Big Clapton fan here but what marvels me the most in this topic are those OUTRAGIOUS ticket prices. Okay there are a lot of people who appear to be willing to pay those prices but this is RIDICULOUS. Stop paying these prices. Don't go these shows. Boycot them. No matter how much it hurts not attending them. Screw those artists, promoters and Ticketbastard. They are vultures circling the carcass of Rock and Roll. Modern music started as a youth rebellion. It became a big industry that collapsed under it's own weight. I can understand inflation correction and increased prices due to all kind of extra costs and regulations. Also that artists, many in the end fase of their lengthy career, want to cash in because CD sales have dropped immensly. I have no problem in paying twice as much as like then years ago for selected concerts but somewhere you have to draw the line. Before you know it you have to mortgage your house or donate an organ before you can see your favorite artist in a venue filled with loudmouth stockbrokers and their bored housewifes. In stead of paying 600 bucks for one show (nobody it worth that!) you can buy almost 15 or 20 tickets for cool bands in small venues playing like their lives depended on it. Great sounds, great views, great brews and a nice bundle of cash still in your pocket. Rant over.
My impression is that many of the people at the show last night were not hard core fans, but a lot of forty-somethings who know Clapton for his hits and his reputation. New York has lots of folks with lots of money to burn, and for those people the money does not mean much.
The same thing happened toward the end of the life of the ABB. There were more and more people on dates at the Beacon who wondered which one was Duane, asked if Dickey Betts was still in the band and came to hear Ramblin' Man.
Despite the prices, and the fact that non premium seats were sold at premium prices, there were not a lot of empty seats.
I'm writing a review of the show and will hold off mostly for now, but a few things:
as for ticket prices, NYC is NYC.. it's nuts.. most people there did not pay $600 a seat though.
I agree that the sound was amazing... I thought the first two acoustic songs were among the best of the night and the sound on them was so crisp. His playing on Drifting Blues was superb.
Some of the other stuff was perfunctory yes, but I think it's about managing expectations. If you've followed Eric's career, saw the band he was playing with and that there were two opening acts and expected much different than what he did, that's kind of on you.
@hankwilliams - when I said in that piece that I've often found Clapton overrated, I didn't mean in terms of his historical import and I was trying to say that his incredible appearance with the ABB proved me wrong. He came loaded for bear and was great. As far as saying the same about Dickey or Gregg, say what you want. it's indisputable that while he's sometimes coasted Clapton has maintained a far more consistent level of professional appearances than have they.
I was there Monday night and too left with mixed feelings. On the one hand Eric's playing and vocals are a treat to listen to. On the other hand the show did seem way too orchestrated to my liking . Possibly adding 'Got to get better in a Little While , After Midnight and Can't find my way home probably would have had me leaving The Garden with a wide grin.
I'm always comparing shows like last night to The Brother's . In last nights case comparing last nights Clapton Band to the 73-76 Brothers with Chuck and Lamar. Brother's of course win with a knockout in the early rounds.
Last night was a pleasant night out for my wife and I . Musically it just didn't do it for me .
I agree with the post about Steve Jordan and Willie Weeks being his best collaborators on stage in recent years. I thought EC crushed it at the MSG Hurricane Sandy benefit. He came out with those guys and tore it up. I love EC. I think age and his ailments are catching up with him. I also think a handful of shows a year dulls the blade so to speak. As hard as touring can be, the constant work makes for a well oiled machine. It's a catch 22 for the older players.
I wish I had the scratch to pay to see Clapton at this point but as someone else pointed out, I've been into younger up and coming acts for 20 -30 bucks in small venues. it doesn't hurt my appreciation for the likes of EC and the Stones but even the crowd seems boring at msg these days. Very impressed with bands like Lucero, Strand of Oaks, Felice Brothers etc in recent months. Great shows, energetic crowds. Bang for the Buck.
I have seen Clapton 8-9 times, and my comments were about his entire stage persona not only when he played a solo. He was statutelike even while singing; he was on the screen all night and its was unmistakable to me how blank he looked; no smiling, no expressions, no grimacing, nada. I am not criticizing EC just his performance last night. I am a huge fan of EC, but I saw no joy at all last night in his face and that bothers/concerns me. I have a beautiful photo on my phone of him and Jeff Beck at the garden and he has smile from ear to ear while Jeff played. NO smiling at all last night. I though being a legend was fun??!!
I have seen Clapton I guess 5 times going back to 1974 with Santana as the opener. I honestly don't remember him as much as cracking a smile at ANY of those shows. So this is nothing new. I have caught a few rare smiles on some of the Crossroads DVD's, but as I said, that's rare.
Oh yeah............Eric delivered the goods every time I saw him.
Big Clapton fan here but what marvels me the most in this topic are those OUTRAGIOUS ticket prices. Okay there are a lot of people who appear to be willing to pay those prices but this is RIDICULOUS. Stop paying these prices. Don't go these shows. Boycot them. No matter how much it hurts not attending them. Screw those artists, promoters and Ticketbastard. They are vultures circling the carcass of Rock and Roll. Modern music started as a youth rebellion. It became a big industry that collapsed under it's own weight. I can understand inflation correction and increased prices due to all kind of extra costs and regulations. Also that artists, many in the end fase of their lengthy career, want to cash in because CD sales have dropped immensly. I have no problem in paying twice as much as like then years ago for selected concerts but somewhere you have to draw the line. Before you know it you have to mortgage your house or donate an organ before you can see your favorite artist in a venue filled with loudmouth stockbrokers and their bored housewifes. In stead of paying 600 bucks for one show (nobody it worth that!) you can buy almost 15 or 20 tickets for cool bands in small venues playing like their lives depended on it. Great sounds, great views, great brews and a nice bundle of cash still in your pocket. Rant over.
i hear what you're saying but for those of us who like the old timer musicians, pretty soon, they'll be no more concerts left to see.Very sad to think of that reality, but to be truthful I rarely see shows these days.
BTW,ABSNJ is correct-last night the sound was surprisingly good & EC's rhythm playing was also very good.
Very true; the end of the line is approaching. Starting to feel like the 1980's when the last generation of hard-core jazzmen started to die out. Every year at the Newport Jazz Festival the lineup got thinner and thinner.
Re: the crazy ticket prices the "actuaries" have figured it out pretty well; what the top price should be. And the below face tickets; the millennials sit and wait till the prices dropped as they aren't wedded to the even (and face it - a lot of our "old" contemporaries don't get out as often as they used to.) Same thing happens with US open Tennis. I have a mini plan and got creamed last year (I sell some at close to face if I can to use the ones I wan't.) Everyone was waiting and waiting. It is a brave new world
I've followed Clapton's career for decades, seen him in concert three times, and watched a lot of concert footage. I'm glad that he is still touring (albeit to a limited degree). I could care less if he smiles or engages the audience in dialogue or showmanship. All I care about is the music, and did he give it his all.
The high ticket prices are very unfortunate. It prices many long-term fans out of shows. I was really looking forward to taking my three teenage daughters to see Paul McCartney last year. I feel so lucky to have kids who like some of the great music of the 60's and early 70's. I feel, if anybody is entitled to charge high ticket prices, it would be Paul McCartney. Unfortunately for me, and my daughters, I could not afford the cost. It sounds like the same might be true for a Clapton concert.
I would love to see Clapton downsize to a four piece band (bass, drums, keyboard, and guitar). By reducing the size of the band and crew, they might be able to pass on reduced costs to the fans. Besides, I like it when Clapton shoulders a bit more of the musical load. I believe he could still handle that. I hope so.
I have seen Clapton 8-9 times, and my comments were about his entire stage persona not only when he played a solo. He was statutelike even while singing; he was on the screen all night and its was unmistakable to me how blank he looked; no smiling, no expressions, no grimacing, nada. I am not criticizing EC just his performance last night. I am a huge fan of EC, but I saw no joy at all last night in his face and that bothers/concerns me. I have a beautiful photo on my phone of him and Jeff Beck at the garden and he has smile from ear to ear while Jeff played. NO smiling at all last night. I though being a legend was fun??!!
I have seen Clapton I guess 5 times going back to 1974 with Santana as the opener. I honestly don't remember him as much as cracking a smile at ANY of those shows. So this is nothing new. I have caught a few rare smiles on some of the Crossroads DVD's, but as I said, that's rare.
Oh yeah............Eric delivered the goods every time I saw him.
One of my pictures from 3/20/09,
