ERIC CLAPTON | 01.29.07 | AUSTRALIA

Words by: Alex Anastas

Eric Clapton :: 01.29.07 :: Entertainment Arena :: Sydney, Australia

Eric Clapton – Sydney, Australia by John Cooney

It has been close to 17 years since Eric Clapton has graced the shores of the Pacific’s lost continent, Australia, and he instantly engaged the opening night crowd of his three-night Sydney run with raucous opener “Tell the Truth.” That being said, the youngest Allman Brother, Derek Trucks, stole the show with his viscous leads and precise, left-handed glass slide.

As the set progressed, Trucks hung back, often looking somewhat complacent and humble, bowing down to the greatness of his on-stage cohort and idle. When he did enter back into the fray, he always brought his sweet, soulful sound right into the forefront of the mix.

Eric Clapton – Sydney, Australia by John Cooney

A surprise cover of Hendrix’s “Little Wing” witnessed Clapton and Trucks playing off of each other in an intricate listening exercise, delicately caressing their axes, the glowing red Gibson SG for Derek and the trademarked “Old Blackie” Fender Stratocaster for Clapton. Another welcome revelation was an early solo by incomparable session bassist Willie Weeks, where the elder statesman walked his fret board as naturally as an Aussie surfer on a Bondi Beach wave.

When his band went backstage for a breather, a chair was brought out to center stage and Clapton performed a brief acoustic set, moving first through a solo take on “Driftin’ Blues” then bringing the band back for stripped down versions of “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” and “Running on Faith.”

Eric Clapton – Sydney, Australia by John Cooney

The last section of the show brought some serious three-guitar-attack led by Slowhand along with some nimble key work from Chris Stainton. “Wonderful Tonight” had the audience singing and swaying, and the anxiously anticipated “Layla” saw Trucks and Stainton play an outro that would have made Duane Allman proud.

With the capacity crowd satiated and the band firing on all cylinders, Clapton pulled two of his greatest hits for an encore that put an exclamation point on the evening. Starting with “Cocaine” and going straight into “Crossroads” it was nothing short of spectacular to watch Trucks duck in and out of Clapton’s lead work. While Clapton has more than a few good years ahead of him it was impossible to not consider Trucks as the heir apparent.

Eric Clapton – Sydney, Australia by Thomas Girgensohn

The Band: Eric Clapton (guitar, vocals), Doyle Bramhall II (guitar), Derek Trucks (guitar), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Tim Carmon (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass), Steve Jordan (drums), Michelle John and Sharon White (backing vocals).

SETLIST:
Electric Set: Tell The Truth, Key To The Highway, Got to Get Better in A Little While, Little Wing, Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?
Acoustic Set: Driftin’ Blues (Clapton Solo), Outside Woman Blues (with full band and Derek Trucks on steel-bodied guitar), Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out, Running on Faith
2nd Electric Set: Motherless Children > Little Queen of Spades > Further On Up the Road, Wonderful Tonight, Layla
Encore: Cocaine > Crossroads

JamBase | Australia
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