Clapton in Seattle
Jim
PA and see the big screens, just close enough to see. Highlights were
"Little Wing" (BLISTERING guitars, ya gotta think they put something
extra in it for SEATTLE--Jimi's home town), Crossroads encore (KILLER
guitars with Doyle Bramhill II and Robert Cray!), the Layla reprise when
the camera man got an AWESOME shot of both Eric and Doyle doing their
things, Little Queen of Spades, and acoustic Running on Faith.
After seeing Doyle Bramhill II, all I've gotta say is... Who the hell
is Derek Trucks? (Doyle was AWESOME.)
Anybody thinking of tossing dirt on top of Clapton needs to see his show!
Dowell
"Jim" <as...@beforeyousend.com> wrote in message
news:1306v2o...@corp.supernews.com...
I think that the tour is in "good vibe" mode. They pulled the Australia leg
last month and burned the place up. Back in the 60's, in Austin, Bramhall's
dad was a drummer with Jimmie Vaughan and also wrote "Change It,"
"Tightrope" and others for SRV. So, the son had some neat friends to jam
with as a youngster. He did well with Sheryl Crow, too. Trucks is often
kind of shy and reserved, but he can cook. Clapton has been selling out
world tours for over 40 years.......catch him before he retires. jim n
texas
BP01
says...
guitarist for the Waters band but he can really play
Jon
> After seeing Doyle Bramhill II, all I've gotta say is... Who the hell
> is Derek Trucks? (Doyle was AWESOME.)
>
> Anybody thinking of tossing dirt on top of Clapton needs to see his show!
>
Derek Trucks is the nephew of Butch Trucks, a drummer for the Allman
Brothers. He looks really young, plays mostly slide. He just dropped
out of Eric Clapton's tour to get on with the Allman Brothers tour.
Lord Valve
Jon wrote:
That's so cute. ;-)
The Pooch Prosecutor is just trying to prove he's an asshole.
Occasionally, he forgets it's moot.
Lord Valve
Musician
EDTHEWARD
"Jon" <texasr...@suddenlink.net> wrote in message
news:faPMh.14421$s8....@newsfe21.lga...
I think he was stating that Doyle kicks Dereks ass.
Lord Valve
EDTHEWARD wrote:
Here's my take on that, from when the tour hit Denver...
____________________________________________________
> > I was a guest of the Clapton organization
> > last night at the Pepsi Center here in Denver, and
> > on the left-hand side of the stage was - of course -
> > a Hammond B-3. Still kicking ass at ~50 years
> > old.
>
> And yourself not being a *fan* of 'the blues', so-to-speak... how was
> the show..??
Well...
I had serious issues with the way it was mixed. The Pepsi
Center is *huge* - the Denver Nuggets play there - but the
PA is enormous and more than adequate for the room.
Not a gear issue, then. Its rare I go to a "rock" show and
wish the drums were more prominent in the mix, but last
night that's the way it was. Clapton's vocals were on
the distorted side - sounded like input channel clipping - but
the two chick backup singers sounded great, as did Doyle
Bramhall. The organ was so far down in the mix it might as
well not have been there. There were two keyboardists;
the other dude was playing what appeared to be a Kurzweil,
used as a dedicated piano. He had ten fingers, and used
all of 'em, all the time. He was skilled, but I don't care for
pounders. They ran him hot in the mix, at times to the
detriment of the current soloist. Clapton's tone was
kind of sporadic - at times, it was seriously kickass,
at others, just so-so. When he got down to it, he lit
the joint up; no doubt about it, the old dude can still
play his ass off. Bramhall was having trouble hearing
himself sing; when I asked him about it after the
show, he said there was a null spot right where his head
was and he had to keep letting go of his axe to cup
his ear in order to sing in tune. He's an excellent singer,
though. The bottom end of his guitar tone sounded a
little on the fuzzy side; I suspect one of his speakers
was blown and they were miking the other one, but
that's a guess. I didn't ask him about it. It appeared
to me that he was playing a left-handed guitar left-handed
but strung upside down.
The bassist hit several really noticeable clams, and
had occasional timing issues. He was still fairly
good, though. The drummer was excellent; he came
out front and played a cocktail kit (I didn't know they
still made 'em, let alone that anyone was still using
one) during the "acoustic" set they did in the middle
of the show. (Derek played a Dobro.) I wish I had
been able to hear the drummer better...I was maybe
50 feet from the stage, 15 feet above it (in the VIP
seats with the rest of the invitees) and I swear I could
hear his cymbals better off his kit than through the PA.
There was absolutely no doubt about it, though: Derek
owned the stage. His technique was impeccable, his
tone was *fabulous*. He knocked the crowd flat stone cold.
And I don't want to imply that it was a head-cutting
contest, either - it damnsure wasn't. Putting together
a show with THREE excellent guitar players is close
to impossible - it either turns into a complete cluster-fuck
or a pissing match, but those cats were careful about
stepping on each other. And, of course, the chords used
in most of those tunes were not complex enough for
anyone to worry about conflicting inversions when
comping. It was interesting to hear Derek's take on songs
that were Top 40 hits before he was born. My impression
was that Eric is passing the torch. DT is a far more
complex player, given his eclectic influences, but he
has the skills to stay between the required walls in
any given situation while still innovating. He's rock solid,
he just doesn't choke - *ever*. Amazing.
Overall, it was a great show. The crowd certainly thought
so. I enjoyed it, despite any technical or stylistic bitches I
had with the production.
EC didn't hang with the folks afterwards - he just jumped
in his limo and booked. I reckon he's had 40+ years
of schmoozing the locals, and that's plenty. I had several
questions I wanted to ask him, but I reckon DT can ask
'em for me.
DT's manager told me they're putting together a group
to do a short tour, using the DTB plus Susan Tedeschi
and maybe a sax player. They have a tentative date
at the Paramount in Denver in June, and I'll probably
be sitting in for a tune or two. Yeah! The recording
project we've been talking about is still on hold, as
DT is spread pretty thin these days. I told him I can
come on one day's notice, if I can rent my particular
set of gear in Jacksonville - since my XK-3 uses a
flash-ram for setup storage, I can just yank my card
out of my axe and put it in my wallet, and then shove
it into a rented XK-3 on the other end and have all
my stuff. DT has a "real" B-3 in his studio, and I'll
certainly play it, but I must confess I like my XK
better than any "real" Hammond I've ever owned -
and I've owned damn near all of 'em. Sacrilege! ;-)
> Who was playing said B-3 . . ? ?
A rather enormous black dude.
I mean *enormous*. As we all know, I ain't exactly
petite, but this dude would make me look like a twig.
As I said above, he was so far down in the mix, he
might as well have stayed at home. The one solo he
took that was audible was a rather average-sounding
rock-style smear-fest, with much Leslie speed
switching and all the other schtick that rock players
use. I didn't care for it at all. He may well be an
excellent player - I would expect him to be, given
who his employer is - but let's just say that from what
I heard, he wasn't exactly Jimmy Smith. ;-) He also
had a Rhodes and what appeared to be a Nord
Electro, both on a wing stand at right angles to the
Hammond. He played the Rhodes for part of one
tune (couldn't hear it at all) and never even touched
the Nord, which was fine with me - those sound like
absolute *ass*. (Not that anyone would have been
able to hear it. Did I mention that?)
> Is the G--damn weather warming up out there..??
60 degrees yesterday.
> This global warming shit is freezing me everywhere I go . . ? ? ?
.
Not my department - talk to one of the Global Warming
Cultists on this NG. There certainly ain't no shortage of em.
Lord Valve
Globally Cool
Sacramento Dave
I just saw the show in Sacramento, way better than I thought it would be. I
also liked Doyle with his upside down guitar style.
Jim
I know who Derek Trucks is. I was not saying Derek sucks. I was saying
I left GLAD that Doyle played instead of Trucks. Just an opinion. If
you were there, I'm betting you'd say the same.
Ken Wilson
did courageously avow:
The Allman Brothers band is a joke. Without Duane and Dickey it isn't
the real thing. They're chasing a dream they never will catch.
--
Ken Wilson
Looking for viable employment in Victoria, BC
Ken Wilson
did courageously avow:
Musician my ass. You're a beat up tube salesman from Buttfuck, CO.
RichL
> On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 06:50:20 -0600, Jon <texasrock...@suddenlink.net>
I caught a performance of the "Allmans" on my cable service's "On
Demand" a couple of months ago. I'd have to agree it isn't the real
thing, but IMHO it's not a joke either. Didn't know who Trucks was
before I saw the performance, I'm like "who's the kid?" But the cat
can play, really!
Jon
> I know who Derek Trucks is. I was not saying Derek sucks. I was saying
> I left GLAD that Doyle played instead of Trucks. Just an opinion. If
> you were there, I'm betting you'd say the same.
When I saw them they they were both there and I like Doyle's playing
better mainly because because he IS damn good and nearly impossible to
figure out because of his unique upside down and not restrung guitar.
Being from Austin I have the privilege of knowing a little more about
him than most. For one thing after he released his first solo album
both Roger Waters and Eric Clapton heard it and sought him out.
I'm not that big of a slide fan but Derek fit in well with the band.
He does not sound at all like Duane Allman but then again who does? He
is a well respected up and coming guitarist and while I'm sure his uncle
had some pull getting him where he's at but I would never say he is just
riding on his coat tails.