So, I saw Eric Clapton at MSG

[Bob Marino]

I went with some friends to see Clapton perform at MSG last night.
A few thoughts and comments.
I was never a Clapton fanatic but I was aware of him from his Yardbird and Cream days. To say he he an incredible guitarist is to say the least and an absolute Rock legend. His silky smooth command of those strings is insane. He was dead on and I liked his arraignments very much. The keyboardist was also incredible. He had 2 opening acts who I was not familiar with but, well if you are opening for Clapton, it's a given you are going to be good. And again, no pyrotechnics, cursing, crotch grabbing, just a man, his guitar his  band and his music.

Now,  I'll admit I spoiled - last year Springsteen played 4 hours, McCartney over 3 hours - Clapton about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
But here's a kicker, I have never remembered those seats being so tight - no, it's not because we aging boomers have put on a few extra pounds either. Unless your hands are in your lap, you were touching shoulders with the person next to you. Just as bad was that you have almost no leg room - I'm 5'6" and my legs were hitting the seat in front of me.  I think one of my taller friends is still in the fetal position.  The seats were new and I swear I think they added more seats across the row to just pack in more people (more $$$).
Bottom line, well worth seeing if you are even a moderate fan, especially at this point in his career. But those MSG seats are giving me second thoughts about future concerts.

 

[promark747]

Did he play Layla in its original form, or that terrible unplugged version?

Stinks to hear about those seats...I would be in the fetal position or have to stand the whole time.

 

[Mort]

My daughter's name is Layla... I'd love to see Clapton.

 

[semenza]

Clapton , lucky you, Bob.  [thumbs up]

The seats..... ought oh, planning to see Billy Joel there in the summer.

Seth

 

[Bob Marino]

Did he play Layla in its original form, or that terrible unplugged version?

Stinks to hear about those seats...I would be in the fetal position or have to stand the whole time.

Hey Mark,

Unplugged, but I liked it, even though if in its original version, he would have rocked the Garden with it.

 

[Kev]

[member=5]Bob Marino[/member]

Cattle class airline style seating to enjoy something like Clapton kinda sucks [sad]

I'm really surprised you weren't already a big Clapton fan by what I know of you "pedigree" [big grin] [wink]

There's a number of pieces that are my must listen to bits of music when I'm listening to new speakers and I was listening to some Devialet Phantoms just the other day ... the opening to Tears in Heaven is one of those pieces (yes, other critical listening bits are by Pink Floyd, ELP, etc).

BTW, the Phantoms were a total surprise [eek]

 

[Bob Marino]

  Oh, I'm a fan and appreciate his guitar playing but never any type of super fan. Yep, at Madison Square Garden - one of the most famous venues in the world, not comfortable at all.

 

[tiralie]

I went with some friends to see Clapton perform at MSG last night.

I would love to see him live. One of my favorites. For a bit there he had/has an affliction that made his hands and fingers very sensitive and painful to play the guitar.
It's amazing that after all the abuse he has put his body through that he can still play as well as he does.
Tim

 

[Bob Marino]

I went with some friends to see Clapton perform at MSG last night.

up
I would love to see him live. One of my favorites. For a bit there he had/has an affliction that made his hands and fingers very sensitive and painful to play the guitar.
It's amazing that after all the abuse he has put his body through that he can still play as well as he does.
Tim

I did not know about that affliction - that must have been  really awful for him.
The screen had many closeups of his hands and fingers just floating effortlessly over the strings and frets. Well worth seeing.

 

[tiralie]

I did not know about that affliction - that must have been  really awful for him.
The screen had many closeups of his hands and fingers just floating effortlessly over the strings and frets. Well worth seeing.

He does suffer from peripheral neuropathy but the recent case of eczema that spread to his hands and fingers I believe was something new.

tim

 

[Cheese]

Certainly one of my favorites...saw him live during the Disraeli Gears tour, circa 68-69...incredible. He's also a serious collector of mechanical watches and he favors being deeply involved in motorsports racing...doesn't get much better than that.

For some reason I think I remember Jeff Beck also being part of the 68-69 tour grouping...

 

[rmwarren]

Clapton is on my bucket list so I am mega-jealous, but based on the seating I will avoid MSG for anything going forward. Nothing makes an otherwise outstanding event no fun for me more than being cramped or crowded, it one of my bugaboo's.

Sometimes I just plain forget how incredible some artists are, Clapton is one of them. Earlier today I was listening to the demo subscription of Sirius/XM in the new wrangler and Dave Matthews came on the Buffett station. Tonight I pulled him up on the Amazon Prime app and am listening on headphones (Crash) while I pack dogs and troll the FOG. Never became a Matthews fan & I am wondering why, it's great music.

RMW

 

[tony_sheehan]

I met, or rather, was in the same room as the guy a couple of years ago. I was doing some work for an antique dealer when Clapton bowls up at the gallery (he had an appointment to view some pieces). I was struck by how quiet and self effacing he was. He was wearing a waterproof mack and a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes- you'd never pick him out in a crowd. At first I thought that he'd sent his gofer or PA!
Clapton is not someone who's music I would listen to,  I must admit I was more interested to see what he was wearing on his wrist but unfortunately that waterproof mack had pretty long sleeves!

 

[Gwerner]

Clapton is definitely on my must see list. The only guitarist that tops him IMO in terms of fluid command of the strings is David Gilmour. It's really ridiculous just how good they both are.