1 Topic by jakey (edited by jakey 2010-05-22 00:51:38)

  • Registered: 2010-03-20
  • Posts: 536

Topic: Clapton/Winwood @ Wembley- quick review.

So I just got back from watching the 2 genii at work!

I've seen EC loads of times and recently have been totally underwhelmed by him, and felt like offering him a line of coke or something before he played (do not get me wrong- I don't do drugs!). He simply, to me anyway, has not cut it of late (Joe's gig apart- and even then he looked terrified for the first 5 bars! But then they clicked big time....) and I was hoping for better. The Clapton/Beck gig was a shocker- Jeff was afraid of treading on EC"s carpet or so it seemed! No chemistry whatsoever

Also, I'd got the Eric/Winwood Madison Sq Gdns CD from 2009 and loved it, so was looking forward to it.

It was a sensational gig.

Gadd and Weeks were the power unit behind it. Weeks was so fluid, but, TBH, I was a little disappointed with Gadd during After Midnight and Forever Man (he doesn't play it with the groove or gusto of Steve Jordan, Ian Thomas, Big Abe or Henry Spinetti)- far too laid back, but hell, when Voodoo Chile (sort of a shuffle version) came on I have never seen drumming like it- amazing- crazy- brilliant- intuitive.....it really is a great cover.

Highlights included Forever Man, Driftin', Glad, Layla,  (with Stevie taking the guit solo's)

Great gig- highly recommended and different from the Beck collaboration, sh*t loads of chemistry.

Eric's rig- Guitar, Wah, Twin. Nothing else I could see and an amazing variety of tones just from fingers, vol, pup sel, and tone. (well, a midboost in the strat too but still.....).

"Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips...."

JB LP Goldtop No. 290- Aged...rather like me.
  • From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Re: Clapton/Winwood @ Wembley- quick review.

I was there too, Jakey, sitting in the front row of the Grand tier to the right of the stage (looking at it). I thought the sound was typically iffy for Wembley with Winwood's vocals a bit indisctinct, but the playing and the overall enjoyment of the evening more than made up for it. It was good to see that they introduced some new material to the setlist from MSG to mix it up a little. I would have liked to hear Little Wing, tho'.

I totally agree with your comments about recent EC gigs being underwhelming and I said similar after his own RAH gigs last year. This time it was different and the two of them really work well together. "Old Crocks" they may be but they've still got it as far as I'm concerned.

Was it worth £75 per seat? A lot of people thought it wasn't as there were quite a few seats unoccupied at the back of the hall.

Setlist was:

01. Had To Cry Today
02. Low Down
03. After Midnight
04. Presence Of The Lord
05. Shape I'm In
06. Glad
07. Well Alright
08. Tuff Luck Blues
09. Pearly Queen
10. Forever Man
11. Midland Maniac
12. Going Down
13. Georgia
14. Driftin' (acoustic)
15. How Long Blues (acoustic)
16. Layla (acoustic)
17. Can't Find My Way Home (acoustic)
18. Split Decision
19. Voodoo Chile
20. Cocaine
21. Dear Mr. Fantasy (encore)

Great stuff and amazing no one wanted the free tickets I was giving away.

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

Re: Clapton/Winwood @ Wembley- quick review.

jakey, Phil, glad you guys liked the Wembley show as much as I enjoyed the Birmingham one. Phil, from memory (given all the caveats that that entails these days  hmm  ), your setlist looks to be pretty much what we got too. Great stuff

  • Registered: 2010-03-20
  • Posts: 536

Re: Clapton/Winwood @ Wembley- quick review.

Wooders wrote:

I was there too, Jakey, sitting in the front row of the Grand tier to the right of the stage (looking at it). I thought the sound was typically iffy for Wembley with Winwood's vocals a bit indisctinct, but the playing and the overall enjoyment of the evening more than made up for it. It was good to see that they introduced some new material to the setlist from MSG to mix it up a little. I would have liked to hear Little Wing, tho'.

I totally agree with your comments about recent EC gigs being underwhelming and I said similar after his own RAH gigs last year. This time it was different and the two of them really work well together. "Old Crocks" they may be but they've still got it as far as I'm concerned.

Was it worth £75 per seat? A lot of people thought it wasn't as there were quite a few seats unoccupied at the back of the hall.

Setlist was:

01. Had To Cry Today
02. Low Down
03. After Midnight
04. Presence Of The Lord
05. Shape I'm In
06. Glad
07. Well Alright
08. Tuff Luck Blues
09. Pearly Queen
10. Forever Man
11. Midland Maniac
12. Going Down
13. Georgia
14. Driftin' (acoustic)
15. How Long Blues (acoustic)
16. Layla (acoustic)
17. Can't Find My Way Home (acoustic)
18. Split Decision
19. Voodoo Chile
20. Cocaine
21. Dear Mr. Fantasy (encore)

Great stuff and amazing no one wanted the free tickets I was giving away.

Phil


Phil- do you agree re Gadd? He didn't 'drive' After Midnight. It's a song that needs real driving. But...hells teeth....Voodoo Chile was  amazing.

Can't Find my Way was excellent too.

I got in free fortunately, but £18 to park- Christ sur un velo...

"Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips...."

JB LP Goldtop No. 290- Aged...rather like me.
  • From: The East Coast of Nowhere, UK
  • Registered: 2008-02-11
  • Posts: 2,284

Re: Clapton/Winwood @ Wembley- quick review.

Hi Jakey,

I'll be honest and admit I was so focussed on EC & SW that I hardly noticed Gadd and Weeks. That's probably the sign of a good rhythm section and not an insult. I do agree that After Midnight was a bit pedestrian and I think suffers from the softer treatment that a lot of the reworkings of his back catalogue do. Cocaine is another. It's all a bit MOR for the masses.

It was interesting that the biggest cheer (until that time) came when they played Tuff Luck. Good to see that there were plenty of blues fans.

EC's playing was sublime and SW's voice held up well. All in all, a great night.

£18 is a bit steep. If you don't mind a 20 minute walk, it's possible to avoid paying such extortionate fees by parking in the streets. Still, if you didn't pay for your seat, it wasn't so bad. Were you on the guest list or do you have a rich benefactor?

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

Re: Clapton/Winwood @ Wembley- quick review.

...... and here are my pics of the event. It's not the same if you can't get front row seats is it?  lol

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wooders_pi … 9423/show/

Some of these are shots of the big screens either side of the stage. You'll be able to tell which pics they are!

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: Belfast
  • Registered: 2010-02-01
  • Posts: 110

Re: Clapton/Winwood @ Wembley- quick review.

Wooders wrote:

...... and here are my pics of the event. It's not the same if you can't get front row seats is it?  lol

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wooders_pi … 9423/show/

Some of these are shots of the big screens either side of the stage. You'll be able to tell which pics they are!

Phil


Amazing photos, looked very laid back in the stage layout.
Is Winwood using the Blackface?

Guitars: 95 Les Paul Standard, Relic Strat,
Amps: 1973 Marshall JMP 50 head and Vintage Modern Cab. I use no effects other than a Cry Baby on occasions.