paul carrack eric clapton tour

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Eric Clapton Announces North American Tour

Eric Clapton has announced a run of North American shows that will take place in September, featuring support from Jimmie Vaughan .

Clapton will start the tour in Pittsburgh on Sept. 8, followed by shows in Toronto, Canada, St. Louis, Mo., St. Paul, Minn. and Denver. This is the second time the guitarist has teamed up for a tour with Jimmie Vaughan, the older brother of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan .

Tickets for all shows will be available beginning on March 31; more information about the performances can be found on Clapton's website .

Clapton's current band includes Doyle Bramhall II, Paul Carrack, Nathan East, Sonny Emory, and Chris Stainton, with Sharon White and Katie Kissoon on backing vocals. According to a press release, these will be Clapton's only North American performances for 2023.

In April, Clapton will perform six nights at Budokan in Tokyo, followed by a pair of Jeff Beck tribute performances at London's Royal Albert Hall on May 22 and 23. Other confirmed London guests for that show include  Rod Stewart ,  Billy Gibbons , former  Allman Brothers Band  member  Derek Trucks , John McLaughlin, Joss Stone, Gary Clark Jr., Imelda May and  Johnny Depp .

Eric Clapton North American Tour 2023 Sept. 8 - Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena Sept. 10 - Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena Sept. 12 - St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center Sept. 14 - St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center Sept. 16 - Denver, CO @ Ball Arena

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Eric Clapton Reveals Five-Date 2023 North American Tour

by Tina Benitez-Eves March 27, 2023, 11:12 am

Days before his 78th birthday on March 30, Eric Clapton has revealed a five-date tour. He says the shows will be his only dates in North America in 2023.

Videos by American Songwriter

Featuring special guest Jimmie Vaughan, Clapton’s short run of shows is set to kick off on September 8 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Additional stops will be made in Ontario, Canada; Missouri, and Minnesota before wrapping up in Denver, Colorado, on September 16.

Clapton’s current band joining him on tour features Sonny Emory, Chris Stainton, Doyle Bramhall II, Paul Carrack, and Nathan East, with backing vocalists Katie Kissoon and Sharon White.

In 2022, Clapton released his 21st album, and first-holiday release, Happy Xmas . He also dropped a number of singles since the pandemic, including his most recent, “ Pompous Fool ,” which he said was inspired by former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s retirement announcement.

Clapton, who has been outspoken against the Covid vaccine and the policies surrounding the pandemic lockdown, and Van Morrison collaborated on another anti-lockdown song “Stand & Deliver” in the midst of the pandemic in 2020. By 2021, Clapton also released the song “ This Has Gotta Stop ,” which was followed by “ Heart of a Child ,” a song he co-wrote with vaccine skeptic Robin Monotti.

NEW SHOW DATES ANNOUNCED! 9/8/23 – Pittsburgh, PA 9/10/23 – Toronto, ON 9/12/23 – St. Louis, MO 9/14/23 – St. Paul, MN 9/16/23 – Denver, CO Tickets go on sale this Friday, 3/31 at 10am local pic.twitter.com/Lf9ybYIM4n — Eric Clapton (@EricClapton) March 27, 2023

The guitarist said that he suffered severe reactions to the AstraZeneca vaccine, which left his hands and feet numb for weeks, making him question whether he would ever be able to play guitar again.

On his previous tour in 2022, Clapton tested positive for COVID-19 shortly after his second concert at Royal Albert Hall in London and was forced to cancel several dates on his European Tour.

In April, Clapton will also perform six nights at Budokan in Tokyo, followed by two Jeff Beck   tribute concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in London on May 22 and 23. The tribute show will also feature guests including Johnny Depp, Rod Stewart, Billy Gibbons , and Gary Clark Jr., among others.

Clapton, who was replaced by Beck in The Yardbirds in 1965, paid tribute to Beck in the wake of his death, posting a photo of the late guitarist with the caption “Always and ever.” 

A percentage of the proceeds from the two concerts will be donated to Folly Wildlife Rescue located in Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England.

Eric Clapton North American Tour 2023 Sept. 8 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena Sept. 10 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena Sept. 12 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center Sept. 14 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center Sept. 16 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena

Photo: Frank Hoensch/Redferns

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Eric clapton announces 2023 north american tour dates.

Posted by Buddy Iahn | Mar 27, 2023

Dates span September 2023

Guitar legend Eric Clapton has announced that he will be hosting a limited series of concert dates across North America in September 2023 with support from Jimmie Vaughan. The newly announced shows will be Clapton’s only North American dates for 2023. The trek kicks off September 8th in Pittsburgh and spans five cities, including Toronto, St. Louis and Minneapolis before wrapping September 16th in Denver.

Ticket presales begin March 28th at 10 am local time with the public on sale starting March 31st at 10 am local time via Ticketmaster .

Clapton’s band for these shows will include Doyle Bramhall II, Paul Carrack, Nathan East, Sonny Emory, and Chris Stainton with Sharon White and Katie Kissoon on backing vocals.

In May, Clapton will host an all-star tribute to the late Jeff Beck at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Clapton, Rod Stewart, Johnny Depp, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Gary Clark Jr., Doyle Bramhall (whose worked with Clapton and Roger Waters, among others), Robert Randolph, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks are among the acts who’ve been confirmed.

Eric Clapton 2023 North American Tour Dates:

Sept 8 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena Sept 10 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena Sept 12 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center Sept 14 – Minneapolis, MN @ Xcel Energy Center Sept 16 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena

About The Author

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: [email protected]

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Eric Clapton

Guitar legend Eric Clapton has announced a limited series of concert dates across North America in September 2023. Clapton’s first Twin Cities concert in 14 years is scheduled for September 14 at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul. Special guest will be Jimmie Vaughan . Eric Clapton’s band for these shows will include Doyle Bramhall II, Paul Carrack, Nathan East, Sonny Emory, and Chris Stainton with Sharon White and Katie Kissoon on backing vocals.

For enhanced safety and speed of entry, we encourage guests not to bring bags of any kind. Bags, purses and backpacks are not allowed. Clutch, wristlet and wallets sized 4" x 6" x 1.5" or smaller are allowed and subject to inspection. Medical bags and diaper bags are allowed, however, they are required to pass through x-ray screening prior to entry. Guests with medical and diaper bags must enter the arena at Gate 1. Please allow extra time for entry.

Dine before the show at  Flynt & Kyndle , where an inviting atmosphere meets socially-inspired gourmet food and crafted cocktails. This seated VIP dining experience will delight you and your guests. The three-course meal is served tableside and includes an appetizer, crafted salads, and a selection of rotisserie meats and sides for sharing. Beverages and tax not included.  Make a reservation .

The Reserve , our upscale lounge on the Bremer Bank Suite Level, boasts an eclectic, chef-driven menu and an array of cocktail options. This lounge is open to all guests with suite level tickets or reservations.  Make a reservation .

The  Michelob Golden Light Taphouse  is   located at section 120 (gate 4) and opens at 6:30 p.m. The sports-themed restaurant features signature specialty wings, sandwiches and sharables, plus a full service bar.

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Paul Carrack, the Greatest Singer You’ve Never Heard of, Comes to DFW With Eric Clapton

Carrack first tasted success in 1974 as the frontman and chief songwriter for the U.K. soul outfit Ace, when he wrote and sang “How Long,” which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cracked the Top 20 in England. After Ace’s dissolution in 1977, Carrack found himself in the studio playing keyboards with the newly-re-made/re-modeled Roxy Music, contributing to their final three albums: Manifesto , Flesh + Blood , and Avalon . “In the period after Ace when I thought the game was up, all the guys I respected were doing sessions,” Carrack says. “I hung around those guys because I just wanted to improve as a musician. They had done Bryan Ferry’s solo records, so when Roxy got back together, they used a lot of these guys that I knew, and they introduced me to Roxy.” Carrack’s keyboard touch colored tracks like “Angel Eyes,” “Trash,” “Oh Yeah (There’s a Band Playing On the Radio)” and “To Turn You On.”

One of Carrack’s greatest contributions to Roxy Music, however, may be his introduction of drummer Andy Newmark to the band in 1979. “Andy played on my first solo record, Nightbird ,” Carrack says. “I had done Manifesto,  and I was going on tour with Roxy and their drummer Paul Thompson fell off his motorcycle and broke his wrist. I said ‘How about Andy Newmark?’ So, he came in and played the tour I did.” After Thompson’s departure from Roxy Music, Newmark continued to record with the band on subsequent albums, with his driving, motorik style of drumming later becoming a defining feature on one of their signature songs: the grand, bittersweet “More Than This.”

Whenever not tied to a particular band, Carrack continued acting as a session musician, contributing keyboard parts to various recordings by The Pretenders, Elton John, The Smiths, Carlene Carter, Nick Lowe and others. He also spent a large part of the '80s as a part of Roger Waters’ solo backing band, and when Waters opted to play songs by his former band Pink Floyd, Carrack was entrusted with handling both David Gilmour’s vocal parts and Richard Wright’s keyboard parts on tour.

Amidst the various sessions he participated in throughout the early '80s, Carrack inadvertently found himself the keyboardist for burgeoning U.K. new wave outfit Squeeze after the departure of their founding keyboardist (and future television host) Jools Holland. At some point in 1980, during the sessions for what would end up being the band’s fourth album, East Side Story , Carrack was introduced to what would end up becoming a signature song of his, “Tempted.” “They’d actually recorded a version of that song before I was on board. Dave Edmunds produced it, and it was completely different,” Carrack says. “Glenn (Tilbrook, usual singer/lead guitarist) wrote the music, Chris (Difford, rhythm guitarist) wrote the words — fabulous song. The song was in the can, and we were recording the other songs from East Side Story  when we had some downtime and played ‘Tempted’ but in that slow, soulful, Motown groove. Elvis Costello, who was producing, ran in and said, ‘Let’s put this down on tape!’ So, we did, and Elvis said ‘Paul, you should sing it.’”

The song, of course, ended up being one of Squeeze’s and Carrack’s most enduring songs and, according to Carrack, may have inadvertently caused some friction within the band given that their breakthrough hit was sung by the band’s rookie member. “It was a little bit weird,” Carrack says, laughing. “If I were in Glenn’s shoes, I would have been pissed off. There was nothing nasty, but there was probably something underlying. … It was sort of the reason why I left, to be honest. Squeeze didn’t need another singer.”

Many of Carrack’s recent solo records feature his interpretations of many of the late 20 th  century’s most enduring songs. One particular highlight (found on his compilation Paul Carrack Live: The Independent Years Vol. 2 ) is a gorgeous rendition of Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic” live at the Royal Albert Hall accompanied solely by his own guitar and The Zombies’ Rod Argent playing piano. “I’m a big Van fan,” Carrack says. “When I was a very poor young hippie, I only owned three albums, and one of them was Moondance . I love that album; I know everything about it.”

Somewhat surprisingly, throughout the years, Carrack has had the itch to record an album of traditional country music, stemming from a love for the genre he’s had since childhood. “My brother would home bring things like Ray Charles’ Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music  and Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul ,” Carrack says. “Great records.” In fact, he’s begun to scratch this itch on his latest record, which closes with a cover of Charlie Rich’s “Behind Closed Doors.”

Despite Carrack’s extraordinary life and success, he’s still in the process of making a name for himself. “I’ve had these big hits like ‘The Living Years’ and ‘Silent Running’ and still people don’t know that it’s me,” Carrack says. “I want to have that body of work. I’ve had No. 1 records but nobody knows it was me, and in some ways, it wasn’t me anyway — I was just contributing to somebody else. I want to leave a body of work.”

Well, depending on who you ask, it certainly looks like he already has.

Here are five songs Paul Carrack sings that you probably have known and loved for years (or will know and love for years to come):

1. “Tempted” by Squeeze – from East Side Story

2. “How Long” by Ace – from Five-a-Side

3. “The Living Years” by Mike + The Mechanics – from Living Years

4. “Don’t Shed a Tear” by Paul Carrack – from One Good Reason

5. “Into the Mystic” by Paul Carrack (Van Morrison cover) – from Paul Carrack Live: The Independent Years Vol. 2

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‘Argus’: Wishbone Ash’s Hard Rocking Masterpiece

‘rising down’: when the roots uplifted the masses, ‘california dreamin’’: mamas and the papas’ homesick shade of winter, remembering blossom dearie: a small voice with a mighty impact, ‘lo mato’: willie colón and héctor lavoe’s 70s salsa gem, surprise albums: 16 drops that shocked the music world, ‘stuck in the middle with you’: stealers wheel’s clowns and jokers, karol g and feid win big at latin american music awards, ringo starr offers up ‘gonna need someone’ music video, florence + the machine announce ‘symphony of lungs’ bbc proms performance, def leppard share 40th anniversary edition of ‘pyromania’, billy idol releases 40th anniversary edition of ‘rebel yell’, the warning share music video for ‘qué más quieres’, liana flores signs with verve records, unveils ‘i wish for the rain’, eric clapton back on the road for new eight-date us tour in september.

His guest on the shows will be blues-rock favorite and Fabulous Thunderbirds co-founder Jimmie Vaughan.

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Eric Clapton will return to the road for a new set of US dates in September. His special guest on the shows will be blues-rock favorite and Fabulous Thunderbirds co-founder Jimmie Vaughan.

Clapton’s band for the eight-date itinerary is comprised of many A-list musicians with whom he has a long history. They include Doyle Bramhall II, Paul Carrack, Nathan East, Sonny Emory, Steve Gadd, and Chris Stainton, with backing vocalists Sharon White and Katie Kissoon.

In early March, the guitar giant announced that his 15-date European tour for 2021, which had been scheduled for June 5-23, was being postponed due to coronavirus restrictions. Those dates have been rearranged for May 17-June 22, 2022. These will be preceded by two nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall on May 7 and 8. The new American concerts are thus Clapton’s only confirmed shows of 2021, and tickets will go on sale on Friday (June 18).

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The full list of concerts is:

September 13 Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena 15 Austin, TX – Frank Erwin Center 17 Houston, TX – Toyota Center 18 New Orleans, LA – Smoothie King Center 21 Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena 23 Atlanta, GA – Infinite Energy Center 25 Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena 26 Hollywood, FL – Seminole Hard Rock

Clapton has also announced that, like his friend Mark Knopfler , he is supporting the Streets of London charity’s #ComeOnHome campaign and its prize draw. Fans have the chance to win two tickets for his Royal Albert Hall show on May 8, 2022, with entry into the draw costing £3 for one entry. The more entries, the greater the chance of winning, and you can enter as many times as you like . The more you donate, the cheaper the cost per entry, so for example a donation of £15 will receive ten entries rather than five. The closing date for entries is Friday, June 25.

Listen to the best of Eric Clapton on Apple Music and Spotify.

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Eric Clapton Celebrates 70th With Derek Trucks, John Mayer, & More at MSG

On Sunday night, Eric Clapton played the second of two shows at Madison Square Garden for his 70th birthday celebration. The legendary guitarist brought along some fantastic special guests, along with a solid backing band of bassist Nathan East, keyboardists Paul Carrack and Chris Stainton, drummer Steve Gadd, and singers Sharon White and Michelle John.

For a guy that is 70, it was clear from the get-go that Clapton still can flat-out play with the best of them. As he took the lead during the opening number of “Somebody’s Knocking” you knew that we were getting a healthy serving of blues rock from the man also known as ‘Slowhand.’ John Mayer made an early appearance at the show during “Pretending”; for all of the flack that Mayer gets from a certain collective of ‘fans’ for his integration into the pop culture mainstream, the inescapable fact remains that he is one hell of a guitar player. As Clapton and Mayer traded off solos, it was apparent why this dude is on stage playing with one of the greatest guitarists to ever handle the axe; Mayer has blues running through his veins, whatever the naysayers, well, say. 

As the show progressed, fans were treated to a bluesy cover of Willie Dixon’s “Hoochie Coochie Man” that led into a Paul Carrack led “You Are So Beautiful,” doing his best Joe Cocker impression. “I Shot the Sheriff,” a Bob Marley and the Wailers cover that Clapton has been playing since 1974, got some of the geriatrics in the crowd to actually stand up and dance, albeit for a brief moment.

Clapton ran through beautiful versions of “Driftin’ Blues, “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out”, “Tears in Heaven,” and the Derek and the Dominos number “Layla.” As the electric portion of the show came back, he invited Jimmy Vaughan (Stevie Ray’s brother) out to sit-in on the Bo Diddley track “Before You Accuse Me” lending his Dallas, TX infused bluesy, honkty-tonk abilities to the performance.

And what is a Clapton show without paying homage to the King of the Delta Blues himself, Robert Johnson ? There isn’t an artist in rock history that has given more love to Johnson’s legacy than Eric Clapton; “Cross Road Blues” and “Little Queen of Spades” were played flawlessly and showcased his obvious influences. 

Inviting Allman Brothers/Tedeschi-Trucks Band guitar god Derek Trucks , as well as Doyle Bramhall II (who has played and toured with both Clapton and Roger Waters many times over the years) out for the set-closing “Let It Rain” featured a smile from ear to ear on Clapton’s face as he clearly enjoyed riffing with the two fine guitarists and friends.

For the encore, the legend brought all of his special guests out for a show-closing rendition of Joe Cocker ‘s “High Time We Went.” Playing the ever-gracious host, Clapton gave each guitarist the opportunity to solo as the entire group jammed the number until the very end. It has to be pointed out that Derek Trucks proves time and time again why he has stepped into the “Greatest Guitarists of All-Time” conversation. He listens and appreciates, has the patience, and knows exactly when to step up and and take a step back. During “How High” you could see him watching and completely getting into Jimmy Vaughan’s solo before stepping up to the plate; it is no wonder why Clapton hold the the soon-to-be 36 years old with such high regard.

And what more is there to say about Eric Clapton himself? As he enters the “senior citizen” stage of his life, the septuagenarian looks pretty damn good physically, and can still play the guitar as well as anybody out there. Watching his fretwork on the big screen at MSG during his solos, it is clear to see that his fingers are still so nimble, he hasn’t lost a step on the guitar, and even his voice still sounds strong. The opportunity to see one of rock n’ roll’s living legends was certainly not lost on this fan (even if he had to sit in his seat most of the show). Overall, definitely one more off the bucket list. Happy Birthday and many thanks to Mr. Eric Clapton, here is to many more!

– Chris Meyer

Setlist: Eric Clapton ~ 5/3/15 ~ Madison Square Garden, New York, NY: 

Somebody’s Knocking Key to the Highway (Charles Segar cover) Pretending (w/ John Mayer) Hoochie Coochie Man (Willie Dixon cover) You Are So Beautiful (Billy Preston cover, Paul Carrack on vocals) Can’t Find My Way Home (Blind Faith cover, Nathan East on vocals) I Shot The Sheriff (The Wailers cover) Driftin’ Blues (Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers cover, acoustic) Nobody Know You When You’re Down and Out (Jimmy Cox cover, acoustic) Tears in Heaven (acoustic) Layla (Derek and the Dominos, acoustic) Before You Accuse Me (Bo Diddley cover, w/ Jimmy Vaughan) Wonderful Tonight Cross Road Blues (Robert Johnson cover) Little Queen of Spades (Robert Johnson cover) Let It Rain (w/ Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II)

Encore: High Times We Went (Joe Cocker cover, w/ Trucks, Mayer, Bramhall, Vaughan)

(via Setlist.fm )

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Triple A presents

Paul carrack 'how long' 50th anniversary tour, celebrating five decades of timeless music.

Tickets – £44.00 to £49.50

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Golden. Melodic. Get ‘Tempted’ to sing along.

A musical legacy that spans five decades is something to celebrate, and when that legacy includes a timeless classic like ‘How Long,’ the occasion becomes truly remarkable. Paul Carrack, the maestro behind this iconic song, is proud to announce the ‘How Long’ 50th Anniversary Tour.

The ‘How Long’ 50th Anniversary Tour takes audiences on a journey through Carrack’s illustrious career, spanning half a century of extraordinary music. It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of ‘How Long’ and Paul Carrack’s exceptional talent.

Carrack’s career is filled with iconic songs that have become timeless classics. He lent his exceptional voice to hits such as “Tempted” by Squeeze, “The Living Years,” and “Silent Running” by Mike + The Mechanics, and his own solo hit, “Don’t Shed a Tear.”

Paul’s uniquely soulful voice is a must for his millions of fans around the world. Some of the biggest names in music including The Eagles, Diana Ross and Tom Jones have performed his amazing songs and he is constantly in demand as a session keyboardist, having recorded and toured with Elton John, Van Morrison, Roger Waters and BB King, and most recently with Eric Clapton.

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Price : £44.00 to £49.50

Stage Times : Announced nearer showtime.

Age : Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.

‘How Long’ is probably the first song I wrote. In 1974, I was in a band called Ace in London. It was a fun band, and I wrote the song about a real situation, a situation that many people could relate to. Little did I know that it would become a classic and touch the hearts of so many. ‘How Long’ is a song that has stood the test of time, and I’m grateful for the journey it has taken me on over these incredible 50 years.’

Paul Carrack

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• Date : Sat 14 Sept 2024
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A musical legacy that spans five decades is something to celebrate, and when that legacy includes a timeless classic like 'How Long,' the occasion becomes truly remarkable. Paul Carrack, the maestro behind this iconic song, is proud to announce the 'How Long' 50th Anniversary Tour. 

In 1974, Paul Carrack was in Ace when he wrote and performed 'How Long,' a song that resonated with audiences worldwide. The track reached No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and top 20 on the UK Singles Chart. In a 1981 issue of Smash Hits, Phil Collins named the song one of his top 10 favourites, describing it as a "classic single."

Carrack reflects on the significance of this song, saying, "‘How Long' is probably the first song I wrote. In 1974, I was in a band called Ace in London. It was a fun band, and I wrote the song about a real situation, a situation that many people could relate to. Little did I know that it would become a classic and touch the hearts of so many. 'How Long' is a song that has stood the test of time, and I'm grateful for the journey it has taken me on over these incredible 50 years."

The 'How Long' 50th Anniversary Tour takes audiences on a journey through Carrack's illustrious career, spanning half a century of extraordinary music. It's a testament to the enduring appeal of 'How Long' and Paul Carrack's exceptional talent.

Carrack's career is filled with iconic songs that have become timeless classics. He lent his exceptional voice to hits such as "Tempted" by Squeeze, "The Living Years," and "Silent Running" by Mike + The Mechanics, and his own solo hit, "Don't Shed a Tear."

Paul’s uniquely soulful voice is a must for his millions of fans around the world. Some of the biggest names in music including The Eagles, Diana Ross and Tom Jones have performed his amazing songs and he is constantly in demand as a session keyboardist, having recorded and toured with Elton John, Van Morrison, Roger Waters and BB King, and most recently with Eric Clapton.

In recent years, Carrack has focused primarily on creating his own solo records through his label, Carrack-UK, and embarking on tours across his native UK. His journey into independent work began two decades ago when he realised he needed to establish his own body of work. The solo records have since flourished into a substantial and diverse body of work. Carrack has released an impressive 12 albums over the last 21 years, in addition to a series of live archival releases.

Paul Carrack's commitment to his craft and his relentless pursuit of musical excellence remains unwavering. This tour not only celebrates the legend himself but also a remarkable 50 years of unforgettable music.

• Date: Sat 14 Sept 2024
• Time: 7:30pm

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U14's Must Be Accompanied By An Adult.

Tickets go on sale Fri 27 Oct.

StarTribune

Review: eric clapton was neither god nor goat, just good, in st. paul concert.

Eric Clapton quietly ambled onstage Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center looking professorial in his wrinkled denim sport jacket, dad blue jeans and wire-rim spectacles. With his black Stratocaster guitar, he eased into "The Shape I'm In."

"Out of nine lives, I spent seven," his lived-in voice declared in a song recorded by the Band in 1970. "Now, how in the world do you get to heaven? Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in."

Was this a tribute to its songwriter, the recently departed Robbie Robertson of the Band? A commentary on Clapton's life at age 78 after battling neuropathy, addiction and other issues?

Clapton didn't say anything other than shouting "Robbie Robertson" at the end of the second selection, "It Makes No Difference," another Band tune, this one a dour reflection on life without someone.

The guitar hero made only one pronouncement from the stage all night and it was a bit cryptic.

"Only a few people know this is like a home [away] from home for me," he told 15,000 fans in St. Paul. "Hazelden. Twice. So thank you."

More specifically, he spent a month at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Paul in 1981 for treatment for ulcers. Later, he did two stints in rehab at Hazelden in Center City, Minn., which he discussed in his 2007 autobiography.

Mostly, though, Clapton on Thursday just wanted to play songs that were meaningful to him, whether salutes to his pal Robertson, his blues forefathers or his son who died young in a tragic accident.

Clapton — the only three-time inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (with Yardbirds, Cream and solo) — arrives with such a ridiculously lofty reputation that he can never really be God or GOAT. On Thursday, he was good for the most part, and even great at times.

In his first Twin Cities appearance since 2009, the veteran Brit came across as an elder statesman taking a victory lap, touching on influences and highlights but stopping short of a fully satisfying retrospective. He's clearly slowed down, and not just because his nickname is Slow Hand (for his guitar playing style).

He still moves like Clapton: a gentle sway, a little shaking of his left leg to the beat, his head cocked back with eyes closed when he reached for those high notes on his guitar.

His guitar solos were mostly economic, one or two passes but seldom anything lengthy, and only a couple times did he truly suggest the excitement of his heyday — whether you consider that with Cream, Blind Faith, Derek & the Dominos or his long solo career.

After opening with two 1970s selections from Robertson (which were buoyed by Paul Carrack's organ), Clapton got his blues mojo working, with the chestnut "Key to the Highway" (which he has recorded a few times) and Willie Dixon's "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man."

Then Clapton found a rhythmic groove with a funky island vibe, a tasty intro to "I Shot the Sheriff," the Bob Marley tune that Clapton transformed into a 1974 hit. There was palpable passion in Clapton's voice and obvious emotion in his usually placid face. When he started his guitar solo, it was like a gun fired in the still of the night. He found a stinging sound and then a very rhythmic but emotional groove. Later he cut loose with a long rising passage, his guitar eventually crying and moaning. He earned a standing ovation for what was easily the night's high point.

A five-selection sit-down, acoustic set showcased a couple of blues nuggets, a Tulsa shuffle treatment of J.J. Cale's "Call Me the Breeze" and then two of Clapton's biggest hits — his familiar laid-back reimagining of "Layla," which misses the pleading urgency of the 1970 epic electric version, and a wistful "Tears in Heaven," featuring Carrack playing an organ line of Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" and Clapton eschewing a guitar solo.

Clapton and his band rocked out with his 1987 Tina Turner duet "Tearing Us Apart," the not-heavy-as-Cream "Crossroad Blues" (with the guitarist bending it like B.B. King) and the crowd-pleasing "Cocaine."

This 110-minute performance was not as triumphant as the guitar hero's terrific and inspired St. Paul shows in 2004 and '06 but more rewarding than his 2009 effort with Steve Winwood, his ex-Blind Faith bandmate.

The encore of Joe Cocker's "High Time We Went" was odd, with Carrack (the voice of hits by Ace, Squeeze and Mike + the Mechanics) singing lead and generous solo space given to organist Carrack, guitarist Andy Fairweather Low, pianist Chris Stainton (who co-wrote the song) and opening act Jimmie Vaughan but not much for Clapton. Apparently, the professor felt compelled to share the spotlight with his colleagues.

Jon Bream has been a music critic at the Star Tribune since 1975, making him the longest tenured pop critic at a U.S. daily newspaper. He has attended more than 8,000 concerts and written four books (on Prince, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan). Thus far, he has ignored readers’ suggestions that he take a music-appreciation class.

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Eric Clapton gets loud at tour opening in Fort Worth, but stays quiet on vaccine stance

His first date since the pandemic began featured loose and powerful playing — and no mention of his views on vaccines, which had caused controversy..

By Thor Christensen

11:37 AM on Sep 14, 2021 CDT

FORT WORTH — On opening night of his first tour since the pandemic began, Eric Clapton wisely let the music do the talking.

The 76-year-old British guitar god arrived Monday night at Dickies Arena in the middle of a strange brew of controversy. Earlier this year, after helping Van Morrison record the anti-lockdown tune “Stand and Deliver,” the normally close-lipped Clapton wrote an angry public letter alleging the AstraZeneca vaccine made his hands numb and caused other “disastrous” side effects.

Clapton later issued a statement rejecting England’s plans to require vaccine passes at certain public venues and threatened to cancel his concerts there. (On Sunday, England scrapped plans for the vaccine pass, at least for now.)

And last month, he wrote and released “This Has Gotta Stop,” a thinly-veiled attack on mandates and vaccines , which he prudently opted not to play Monday.

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The Clapton COVID Kerfuffle marks an unexpected chapter in the career of a musician who’s long presented himself as apolitical. You have to go back 45 years for the previous chapter, and that one was a doozy: the infamous 1976 anti-immigrant rant he made onstage in England during the height of his drug and alcohol addictions. That tirade inspired Britons to launch the Rock Against Racism movement.

Yet if Clapton is turning cranky again in his 70s, he certainly didn’t show it Monday. The concert was business as usual, with the singer-guitarist rarely speaking to the near-capacity crowd during the hour-and-40 minute show.

He did make one roundabout mention of the pandemic. Thirty minutes into the show, he pointed out that one of the last times he played live was two years ago in D-FW — referring to the Crossroads Guitar Festival at American Airlines Center in September 2019.

But the long hiatus barely took a toll. Clapton was back with a vengeance, ripping out long, suspense-buildings solos in “I Shot the Sheriff” and two Robert Johnson tunes, “Little Queen of Spades,” featuring some nice B.B. King-style fretwork, and “Crossroads,” overhauled as a funk-jazz rocker.

As a guitarist, he’s nowhere near as fast as he was in his early days, when earned the facetious nickname “Slowhand.” Diagnosed with nerve damage in 2013, he’s mellowed noticeably in recent years, but he sounded just fine Monday night. His style has always had more to do with soul than speed anyway.

On opening night of a short U.S. tour, the players were a bit rusty at times. Clapton uncorked the occasional bum note on guitar, his singing was hesitant now and again and keyboardist Chris Stainton had trouble fitting his solos into several songs.

For the most part, however, the show was loose and powerful like fiery late-night jam session. The set list was just as unpredictable.

He did play a half-dozen hits, including “Tears in Heaven” and a drowsy acoustic shuffle version of “Layla.” And he chased them with his usual flurry of blues standards, including a slow, swinging take on Willie Dixon’s “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man.”

Some of the high points arrived in unexpected tunes, like the funky Derek & the Dominos outtake “Got To Get Better In A Little While” and a pair of lovely unplugged tunes: the new instrumental “For Kerry,” and Fleetwood Mac’s “Man of the World,” which he dedicated to the late Peter Green.

He got impeccable backing from his 8-piece band which featured veteran drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Nathan East and Paul Carrack, who stole the spotlight with his gospel-tinged organ solos. But the star of the group was his longtime left-hand man, Dallas-born guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, whose semi-dirty textures provided the perfect contrast to Clapton’s more fluid style.

Clapton ended the show on a high note, with another Big D native, guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, adding fuel to the fire on Joe Cocker’s hit “High Time We Went.”

Earlier, Vaughan had opened the show with his own short set of blues classics and originals. But his cameo in the big finale was even sweeter. As Vaughan once put it, if he hadn’t been so awestruck listening to Clapton’s first album in his Oak Cliff bedroom back in 1966, he would never have mustered the courage to become a musician.

Thor Christensen . Thor Christensen is a former pop music critic for The Dallas Morning News and The Milwaukee Journal whose work has appeared in The New York Times and several books, including Musichound: The Essential Album Guide (Visible Ink Press). He’s interviewed two Beatles, a pair of Rolling Stones and hundreds of musicians from Beyoncé to Bono to David Bowie. He’s a Chicago native and a longtime resident of East Dallas.

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Eric Clapton: Live at the Royal Albert Hall

Celebrating his 70th birthday and his 200th show at the Royal Albert Hall, Eric Clapton performs his hits in this concert from 2015. Celebrating his 70th birthday and his 200th show at the Royal Albert Hall, Eric Clapton performs his hits in this concert from 2015. Celebrating his 70th birthday and his 200th show at the Royal Albert Hall, Eric Clapton performs his hits in this concert from 2015.

• Paul Carrack
• Eric Clapton
• Nathan East
• 2 User reviews

• (as Andy Fairweather-Low)

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• Jan 20, 2017
• September 14, 2015 (United States)
• United Kingdom
• Eric Clapton: Slowhand at 70 - Live at the Royal Albert Hall
• Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, London, England, UK
• EPC Enterprises
• Eagle Rock Entertainment
• Eagle Rock Film Productions
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• Runtime 1 hour 56 minutes

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Eric Clapton’s Intimate Live Concert Album ‘To Save A Child’ Available Digitally Now

Eric Clapton’s intimate concert filmed in London in front of a small audience on 8 December 2023 is out now digitally. It will be available July 12th on Vinyl, CD, and Blu-Ray. Get it at https://orcd.co/tosaveachild

Eric’s set included “Tears In Heaven,” “Layla,” “River Of Tears,” “Got To Get Better In A Little While,” and a very special version of George Harrison’s “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)” featuring a guest appearance from Dhani Harrison. The release also includes a brand-new studio track and video entitled, “Prayer of a Child.”

Filmed and recorded at RD Studios in Park Royal, London, Eric’s band was Doyle Bramhall II, Nathan East, Sonny Emory, Tim Carmon, Sharon White and Katie Kissoon.

The proceeds will be donated in aid of the children in Gaza.

To Save A Child Tracklist: 1. Voice of a Child – Live 2. Tears In Heaven – Live 3. Layla – Live 4. Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out – Live 5. Key To The Highway – Live 6. Hoochie Coochie Man – Live 7. River Of Tears – Live 8. Got To Get Better In A Little While – Live 9. The Sky Is Crying – Live 10. Crossroads – Live 11. Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) (With Dhani Harrison) – Live 12. Prayer of a Child – Studio Recording

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