Live Report (a bit rough and ready) on Eric Clapton concert Weds April 13, 2016, by Martin Connolly
Eric Clapton lives! Officially retired, as he states in the programme, but he came back to his old haunt, the Budokan, in Tokyo (at which he has played 91 times!), tonight. Talking of which... Eric was 'Wonderful Tonight'! With his nine member band he played a lot of blues numbers. Don't ask me what they're called, though Hoochie Coochie Man was one, and another, very slow and soulful was very, very BB King. It was like Eric was BB King. Not imitating, of course, but relaying his spirit, as a brother. [Now added below, full set list] Now read on...
I'm not a huge, huge Clapton fan, by any means, but I know he is a legend, and some of his music is part of my life. Also, the fact that the Mahavishnu Orchestra paid tribute to his Cream riff (from Sunshine of Your Love) on Dream (on Between Nothingness & Eternity) speaks volumes. Cream was of course innovatory even before Mahavishnu! Cream paved the way! And surely Eric's solo on While My Guitar Gently Weeps is one of the greatest ever guitar solos. But, who cares about history?! We paid good money to hear some music, and, so, how the hell was Eric here on April 13, 2016??? Well, sometimes we were treated to classics and it was rousing stuff, but sometimes the songs seemed a little ordinary. Yet, they were always enlivened by Eric's commanding guitaring. His tone. His feel. His solos. The latter were deep expressions and engaging and beautiful in the way that only a great guitar player can play them. He had me in tears listening to his intense ending soloing in I Shot the Sheriff. This is why he came back, because this is real life for him. Now, when I look back on the evening, I feel so moved to have witnessed him in action.
If I may, because I usually address jazz in these pages, regarding the songs themselves and the general playing of all, I was made aware of the difference with jazz music and musicians. Jazzers also play the Blues, but they invariably alter and play around with things, stymying an audience's expectations, questioning stuff, but in such a playful and intelligent way that satisfies a certain kind of need in music. Blues is of course the father of both jazz and rock. From time to time, I found myself a little bit less than satisfied with the side men's playing, often because it was old pattern generic blues, if very nicely done. Many of the songs in the early part of the show followed a very predictable 12-bar thing, which, however, was also great to enjoy, but on occasion it felt like a little more invention could have gone a long way. Some of the later songs were more complex or less tied to tried patterns. Or were just classics, and therefore absorbing for being that. Anyway, it was always Eric's playing which was the focus, and I was satisfied with that. Yet, it is to be noted that the likes of John Tropea or other Johns, like Scofield and McLaughlin, or jazzers who aren't called John, are not likely to fill out a hall the size of this one. Yet, why is that so?
Eric had a guest fellow guitarist come on some way through, and they both sang together on some ballad. He intro'd him as my friend 'Ed S'. Well, Ed S was young, had most of his visage obscured with a hat, but sang beautifully. In subsequent songs, he just played rhythm kind of invisibly. I wonder who he was? Ed Sheeran?! Well, this has now been confirmed. It may mean a lot to the younger generation but not so much to me. Apart from his duet singing with Eric on one song I can't say he made a memorable contribution. He just sat there strumming along in a prominent place but not soloing and many of us wondering who he was. But when he sang, wow. Occasionally Eric's sidemen would take the stage. The multi-instrumentalist Dirk Powell (accordion, mandolin, guitar) took the mic for a song. It was a big song but it didn't wow me and sounded pretty ordinary (who the hell is Dirk Powell anyway?) but when Eric took the solo then the song was really lifted up. Similarly, when Andy Fairweather-Low, who used to be a solo artist yonks ago, singing Wide-eyed and Legless, did a slow intense blues song it was very good but only when Eric ripped in with an amazing and dynamic solo did it really come properly alive. Andy's bald pate really changes his appearance, by the way. Totally different looking from way back when. The long-tousled-haired youth of yore now looks like a balding blend of Bert Weedon and Robert Fripp. Not an age thing, but an image change thing, more like. Andy was very good as support to Eric, whose appearance has evolved more in the public eye. We've seen him grow greyer and fuzzier, which is perfectly alright. What stood out, however, was his choice of duds. Over light brown suede loafers, he sported soft indoor gym slacks, complete with stripes down the side, and a rather unexciting grey t-shirt. Very comfortable relaxing bedroom wear in other words. That takes a bit of fame to go that! This was very definitely anti-Glam Rock!
Words into the mic were few and far between. He didn't say Hello Tokyo or Thank you or Goodnight. He occasionally called out the name of sidemen soloists. We expected that he would end with an approach to the edge of the stage with all band members and take a bow, but he didn't. Indeed, he played only one encore. That was not Layla, which I suspect everyone thought it would be. Rather it was some roustabout but generic-sounding blues number. When that was finished, and they left the stage, there was a sudden collective intake of breath as the auditorium lights came on, signaling that's all folks! No Layla! It was a bit of a let down, but when you think that Eric is appearing now in his retirement, and that he acquitted himself very well during the concert, such a feeling was undeserved. Personally, I blame Paul McCartney, who, whenever he plays, plays nearly 40 songs, and for three and a half hours, squeezing in just about everything he feels is needed to genuinely satisfy his audience. Eric did a great job here, and comparisons with Paul's superior stage craft etc would be unfair. Eric acquitted himself as a great blues guitarist and guitar god and we should be extremely thankful for that.
I also need to add that Eric's singing was also superlative. He threw himself into it, and I could notice the reaction of people round me as he gave it everything, some fantastic Blues line about having nothing or being down and out and nowhere to go. Man, Eric sang so passionately. Upon reflection, then, thinking about his sparseness with greetings etc., we might learn from this that Eric expresses himself only through his music. Or, that it is through his music that we hear Eric, guitar and voice. Well, from that perspective, he communicated extremely well, then!
I also need to add that Eric's singing was also superlative. He threw himself into it, and I could notice the reaction of people round me as he gave it everything, some fantastic Blues line about having nothing or being down and out and nowhere to go. Man, Eric sang so passionately. Upon reflection, then, thinking about his sparseness with greetings etc., we might learn from this that Eric expresses himself only through his music. Or, that it is through his music that we hear Eric, guitar and voice. Well, from that perspective, he communicated extremely well, then!
Japan is enjoying a spate of oldies gigs right now. Bob Dylan has played and will play more. And Brian Wilson of the Beachboys was actually playing at the same time as Eric tonight in a different location. Imagine the three of them in a downtown bar somewhere, Eric (on Coke, the stuff in the bottle, that is), Bob and Brian. That would be fun to observe. It is the twilight of the gods...
Here's some details from a site called Where's Eric
http://www.whereseric.com/:
Eric Clapton & His Band
Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals
Andy Fairweather Low - guitar, vocals
Chris Stainton – piano, keyboards
Paul Carrack - organ, keyboards, vocals
Dave Bronze – bass
Henry Spinetti – drums
Dirk Powell - multi-instrumentalist
Michelle John – backing vocals
Sharon White – backing vocals
13 April 2016 Set List
Nippon Budokan, Tokyo Night 1
01. Somebody's Knockin' *
02. Key To The Highway
03. Hoochie Coochie Man
04. Next Time You See Me
05. I Shot The Sheriff
06. Circus Left Town
07. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
08. I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine *
09. I Will Be There * - with special guest Ed Sheeran
10. Cypress Grove * - with special guest Ed Sheeran
11. Sunshine State - with special guest Ed Sheeran
12. Gin House
13. Wonderful Tonight
14. Crossroads
15. Little Queen Of Spades
16. Cocaine
17. High Time We Went (encore)
The gig lasted from about 7.05 to 8.45. He will play
Full residency at Nippon Budokan:
April 13, 15, 16, 18, 19. Well worth the price of a ticket, cheapest at ¥13,000. (We had standing only!)
Here's some details from a site called Where's Eric
http://www.whereseric.com/:
Eric Clapton & His Band
Eric Clapton – guitar, vocals
Andy Fairweather Low - guitar, vocals
Chris Stainton – piano, keyboards
Paul Carrack - organ, keyboards, vocals
Dave Bronze – bass
Henry Spinetti – drums
Dirk Powell - multi-instrumentalist
Michelle John – backing vocals
Sharon White – backing vocals
13 April 2016 Set List
Nippon Budokan, Tokyo Night 1
01. Somebody's Knockin' *
02. Key To The Highway
03. Hoochie Coochie Man
04. Next Time You See Me
05. I Shot The Sheriff
06. Circus Left Town
07. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
08. I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine *
09. I Will Be There * - with special guest Ed Sheeran
10. Cypress Grove * - with special guest Ed Sheeran
11. Sunshine State - with special guest Ed Sheeran
12. Gin House
13. Wonderful Tonight
14. Crossroads
15. Little Queen Of Spades
16. Cocaine
17. High Time We Went (encore)
The gig lasted from about 7.05 to 8.45. He will play
Full residency at Nippon Budokan:
April 13, 15, 16, 18, 19. Well worth the price of a ticket, cheapest at ¥13,000. (We had standing only!)
Post-script: the audience. Mostly, indeed, almost all, clearly middle aged to more elderly types. When Paul played, there was definitely a bigger mix of old and young. Just an observation. I was one of the old gits, too.
We felt privileged to have seen Eric Clapton play. I was deeply impressed by his beautiful playing, of both electric and acoustic, and one time an acoustic that roared like a Hendrix electric. He shared his heart with us. I read his Autobiography recently. What hell he created for himself in his personal life... And yet he overcame his monsters. And earned respect in doing so. As regards his playing, I would hope that modern young guitarists would see him, listen carefully to what he's doing with the strings and the fretboard, and realize that 'feel' is such an intrinsic element in the playing of the instrument. Feel. It comes through handling and through experience with the instrument, and through a dedication which is no more work than love is. Something organic, natural and pure. After tonight, I can see why Eric Clapton's guitar playing is so loved. If he plays, and sings, like this still, he should not retire.
We felt privileged to have seen Eric Clapton play. I was deeply impressed by his beautiful playing, of both electric and acoustic, and one time an acoustic that roared like a Hendrix electric. He shared his heart with us. I read his Autobiography recently. What hell he created for himself in his personal life... And yet he overcame his monsters. And earned respect in doing so. As regards his playing, I would hope that modern young guitarists would see him, listen carefully to what he's doing with the strings and the fretboard, and realize that 'feel' is such an intrinsic element in the playing of the instrument. Feel. It comes through handling and through experience with the instrument, and through a dedication which is no more work than love is. Something organic, natural and pure. After tonight, I can see why Eric Clapton's guitar playing is so loved. If he plays, and sings, like this still, he should not retire.
The Budokan, where the Beatles played in 1966. What a venue!