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7 June 2011 Photo Gallery
Sitting in the Church of Eric
Monday night (6 June) saw Eric Clapton arrive at the Hartwall Arena in
Helsinki as part of his 2011 tour. And it didn’t disappoint.
Kicking off the evening was Finland’s very own Anssi Kela, who bravely took to
the stage with just his acoustic guitar and harmonica to warm up the crowd. It
could be considered tricky for a one-man band to engage an arena audience, but
Anssi pulled it off with some beautifully melodic playing and soulful singing.
But the crowd was really only here for one man. And his name was Eric. Opening
with Key to the Highway he quickly showed why he is considered one of the
greatest guitarists of all time. Composed in driving a tight rhythm for the band,
but free-flowing in his solos, Eric has always been a man in command of his
instrument.
What followed was a series of blues-driven numbers, including Going Down Slow
and Hoochie Coochie Man, followed by a highlight of the evening – a rendition of
Old Love – which made the hairs on the back of the neck prickle.
The set was broken halfway through for a sit-down acoustic medley, where the
crowd was treated to old Blues standards and Unplugged-era Clapton – including
Driftin’ Blues, Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out, and Layla.
The concert ended with more crowd-pleasing classics from Badge to Wonderful
Tonight and the show-stopping Cocaine and Crossroads. Across the almost two-
hour set, Eric delivered some inspired playing and rapturous solos that befit a
man at the very top of his game.
It was clear for all to see that the Slowhand magic lives on, and as the old
moniker attests – Clapton is God.
BEN PECKETT, review
ADAM LLOYD MONAGHAN, pics; see more in Gallery
See more pics by Adam Lloyd Monaghan
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