Music Review | Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood: An inspired night of...

This is in response to my earlier post and the comments made after that. Everytime I saw this concert advertised I saw mostly pictures of Eric Clapton not Steve Winwood and usually the first persons name advertised is the main act, in this concert Steve Winwood's name should have been first because it seems he did more of the singing. Maybe if they advertised it better, the "younger" crowd would have realized it was going to be more of the older music and not what Clapton did on his own.(And I am sure they wouldn't have sold as many tickets with using Steve's name first because obviously a lot of the "younger" people don't know who he is.)I'm not sure when blind faith was around but we were with fifty something year olds and they didn't know half of the songs either. When you see Eric Clapton's name you would think he would play the most recent music he is known for and throw in a couple of the older songs not the other way around. I didn't realize I had to do a lot of research to see what songs were going to be played just to go to a concert!

great show i will never forget!

Connie wrote:

This is in response to my earlier post and the comments made after that. Everytime I saw this concert advertised I saw mostly pictures of Eric Clapton not Steve Winwood and usually the first persons name advertised is the main act, in this concert Steve Winwood's name should have been first because it seems he did more of the singing. Maybe if they advertised it better, the "younger" crowd would have realized it was going to be more of the older music and not what Clapton did on his own.(And I am sure they wouldn't have sold as many tickets with using Steve's name first because obviously a lot of the "younger" people don't know who he is.)I'm not sure when blind faith was around but we were with fifty something year olds and they didn't know half of the songs either. When you see Eric Clapton's name you would think he would play the most recent music he is known for and throw in a couple of the older songs not the other way around. I didn't realize I had to do a lot of research to see what songs were going to be played just to go to a concert!

Connie - Allow me to try to explain. What you wanted to see the other night - millions have seen at least once and more than likely you may get to see it again. What you saw last night was so special because of it's rarity and the fact that it was (and you'll have to trust us on this) done better than most any Clapton concert I have seen. You saw Clapton play better than I can ever recall - you saw him playing Jimi Hendrix and playing it REALLY good - do you have any idea when he's done that before? My humbled advice would be to try to embrace a little more of what you saw, maybe buy a Blind Faith CD - whatever. you witnessed something that more than likely will not be done again and it was done so incredibly well.

Saw Eric last summer out an outdoor venue in Indiana. Awesome show but he outdid himself this year. Was so excited that there was no warm up band - he doesn't need one. Having Steve Winwood there was just the icing on the cake for me. An amazing concert. Do agree that Vodoo Chile was too long but, just to see the two of them together was well worth even this little inconvenience. I was in the nose-bleed section as well and the concert was fabulous even fromway up there. Bout fell out of my seat when they plaed Cocaine! Eric and Steve, if you read these......THANK YOU and will see you next year!

I came from North Carolina to see this show and was not disappointed in the least. In fact, this is the best of the forty eight Clapton shows and seven Winwood shows that I have seen. I do agree that the lights were distracting. Some seating areas were more affected than others. This show was also special because it was the first public performance of "There's a River" and "How Long" by Clapton and Winwood.

What a duo. Good to see that both are still making, and still enjoying the playing of music, for the right reasons, too. There is a great series fo interviews with these two men on the website IntheStudio.net that really sets the stage for the performances. If you seen them, or are going to, listen to the in depth interviews there. There attitudes are pure, and thier music reflects that. AWESOME.

I agree with John C 100% - but it wasn't just the Columbus audience. I have seen Eric in multiple different places and a few different countries, and it seems the audiences are always so sedate. They just sit there and applaude politely where as I feel they should be jumping up and screaming their appreciation for the incredible performance of amazing talent they just witnessed. At the Columbus show I was seated high up and I would say that at least half of the people didn't even bother to give a standing ovation, probably ignorant to what a rare event they had just attended. Its so disappointing to true music fans because this show was truly awe inspiring. I will give credit to the people seated down on the floor in front of the stage - at least they were on their feet. Its a well known fact that if the audience is into the show and responding well, the musicians tend to perform a little bit longer - which is perhaps why we only got a one song encore. I personally enjoyed the show from start to finish with several moments during the show taking my breath away.

Curt, I agree with your assessment 100%! Little Wing, angular Winwood guitar solos, blues supreme.

"I didn't realize I had to do a lot of research to see what songs were going to be played..." (Connie)---- I have been happily researching Clapton and Winwood since the mid-1970's. When I like an artist, I look for music by them, the music that influenced them, their personal history, history of the groups they have been in, videos of them performing, etc. I read Clapton's autobiography last summer. You could call that work, but I enjoyed it! If I am not interested in an artist or group, I will not devote any time to such research! The experience is all the richer for knowing a lot more than the wretched radio stations will allow.(3 songs summing up an entire career; NOT.) Buy some CD's and enjoy the learning process....

I got the CD and the DVD of E.C. & S.W. and I just loved it. S.W.'s vocals were fantastic & E.C.'s guitar & vocals were great as usual. The whole thing came of very CLASSY. Good Job - Excellant.

Having been a Clapton fan for over 40 years, no way could I not enjoy another chance to see him again. No problems with the setlist, but at both this and last year's show the PA soundman (at least in my section 432 seats) went to sleep. Yeah, right, it's just a great big basketball arena, blah blah blah.....but explain how last year Robert Cray was clear as glass, both instruments and vocals, but when Eric takes the stage it all turns to mud ? Fine time was had, as usual, but the sound could have been better.