Clapton is back. Not only on the road, as tour dates starting in February were recently announced, but Slowhand has regained some of this youthful energy along with the appreciation of audiences across the U.K.
Lucky for the US, Clapton is headed this way and his blues power is stronger than ever. Reviews of his current tour have been stellar, despite the lukewarm reception his most recent album, “Back Home.”
The London Times wrote of his Glasgow show that “he still sang in his sleepy, soulful drawl, but played guitar with a rediscovered energy and urgency. … Clapton remains a supremely gifted performer…. there was some of the old fire here as well.”
The tour began earlier this year in the US, but only at select eastern seaboard locations. He just finished up a Toyko stint, and will spread his renewed Blues Power across the country nice and evenly this time after hitting South Asia.
Eric’s been busy this year, collaborating with John Mayer on “Continuum.” Mayer toured this year with Sheryl Crow, who was romantically linked to Clapton for some time in 1998. Of Clapton, Mayer wrote in his liner notes “"Eric Clapton - I copy off of him and he lets me."
Clapton has seen his share of problems over his life, and like the Phoenix he is, has risen out of the ashes of alcoholism, drug abuse and lost love time and again to recreate himself. He’s also helped others dealing with the darker side with the creation of “The Crossroads Center” in Antigua. Not a bad place to recover.
The early ‘90s were perhaps some of the hardest for him to overcome, as Stevie Ray Vaughn who was touring with him, and two of the members of his crew were killed in a helicopter crash in August of 1990. Only a few months later in March of 2001 his 4 ½ year-old son Connor was killed by a fall from the 53rd story window of his mother’s apartment. The grief was expressed partly in the moving “Tears in Heaven.”
The 18-Grammy award winner released “The Road to Escondido” last month, a 14-song disc that paired Clapton with his idol, J.J. Cale. In a statement Clapton said "This was the realization of what may have been my last ambition, to work with the man who's music has inspired me for as long as I can remember.
“There are not enough words for me to describe what [Cale] represents to me, musically and personally and, anyway, I wouldn't want to embarrass him by going overboard, for he is a truly humble man. . . . I think it's enough to say that we had fun, made a great record and I, for one, already want to make another."
The Back Home tour set list has delved into some rarely heard Derek and the Dominoes tunes, Clapton classics and soulful songs from his newer releases. It’s not to be missed.
