Hard Rock Calling, Hyde Park, London - Saturday 28 June 2008

Eric Clapton at Hyde Park 28 June 2008 © Roy Badley

Report from Terri Weinberger:

If someone had told me in Columbus at the end of the 2007 tour that the band could get this much better, it would have been very hard to believe for me. Not counting the backing vocalists (who were also great), there are five extraordinary musicians in this lineup.
It is just fantastic to hear Eric and Doyle play the blues in a "no holds barred" rock band. From Tell the Truth and Key to the Highway to Hear but I'm Gone (which was like the Derek and the Dominos meets Curtis Mayfield) and Why Does Love, it was just phenomenal.
Motherless Child really rocked with Abe and Willie.
Little Queen of Spades was an epic version with spectacular solos by Eric and Doyle.
Of the "hits," Before You Accuse Me was the best.
Most of the encore, Crossroads, with Sheryl Crow, Robert Randolph, and John Mayer was fairly predictable, but the opening was quite interesting.
All in all, a wonderful performance.

Set list:

01. Tell The Truth
02. Key To The Highway
03. Hoochie Coochie Man
04. Outside Woman Blues
05. Here But I Am Gone
06. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad
07. Driftin'
08. Rockin' Chair
09. Motherless Child
10. Travellin' Riverside Blues
11. Running On Faith
12. Motherless Children
13. Little Queen of Spades
14. Before You Accuse Me
15. Wonderful Tonight
16. Layla
17. Cocaine

Encore:
18. Crossroads - with Robert Randolph, Sheryl Crow and John Mayer

The band:

Doyle Bramhall II (guitar/vocals)
Chris Stainton (keyboards)
Willie Weeks (bass)
Abe Laboriel Jr.(drums)
Sharon White (backing vocals)
Michelle John (vocals).

Photo © Roy Badley

Eric Clapton & Band, Sheryl Crow, Robert Randolph and John Mayer Photo © Roy Badley

Newspaper reviews The Sun and The Telegraph