Eric Clapton Concert Review (Singapore Indoor Stadium)

Inclement weather not withstanding, Eric Clapton's first appearance in Singapore in 17 years on January 13, 2007 [as part of his 2006/07 World Tour] was apparently sufficient reason for the clouds to take cover.

For this listener, having flown into the fascinating country for the "event", it was immediately evident the concert had the potential of being different due to a multitude of reasons: it was being held indoors [Singapore Indoor Stadium], there were no hassles finding a place to park, the parking was located merely metres from the stadium [not kilometres!], the climb/walk into the stadium was rendered obsolete due to escalators and, despite vigilant security, there were no queues while entering. However, what drew immediate comfort to reality was the delayed 8.00pm start of the concert, although it was merely 30 minutes after schedule.

The stage was set in a manner in which part of the audience also sat behind in two sections. The lighting was kept simple, but the booming bass emanating from the sound system often overran the vocals and instrumentation.

With what soon became evident was a crack backing band - consisting of Doyle Bramhall II (guitar), Derek Trucks (guitar), Willie Weeks (bass), Steve Jordan (drums), Chris Stainton (keyboards), Tim Carmon (keyboards), Michelle John (backing vocals), and Sharon White (backing vocals) - Eric Clapton provided each instrumentalist an opportunity of showcasing individual talent, but without introducing their respective names, which was strange.

Wearing a black, short sleeved shirt on blues jeans, with canvass shoes in support, the now trademarked glasses, crew cut, and trimmed beard was reminiscent of Clapton's precise appearance on his recent album sleeves.

Opening with the white soul groove of Derek & The Dominos' 'Tell The Truth', followed by bluesman Big Bill Broonzy's 'Key To The Highway', it was Clapton's exquisitely arranged rendition of Jimi Hendrix's 'Little Wing' that established what makes Clapton's playing guitar into a league of its own. By the time the first five tracks were through, it was time for a sit down set. The first selection had Clapton perform a solo, an effective acoustic rendition of another bluesman, Charles Brown's 'Driftin' Blues'. With accompaniment from his fellow musicians/vocalists on the three balance tracks, the "unplugged" feel continued for the balance of this part of the set too.

As Clapton came to the last section of his set, he, his band, and the audience had more than warmed up for the inevitable crescendo. The fast paced 'Motherless Children' showcased Clapton on the slide, which he played as convincingly as did with the lead. The mid-tempo blues of Robert Johnson's 'Little Queen Of Spades' followed, which featured solos by keyboardist Chris Stainton, and by guitarists Doyle Bramhall II and Derek Trucks, who were not merely competent musicians, but masters of their respective instruments. 'Further On Up The Road' had masterly boogie woogie keyboard playing by Stainton.The wistful balladry of 'Wonderful Tonight' followed, commencing with a rearranged intro. The set ending with the raucous performance of 'Layla'. The concert was over, almost when, after a gap of a few minutes, Eric Clapton was back with his band, one last time, for a highly energetic version of Johnson's 'Crossroads'.
What was clear is that Clapton, aged over 60 now, knows that his days as a recording artist are limited and, as a live performer, are further restricted. Hence, perhaps, his decision to dwell in his musical career from the past, mainly his heydays with Derek & The Dominos, ensuring that six of the total 15 tracks performed were from that era. With more than a sprinkling of blues as his want was an exercise of Clapton accepting that his roots began in that genre, continue in it, and will remain so even during the fag end of his musical career.
Clapton's conversation with the audience, housefull at 10,000, was limited mainly to a "good evening", "I took a bit of a break, like fifteen, sixteen, seventeen years. I don't know. Seems like a long time" and, after every song, a polite, yet robotic "thank you". It was evident that Eric Clapton wanted his guitar to make conversation [although his voice was in fine shine], which it did, as he ran through the first part of his set list featuring an early aspect of his musical career, acknowledging his blues roots during the second via a sit down set, before pulling out all stops with crowd pleasing selections in the third segment until its inevitable end. However, at 1 hour 45 minutes even after including the encore, one could not help but reminisce that Clapton - who has perhaps the largest recorded song list in the annals of rock - could have quite easily indulged himself into increasing his set list and, with it, the total duration of the show. What added to listener woes was that one of Clapton's anthems, 'Cocaine', was not performed due to the Singapore Government's anti-drug laws. So much for freedom of the press...
Nevertheless, viewing a living legend in your presence was magic. Watching Eric Clapton performing live was no fantasy, it was reality, eventually answering the question whether Clapton was God. While he provided innumerable opportunities to his two fellow guitarists to showcase their respective talents and to fill in gaps in the songs when required, Clapton deservedly reserved the best guitar moments for himself and, in turn, acknowledged that he is indeed a mortal who is aging gracefully.

Official Setlist:

01. Tell The Truth
02. Key To The Highway
03. Got to Get Better in A Little While
04. Little Wing
05. Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?

Sit Down Set
06. Driftin' Blues (EC Solo)
07. Outside Woman Blues
08. Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
09. Running On Faith

10. Motherless Children
11. Little Queen of Spades
12. Further On Up The Road
13. Wonderful Tonight
14. Layla

Encore
15. Crossroads

(110 min.)