The last gig I went to (Brian Jonestown Massacre) I said that having multiple guitarists was pretty much an ideal band line up. However having E Clapton as first lead guitarist and S Winwood as second lead guitarist is THE ideal guitar-wise. Actually having S Winwood as first lead keyboard player and C Stainton as second lead keyboard player is about as good as it gets keyboard-wise also. So things looked promising for this gig and I was pleasantly surprised by the venue which has had a makeover since I abandoned going there a year or two ago. The renamed LG Arena now has enough space to move around in, more comfortable seats and most importantly much improved sound.
I had seen Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood play together twice before at two epic gigs; the Blind Faith gig at Hyde Park in 1969 and the Rainbow Concert in 1973. I have to say that this was another special show.
They got going with Steve on guitar for 'I Had to Cry Today' and 'Low Down'. Steve then moved to organ and the next tracks were 'After Midnight' and 'Presence of the Lord'. The former was a bit desultory but the gig started to pick up with a cover of 'The Shape I'm In' and pretty much took off with a great version of 'Well all right' topped and tailed with some beautiful organ and guitar instrumental.
The highlights came thick and fast from then on; a searing up-tempo Clapton blues solo in the style of the 'Wheels of Fire' Crossroads classic, a beautiful song from Winwood which is one of my all-time favourite songs of his 'Midland Maniac', 'Driftin'' in the acoustic section with a typical slow blues solo from Clapton but on a loosely tuned acoustic guitar sounding as if he was on the steps of a porch in the delta; 'Split Decision' with EC taking the Joe Walsh part with some aplomb and so on.
The concert started its endgame with an amazing 'Voodoo Chile' Steve Winwood reprising his role on the original and EC laying it on as if his life depended on it. Then to finish 'Cocaine' with great solos from EC and SW (guitar) and a piece de resitance from Chris Stainton ending his solo with white electric piano noise.
The encore was inevitably 'Mr Fantasy' with grade A guitar from both maestros.
Two hours and a bit of perfection and I had remembered to park right by the car park exit so I was home with a cold Becks before the Car Park was empty.
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