concert at the Gwinnett Arena, was does Clapton still have it? Granted, he’s accomplished more than any musician’s wet dream could imagine, but Slowhand has pushed the odometer past 67. His most recent album Old Sock more easily fits into the adult contemporary section of the record store than it does rockin’ blues. Has age finally caught up with the master, and would that make him lose a step onstage during his 50th anniversary tour?

Jakob Dylan and the Wallflowers opened the evening promptly at 7:30. The Wallflowers have struggled for relevance since bursting out of the gate with their four-time platinum album Bringing Down the Horse in 1996. They’ve released a handful of albums in the years since, but were never able to capture lightning in a bottle twice. They shelved the band for a spell then Dylan pulled the group of merry men together again last year. They’ve released a new album, Glad All Over, and have toured with a few select festival appearances. Supporting Eric Clapton, the Wallflowers were largely what you’d expect — a 90s band heavily leaning on their success of yester year. They trotted out the hits. “6th Avenue Heartache,” check. “Three Marlenas,” check. “The Difference,” check. Of course no Wallflowers set would be complete without “One Headlight.” It was like we were entering a time warp back to 1996. Quick, someone give me some flannel. Dylan and the boys sounded good, but the set was ultimately dated. It did occur to me tonight that Jakob’s vocals sound more like Bruce Springsteen than dear old dad.

It wasn’t long before Eric Clapton hit the stage with an eight-piece backing band. This isn’t just a bunch of scrubs pulled in off the streets. He’s cherry picked some bad asses to share the stage with. You’ve got Steve Jordan on drums (John Mayer Trio), Paul Carrack on keys (Ace, Squeeze), Willie Weeks on bass, Chris Stainton also on keys, and Greg Leisz on pedal steel guitar. I imagine if Clapton calls you up and asks if you want to go on tour with him, you basically treat it as a rhetorical question. The only thing you ask is what time do I need to show up.

Clapton didn’t dally about kicking right in to “Hello Old Friend.” He started out the set rather unassumingly on guitar as he walked through the melody of “My Father’s Eyes.” Then he took the gloves off, strapping on the electric guitar. With the ax draped over his shoulder, Clapton at once seemed at home on stage.

When you see an Eric Clapton concert, you are basically signing on for a guitar showcase. He is a great musician, fabulous singer, but his seduction of the chords take the guitar to another dimension. Lots of artists stretch songs out by jamming away to the point of pretentiousness. When Clapton does it, it just makes sense. He is finding and ultimately following the groove. Like a fine wine, he’s letting the guitar breathe and the sounds that hit your palate carry with them generations of musical craftsmanship. It is a wonder to behold.

He was having a lot of fun on stage. This gritty rock bathed in the blues poured from his guitar on tracks like “Gotta Get Over” and “Black Cat Bone.” His voice amazingly showed no wear from age.

As much as I loved watching him tame the electric guitar, he may have actually been more impressive when he stripped down the sound by donning the acoustic guitar midway through the set. Quieter numbers like “Lay Down Sally,” “Tears in Heaven” and “Layla” commanded a softer, more thoughtful approach. Its easy to see why he put MTV’s Unplugged on the map back in 1992 with his famous concert.

He’d pick up the electric guitar once more to power through greats like “Crossroads” and “Cocaine.” The crowd was heavily riled up as he exited the stage to subsequently emerge for the encore. He dusted off “Sunshine of Your Love” before surrendering the mic to keyboardist Paul Carrack.

One of the interesting things about having Carrack around is you can have him play a few tracks from the catalog of bands he’s been affiliated with. Clapton took an uncharacteristic backseat as Carrack performed Ace’s “How Long” and squeezed in “Tempted.” Carrack even closed out the encore with “High Time We Went.” Given Clapton’s prolific catalog, he didn’t have to cede the microphone for a song, but you almost got the feeling that he enjoyed taking a moment where it was just him and the guitar. That relationship is something they’ll write books about.

I really can’t shower enough praise on Clapton’s performance. There is ridiculous amount of soul trapped into a pasty British guy. The blues are a dying art form, and he is keeping them alive one concert at a time. After seeing this performance, there is no worries that the adult contemporary mush of his latest album of Old Sock is bleeding through into his live act. Eric Clapton is the same master guitarist that turned heads with the Yardbirds and Creme in the 60s. After 50 years, he is still one of the freshest sounds in music. He’s recently said he’d stop touring at age 70, just three years away. I’m happy I’ve crossed him off my bucket list, and truly hope its not the last time I see Slowhand live. No one in music does what Eric Clapton does on stage.

Eric Clapton Atlanta Setlist : The Arena at Gwinnett Center : March 27, 2013
Hello Old Friend
My Father’s Eyes
Tell the Truth
Gotta Get Over
Black Cat Bone
Got to Get Better in a Little While
Tempted
Badge
Driftin’ Blues
Lay Down Sally
Tears in Heaven
Layla
Wonderful Tonight
How Long
Stones in My Passway
Love in Vain
Crossroads
Little Queen of Spades
Cocaine

Encore
Sunshine of Your Love
High Time We Went