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Eric Clapton Hampton Court 9/6/06


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On the bike, standing outside listening, but just about 20 metres and a 16th century wall away from the stage. Now, let's get this straight, I have much respect for the man's past work and musicianship, but I am neither a fan nor a hater - I'm just reporting as I found it. I was there because it was a balmy night (30 degress for last 4 days here) and it was free. He played about 2 hours. The first hour was, I have to say this, pretty much a soft blues mush. Every note in its place, but drained of any emotion - hi svoice was never the strong point of course. The backing soul singers and horn section were the only things that I liked. Then a couple of acoustic songs, then the slowest blues song of the night - that I really got into as, for once, there was some guts behind it. Then into the 'greatest hits' section. Wonderful Tonight, Layla (with outro) and finishing with Cocaine. It was good to have heard the man play Layla live (though still slightly anaemic). Single song encore that was pretty anonymous in both the musical sense and because I did not recognise it. I know the (not so) secret door they use to exit, so did see EC leave. Security were a bit heavy (no security last year for Brian Wilson) but I refused to move off my bike. Gave his a ripple of applause for old times sake.

 

Songs I recognised: 4

Songs I relly enjoyed: 3

Gnat bites: 2

Near death experiences getting home on bike with no lights: 0 (Result! plus walked in at 11:30 to find Mighty Boosh re-runs on BBC3 (Killer Roo), flipping back and forth with Later with Jools Holland - most gratified that Ray Davies stressed his Welsh descent!)

 

Edit: Someone else outside told me tickets were

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On the bike, standing outside listening, but just about 20 metres and a 16th century wall away from the stage. Now, let's get this straight, I have much respect for the man's past work and musicianship, but I am neither a fan nor a hater - I'm just reporting as I found it. I was there because it was a balmy night (30 degress for last 4 days here) and it was free. He played about 2 hours. The first hour was, I have to say this, pretty much a soft blues mush. Every note in its place, but drained of any emotion - hi svoice was never the strong point of course. The backing soul singers and horn section were the only things that I liked. Then a couple of acoustic songs, then the slowest blues song of the night - that I really got into as, for once, there was some guts behind it. Then into the 'greatest hits' section. Wonderful Tonight, Layla (with outro) and finishing with Cocaine. It was good to have heard the man play Layla live (though still slightly anaemic). Single song encore. I know the (not so) secret door they use to exit, so did see EC leave. Security were a bit heavy (no security last year for Brian Wilson) but I refused to move off my bike. Gave his a ripple of applause for old times sake.

 

Songs I recognised: 4

Gnat bites: 2

Near death experiences getting home on bike with no lights: 0 (Result! plus walked in at 11:30 to find Mighty Boosh re-runs on BBC3 (Killer Roo), flipping back and forth with Later with Jools Holland - most gratified that Ray Davies stressed his Welsh descent!)

 

Edit: Someone else outside told me tickets were

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Near death experiences getting home on bike with no lights: 0 (Result! plus walked in at 11:30 to find Mighty Boosh re-runs on BBC3 (Killer Roo), flipping back and forth with Later with Jools Holland - most gratified that Ray Davies stressed his Welsh descent!)

 

I was also unscathed on my biking journeys this weekend for a change - must get some lights though!

 

I've been to his house. It's true.

 

Ahh... your infamous Clapton house story - I think the others need to be told :D

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Didn't he say a while back that he was not going to tour anymore? Weird.

i guess he's got nothing better to do with his time. maybe the cream reunion made him reconsider? who knows. i am a bit sick of musicians crying "last tour ever" just to pad attendence at their latest tour supporting a crap album. "from the cradle" was his last great statement imo. that was over 10 years ago.

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i guess he's got nothing better to do with his time. maybe the cream reunion made him reconsider? who knows. i am a bit sick of musicians crying "last tour ever" just to pad attendence at their latest tour supporting a crap album. "from the cradle" was his last great statement imo. that was over 10 years ago.

 

 

Yeah, he is a big liar....Mother Fooker

 

Barbara Striesand is doing the same thing now....$1800 top ticket price......but she is giving some to charity.....funny

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concert.jpg

 

It's an open-air venue, so he was just over the wall. Sounds like a nice night out to me, particularly on a warm evening when you're not overly excited about the performer.

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For a very long time I thought I liked Eric Clapton. Then I came to teh realization that everything he's ever done except for Cream and Derek and the Dominoes really sucks. Then I listened to Derek and the Dominoes again, and realized, wow this sucks just as bad as anything that's ever sucked. But I still thought Cream was alright. Then a few months back I saw on PBS they were playing footage from the recent Cream reunion. It really really sucked. And now I can't in my head seperate this sell out reunion BS from the original band. So I have to say I think Cream sucks now. Eric Clapton should form a supergroup of lame washed-up sellouts. Rod Stewart on vocals, Eric Clapton on guitar, Charlie Watts on drums, and me on bass (I could use the money).

Edited by ben
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concert.jpg

 

It's an open-air venue, so he was just over the wall. Sounds like a nice night out to me, particularly on a warm evening when you're not overly excited about the performer.

:cheers Thanks for making that clear on my behalf. It was generally a bit too quiet if you ask me (quieter than Brian Wilson last year), but the sound was good quality. As you can see, it's a nice place to be beside the Thames of a sunny evening.

 

Update: I didn't go to listen to Van Morrison last night as I wasn't feeling so good. But he's there next week so I hope to try then. Plus Jools Holland Big Band. Plus Art Garfunkel - will not go there as I don't think I could handle the emotion of a rendition of Bright Eyes - hazy tearful vision on the bike ride home could be catastrophic!

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