• From: Oxfordshire, England
  • Registered: 2008-11-10
  • Posts: 835

Topic: Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at LG Arena, Birmingham

The seat prices were pretty steep but we had a great view of what turned out to be a hugely enjoyable show. I was glad to see the LG Arena in Birmingham has been dragged into the 21st century with a complete refit. Don't get me wrong, the place still has the ambience of an aircraft hanger but then it does hold 14,000 people. But at least you can now get something decent to eat, the seats are comfortable and the toilets are no longer a health hazard.

So, what about Clapton and Winwood? There's plenty of mutual respect going on there. We were treated to fine Clapton guitar work and lots of Winwood's Hammond although he did change to guitar a few times too. Many times recently at other gigs the keyboards have been lost but that old Hammond was soaring right up high in the mix. The rest of the band were Chris Stainton (keyboards), Willie Weeks (bass), Steve Gadd (drums) and the powerful backing vocals of Michelle John and Sharon White.

The songs were a mixture of the Clapton, Traffic and Blind Faith numbers plus a few covers such as Georgia On My Mind (Winwood singing soulfully), The Band's Shape I'm In (got everyone rockin') and Hendrix's Voodoo Chile (extended version with lots of jamming on Hammond and guitar). I didn't jot down a set list but if you've got the Live From Madison Square Garden CD you'll know the kind of thing. They did a few acoustic numbers in the middle of the set including the “Unplugged” arrangement of Layla which I'm really fond of.

Highlights were Cocaine and the encore of Dear Mr Fantasy. There was just one encore (and boy did we have to work hard to get it) but we went away feeling satisfied and happy.

There's some photos here.....

http://picasaweb.google.com/currymandav … directlink

David

  • From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Re: Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at LG Arena, Birmingham

Thanks David. Nice review and some nice pics. I think our seats at Wembley will be at approximately the same angle. Glad you had a good time and I hope we enjoy it as much tomorrow.

Phil

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56
  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2007-10-23
  • Posts: 1,929

Re: Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at LG Arena, Birmingham

Nice pictures David.  Thanks for the review - hope to get a taste of this at Crossroads.

And Wooders - how I wish I could take you up on all these lovely ticket offers you have!

Sandy

"There's a lot of people that are in so much of a hurry to be, I guess, to be famous or that they don't want to take the time to learn to play and do all that.They'd rather just knock it down off a computer and maybe get on a game show and get famous..That's fine if that's what you want to do.
"We're more old school than that. We like creating the sounds."  - Tom Petty
  • From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Re: Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood at LG Arena, Birmingham

Hi Sandy,

I wish you could too. Make sure there are some good concerts to go to next time you come over and I'll get the tix.  wink

Phil

Ars Longa, Vita Brevis

“The guy who has helped the blues industry the most is Joe Bonamassa and I would say he is more rock than some rock stuff, so to me blues is whatever you want it to be!”
Simon McBride in my interview with him in Blues Matters! Issue #56