Eric Clapton @ R.A.H.

[ha2he]

Hi Charlie & Friends,
I was lucky enough to go on Friday night with my wife to see Eric at the R.A.H.
I've read a couple of reviews (online) about the event. I was eager to see the glowing reviews in support of my own opinion and that of a crowded house who many times rose to their feet to applaud.
Here's the reviews I've seen.
entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article6306702.ece
www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturecritics/neilmccormick/5343001/Eric-Clapton-at-the-Albert-Hall-review.html
Although acknowledgment of his supreme artistry from David Sinclair of Times Online was correct the older demographic comment is surely ageist and judging by the age of the people we were in the company of, quite wrong.
Actually as I read this (my writings) and cross reference the article it becomes apparent that David Sinclair was the one person who remained seated taking notes while the rest of us had a good time.
I appreciate, given luck, you can get a ticket to see a show such as this, but what a waste when tickets, probably reserved, are given to people who just don't realize what they are witnessing when someone more appreciative was denied a seat. No luxury of running your notes through a spell/grammer checker prior to publication because you hadn't learned your trade for Mr. Clapton, it's all done in real time. He's got more talent in his toe nail clippings than the likes who write the drivel they call reviews.
It's time for Mr. Meldrew to go to bed. Rant over.
Regards,
Tim.

[Charlie Hall]

Hi Tim,
The first link doesn't work, unfortunately.
Neil McCormick seems to not be a fan of Eric Clapton, or maybe he used to be. To be truthful I am not a fan either and never have been, so I could understand what he is saying up to a point if he wasn't moved in the way a true fan would have been, so true fans obviously won't like what he says. That's how I see it anyway. Sorry if it offends. Win some, lose some. This can happen to any artist.
Regards,
Charlie

[peterbower]

Hi
I agree with both former posts on Clapton, like Charlie i was never a huge fan but do acknowledge his skill. Having said that, i preferred Peter Green to Clapton.

I saw a concert a few years ago now where Clapton was on stage with some big names one of which was Carl Perkins.
The long and short of it was that Perkins out played Clapton for most of the evening, mind you it was Rock N Roll rather than blues which i never thought was Claptons strong point.

Peter

[bill]

Hi Tim,
Both links worked for me.
An acquaintance of mine was there and said it was good but he would have preferred more interaction from Clapton with his audience.

I doubt if EC has changed much in the few years since I last saw him. The reviews sound to me as if the writers simply don't like EC, their actual description of the event (less the opinions) sounds just like what a fan would expect from EC.

I've never really seen the point of a music critic at a live concert. When I went to see Chris Rea on his road to hell and back tour I enjoyed it only to read the paper the next day where the review basically criticised him for playing blues based numbers when he wasn't a big black man.

[ha2he]

Hi Guys,
I suppose my review of the reviews ;D in hindsight was expecting too much from the critics, wasting a couple of hours to fill x inches of your alloted column could be far better spent chasing the next career move.
Still, no doubt, nice work if you can get it.

Charlie:-
First link not working, don't worry, nothing missed.
I'm not a huge Clapton fan but do appreciate very much his skill both as a guitarist and songwriter and have enjoyed the performances I have been lucky enough to see.

Peter:-
I guess horses for courses with regards to Carl Perkins, after all I can't imagine Hank playing Layla or Eric playing Apache, though I'm sure they would add their own style and the result would be very good. I also like Peter Green and saw him twice with the splinter group at two different small venues near me, excellent shows. Recently saw a BBC prog about/with Peter Green and very good it was too. Another casualty, such a shame.

bill3:-
Have to agree, a bit more than hello and thank you wouldn't have gone amiss, the upside is, when not talking he's playing, and I suppose he talks through his playing.
Never thought of it like that, what's the point of a music critic at a live event, after all apart from the critics everyone else wants to be there.

Regards,
Tim.

[peterbower]

Hi Tim
Your probably right about horses for courses. As for Peter Green, i was referring more to his earlier days and leading up to his stint with Fleetwood Mack. I haven't seen his Splinter group but all credit to the guy for getting out there.

There are some music critics about who are as you say column fillers. I remember the Sunday Express writing an article about one of Hank's UK tours about 3 tours back and they were quite scathing, saying he no longer plays new songs but intrumentalises other peoples music and if this is all he wants to do then he should hang his guitar up. Never mind that he was playing to packed venues through out his tour which was not mentioned.
Critics can be very selective and often have agendas.

EC has a huge fan base all over the world but i suspect that he has got this from his 'pop' period rather than his blues. His Cream days were weird because the critics were divided into two groups, one thought it a very loud messy load of noise and the other thought it a stroke of genius. I refuse to say which camp i'm in on this.

When EC goes back to stuff like Robert Johnson etc, he shines as a blues player but i have to say that there are other players around just as good.

Peter