| Bar & Music - News 6th - 20th February 2001 - E: kensington@myvillage.co.uk | |
| Return of Flat Eric - 05/02/01 | |
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Eric Clapton has returned to his first Albert Hall Residency for the first time in years. For Chelsea resident Clapton, this is a job that he can almost walk to work to. The place is sold out, to his adoring fans. But this is no middle- aged love-in, like a Tom Jones show. This is an evening when the entire audience respectfully sits down to soak up the musicianship, save a few comedians attempting the drunken-aunt-at- wedding-reception dance. It's odd that Clapton should end up appealing to a hall full of bankers. This man's background is something of an EastEnders plotline (to be exact, the one featuring Zoe Slater and the mum she thought was her sister). Despite his tastefully, er, tasteful suits and air of prosperity, he has a right to play the blues. But as everyone knows, the blues are about as alive as Latin, or speedway, so let's gloss over the dextrous acoustic solo "Keys to the Highway" and dull old "Hoochie Coochie Man" and concentrate on the many other tedious aspects of tonight's show. Such as the Brazilian- style instrumental "Reptile", the title track of Clappo's new album, and monumentally bland. Or the truly mind-numbing adult contemporary rock, as US radio programmers call it, of "My Father's Eyes" and "Change the World". For those who fear the dangerous sounds of Sting, this must be cutting-edge stuff. It's telling that Stevie Wonder's "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It" is reduced to this level of blandness tonight. Thankfully, the remaining members of the Sixties vocal group The Impressions are on hand to inject some soul into the proceedings, and their "It's All Right" easily upstages the star of the show, who, to be fair, has always looked more comfortable as a sideman. However, there is the compensation of "Wonderful Tonight", either the worst or the best song ever. A parody of oafish male behaviour, with the long-suffering missus driving drunken hubby home? Or a touching tribute to a "beautiful lady"? That line about the car keys always makes me laugh anyway. "Sunshine of Your Love" was entertainingly brutal, too. As for the rest, I'd rather watch Eminem rap in Latin. Eric Clapton plays at the Albert Hall 3-4, 6-7, 9-10 February. |