May 2008 Archives

Photo: Eric Clapton and Robert Randolph 5.3.08 Tampa © Cguadagnino - In an interview with Billboard.com Robert Randolph, who is opening for Eric Clapton this Summer Tour, said: "(Clapton) told me he's going back in the studio at the end of this year and he said he wants me to come in when he starts recording his record."

No changes in the setlist compared to the Toronto concert: 01. Motherless Children 02. Key To The Highway 03. Hoochie Coochie Man 04. Little Wing 05. Outside Woman Blues 06. Double Trouble 07. Don't Knock My Love 08. Drifting 09. Rockin' Chair 10. Motherless Child 11. Travelling Riverside Blues 12....

Eric Clapton the Molson Ampitheatre in Toronto, Canada. Setlist: 01. Motherless Children 02. Key To The Highway 03. Hoochie Coochie Man 04. Little Wing 05. Outside Woman Blues 06. Double Trouble 07. Don't Knock My Love 08. Drifting 09. Rockin' Chair 10. Motherless Child 11. Travelling Riverside Blues 12. Running...

Photo Credits: © EasyNow - UPDATED 29 MAY 2008: VIDEO "ROCKIN' CHAIR" ADDED Review from the photographer: The concert was alright, but still not as good as Tampa was in my opinion. The opening was interesting, because Eric played slide on Motherless Children and then continued playing slide throughout the intro to Key to the Highway. Doyle is playing very well, but Eric is leaning on him to play more of the parts that Eric had been doing, himself, in the past. Sometimes Eric was inspired, but more often than not he seemed to be in cruise control mode. Some good playing by Eric on the interesting songs, but nothing really spectacular except, surprisingly, on Drifting.

UPDATED 28 MAY 2008: Date adjusted! Eric Clapton - The Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City NJ - Saturday 24 May 2008 (private concert)

UPDATED 23 MAY 2008 After a short break the tour resumed on Thursday, May 22 with a concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. Opening for Eric was Robert Randolph & The Family Band, who also opened for the 2004 World Tour. Report from a fan: Truth be told, the performance was not as good as Tampa. Set list was the same as Hollywood, except for the order. Outside Woman Blues was played after Little Wing and before Double Trouble. After Double Trouble, they did Don't Knock My Love. Highlights were Hoochie Coochie Man, Double Trouble (of course), Little Queen of Spades, and (surprisingly) Cocaine. The band seemed less energetic and less well rehearsed than they were in Tampa. Overall, the performance was less fluid, and even though Eric played well at times, there was less of the great "jam band" feeling I described in Tampa. In particular, the sit down set dragged and seemed dull. (Rocking Chair is like listening to Over the Rainbow.) Irrespective, it is still great to hear this set of songs (Tell the Truth, Little Wing, etc.) even on an off night.

On the 27th of May in the US, and on the 3rd of July in the UK, a paperback edition of "Eric Clapton: The Autobiography" will be published. This edition includes 16 new pages of photos and illustrations.

This month Albert Lee's Biography "Country Boy" will be published. Eric Clapton has written the foreword of this book. The author is Derek Watts. In December 1978 Albert Lee met Eric Clapton while they played on a Marc Benno session (for 'Lost In Austin'). In January 1979 he joined Eric Clapton's band. Albert continued to work with Clapton for five years before Eric decided to change his entire band. He performed on 3 albums: "Just One Night", "Another Ticket" and "Money And Cigarettes". "Just One Night" was recorded live at The Budokan Theatre and featured Albert on lead vocals for a cover of Mark Knopfler's "Setting Me Up". Albert played on the 2007 Crossroads Guitar Festival that was held at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois on July 28, 2007. "Tulsa Time" with Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow ,Vince Gill & Albert Lee was on the DVD of the concert released in November 2007.

Pinetop Perkins and Friends, set for release on Telarc on June 3, 2008 (just a few weeks before Perkins’ 95th birthday on July 7), is just what the title implies – a giant of blues piano surrounded by more than a dozen high-caliber musicians, many of them legendary in their own right, all of whom hold him in the highest regard. Included on the star-studded guest list are guitarists Eric Clapton, B.B. King and Jimmie Vaughan, bassist Willie Kent (who passed away in March 2008), drummer Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and many more.

From www.97rock.com: Longtime friends Eric Clapton and Robbie Robertson have told our 97 Rock reporters that they have started recording their first album together last month in London, and according to a source close to Robertson, it is "gong well." They've been working with drummer Ian Thomas and bass player Pino Palladino, both of whom will join Clapton on his North American spring tour, which starts Saturday in Tampa, Florida. Robertson will continue to work on the album, which will be all original material, and then get together with Clapton at the end of the summer. But be patient -- our source says, "They will take their time, and there is no release date or title."

www.amateurphotographer.co.uk: A drug and alcohol addiction recovery centre founded by music legend Eric Clapton is set to benefit from the sale of an historic Leica digital camera on 7 June. Proceeds from the sale of the first Leica M8 camera ever made will be donated to the Crossroads Center in the Caribbean, said a spokesman for the Westlicht Photographica Auction in Vienna, Austria.

On Sunday 8 June 2008 the Eric Clapton XI will play at Cranleigh School, Surrey against the Bunbury Cricket Club. The proceeds from the match will go to the Chase Hospice, the Long Acre School and The Crossroads Centre at Antigua . The Crossroads Centre at Antigua is an international, non-profit facility for recovery from alcohol and drug dependence founded by Eric Clapton.

Martha Velez only issued five albums in her recording career of the 1960s & 1970s. But she has a cult fan following and her albums feature a host of guest musicians. Recorded in 1969, Fiends & Angels is making its worldwide CD debut & features Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Brian Auger, Christine McVie, Jim Capaldi, Mitch Mitchell and the list goes on. Tracks: I'm Gonna Leave You, Swamp Man, A Fool For You, In My Girlish Days, Very Good Fandango, Tell Mama, Feel So Bad, Drive Me Daddy, It Takes Alot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry, Come Here Sweet Man Let The Good Times Roll.

On 10 June 2008 "Like a Fire", the new Solomon Burke cd will be released on the Shout Factory label. Eric Clapton wrote the title track and co-wrote “Thank You” with Solomon.

Jack Bruce - Can You Follow (6 CD Box Set) Release Date: 2 Jun 2008 A 6 CD career retrospective drawing on his many fine solo albums such as SONGS FOR A TAILOR, HARMONY ROW, OUT OF THE STORM, HOWS TRICKS, JET SET JEWEL through to the superb SHADOWS IN THE AIR & MORE JACK THAN GOD. The set also includes 14 tracks by CREAM (including previously unreleased mono mixes)

UPDATED 13 MAY 2008: Link music samples and video in the studio added: Dr. John will release his new cd "City That Care Forgot" on 3 June on 429 Records. This new recording features stirring and thought-provoking songs about the post-Katrina crises in the ravaged jewel of the American South. The cd features a stellar cast of international guest artists including Eric Clapton, Willie Nelson, Ani Difranco and Terence Blanchard.

If you attended this private show, please send us your review and/or setlist! See videos of the concert on the next page.

Updated 24 May Setlist corrected: order of songs adjusted Setlist: 01. Tell The Truth 02. Key To The Highway 03. Hoochie Coochie Man 04. Little Wing 05. Outside Woman Blues 06. Double Trouble 07. Don't Knock My Love 08. Drifin' 09. Rockin' Chair 10. Motherless Child 11. Travelling Riverside Blues 12. Running On Faith 13. Motherless Children 14. Little Queen of Spades 15. Before You Accuse Me 16. Wonderful Tonight 17. Layla Encore: 18. Cocaine 19. I've Got My Mojo Working (with Robert Randolph) Photo's: mavrixonline

Updated 7 May:more videos added Saturday 3 May was the first show of the Summer Tour 2008. A listener reported: "This was a truly amazing show! The playing was equally good as in February and the band was absolutely fantastic. The new rhythm section and Doyle Bramhall II were doing a great job. Highlights were Little Wing, Double Trouble (phenomenal playing by Eric and enhanced by Doyle as a support), Outside Woman Blues (like Doyle played it a Crossroads 2007) and Little Queen of Spades (absolutely mind blowing)."

UPDATED: Video of Higher Ground "...he jammed out on only one song, adding a blistering guitar solo to a cover of Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground..."

With Eric Clapton’s up coming concerts at Hard Rock Calling and Harewood House, Planet Rock – the UK’s classic rock station is featuring a number of on-air and online specials on this legendary guitarist. As part of Eric Clapton month, Planet Rock presents an exclusive interview with Eric Clapton....