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Dave_g
Username: Dave_g

Registered: 01-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 10:13 am:   

I know its not exactly an Ibanez topic-(Although I did see a guy crossing 42nd street with a vintage Ibanez "Vault" case..)but any Clapton fans out there ?

I had the pleasure of seeing the much anticipated and hyped Cream union concert at the Garden in NYC last nite and would like to offer an opinion if anyone is interested.............
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike

Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 11:55 am:   

Dave_g,
You got to be kidding... LOL. When they did the RAH Concerts I scoured the earth (well, actually the Internet) for the shows and got all 4 nights, audience recordings but pretty damn good. As you might know the CREAM RAH DVD from Rhino came out a few weeks ago and is very good. What they did was take what they thought was the best performances from each night and lay it down the way they played it, so it has the setlist integrity each gig had (same setlist by the way).

I think it is very good. Now some guys may say they're old geezers now and have lost a step. This could be true. BUT when you watch these guys play it's very soulful and sure good. Not as fast as the old days, well yeah. But then they stopped doing crank and heroin and coke and whatever else they almost killed themselves with "back in the day"...

Highly reccommend this gig. Also kudos to a set that has been out a couple years now. Led Zepplin's HOW THE WEST WAS WON 3 dvd set... Amazing to see the progression of this band over the years. HIGHLY reccommended !!!
Dave_g
Username: Dave_g

Registered: 01-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 12:59 pm:   

Mike, I've been a Clapton fan since the early 70's and have seen him live a dozen or so times. This performance certainally rates very high on the list (xtra points for Jack & Ginger of course !) but I cannot help but feel that Eric was somewhat "uninspired" when playing most of the Cream standards. His rendition of the classic Wah Wah solo in "White Room" for example-undeniably one of the classic moments in rock history in terms of timing, attack and use of the Wah-was a watered down, almost comic imatation of the original. I'm not saying that I left this show with any feeling other than a nostolgic WOW and a general impression that , yes Clapton IS GOD-but still several times during the evening it was clear to me that he was not totally into it-and its not because he is getting old and "not as fast" as the old days-'cause Clapton is -in many ways a much better musician today than ever-more lyrical, tasteful and ...well soulful than his sophmore days.

That being said, Claptons rendition of "Stormy Monday" was at a completely different plain than the rest of the show. His extended solos were absolutely AMAZING ! You could tell that he was having fun and really taking his game up several notches. This song was the highlight of this concert (not even a Cream standard !) and IMHO the best Clapton solo I have ever witnessed.

All in all the show was well worth the wait , and even the pricy tickets !

Just got copies of the PAH shows, gonna give it a look tonite !
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike

Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 2:08 pm:   

Here's some clips from the RAH show at RHINO's site... Check out the RAH version of White Room, full length song...


http://www.rhino.com/retrovid/VideoKeeper.lasso?Artist=Cream
Sixvsix
Username: Sixvsix

Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 6:25 pm:   

My cousin Mike caught up with them at the Albert Hall. He said it was a great night and the trio seemed to be enjoying themselves (and I thought they hated eachother).

My Cousin Mike is 55 and he told me that back in the 60's, he intrusted his University buddy to get the original Cream farewell concert tickets. Unfortunately, his air head student mate (I'm sure you all know a few) forgot to get them. So they missed the concert. Arghhh!

Surprisingly they have remained friends since and although Mike now lives in Germany these days they keep in touch.

As usual, Mike got a call from his buddy (who still lives in England) a few weeks before the gig at the A-Hall. After a chat about life in general, his mate said "Bye the way, do you know that Cream are at the Albert Hall?"

Mike said, "I heard. Are you going?"

His mate replied "Yes of course and so are you. I finally got you that ticket mate!"

There's nothing like true friendship don't you think? :-)

six
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike

Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 - 8:35 pm:   

I too should have seen them "back in the day". In fact I had a ticket to see Cream and Frank Zappa & the Mothers Of Invention were to open for them. May 10th 1968. I had to give my sister my ticket as that day I went into the Army. Sitting on a plane flying to Fort Polk, Louisiana for Boot Camp I thought of all my buddies at that show... Pretty depressing just remembering it. LOL...
Ibanezfreak1960
Username: Ibanezfreak1960

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 8:10 am:   

I saw EC back in 1978 in Philly. What an awsome show that was. Zappa I seen a few times and was pleased with the shows!
Tonedef
Username: Tonedef

Registered: 03-2004
Posted on Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 8:01 pm:   

Dave g, what did you think of JB's bass tone? I have heard his playing and singing was very good, but that his sound was unimpressive. Most are blaming his rig--I think he used Hartke?

I saw him in the 70's when he was using Marshall gear, and I still have not forgotten it.

Tonedef
Overdriver
Username: Overdriver

Registered: 12-2005
Posted on Thursday, December 22, 2005 - 11:25 pm:   

You have to get the RAH DVD and play it through a good system, preferably a surround sound system with a sub-woofer. Jack Bruce's bass is not distorted as in the Marshall stack days but it's very full and articulate. Clapton's tone is good on some songs and less so on others. It would have been more interesting had he switched between the Strat and a Gibson from time to time. It's also very interesting how totally differently Clapton plays 'We're Going Wrong' on the main version and the alternate version.
Strings
Username: Strings

Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 2:58 pm:   

Not sure where I heard it (or its validity), but it is my understanding they did this for Jack - supposedly his health is not up-to-snuff.

Anyone else heard this info?
Strings
Username: Strings

Registered: 01-2005
Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 3:19 pm:   

Dave, at least you got the Wah...looks like he left it (and any other rhythm attack techniques) at home for the Albert Hall DVD sample. OK solo though...
Tim_gueguen
Username: Tim_gueguen

Registered: 01-2003
Posted on Saturday, December 24, 2005 - 7:41 pm:   

Bruce had a liver transplant several years ago, so its possible he does need money.
Johnm
Username: Johnm

Registered: 08-2001
Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 5:31 pm:   

He co-wrote "White Room". I can imagine that his copyright in this song ensures him a basic paycheck?
Dave_g
Username: Dave_g

Registered: 01-2002
Posted on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 - 6:32 pm:   

I think the MSG shows netted quite a nice sum for the band as the cheat seats were $168 (floor front row was $325)! 20,000 seats @ an average of $175 is $3.5 million-PER NITE ! Lets see um 4 nights thats like $14 million-not counting t shirts ($40 a pop) and concessions (lets not forget that $7 beer !)PLUS the RAH shows and the DVD release. Shoot theres only 3 guys in the band !..I really don't think that anyone should cry for Jack or Ginger........
Jazzzbo
Username: Jazzzbo

Registered: 09-2005
Posted on Saturday, August 12, 2006 - 4:22 pm:   

Sorry you guys . but i think Clapton lost it somewhere, i mean his tone sucks big time, maybe he sounded a little better on the reunion concert. but Lace pick ups with custom built fender boutiques amps just dont do it for me, he had a killer sound with Mayall, early Cream . even Dominos. but lets get real now,jazzz
Sixvsix
Username: Sixvsix

Registered: 03-2002
Posted on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 1:33 am:   

Jazzbo

Are you talking about the US gigs?

Not sure what amp Clapton was using on the shows in the UK

It could have been the "Eric" amp (Custom 80) that Denis Cornell built for him.
www.dc-developments.com

I've had a test drive through it and it sounds great. I know Denis very well. I have also tried a couple of other amps owned by EC when Denis had them in the workshop. A customised twin that looks like an old Bassman and also his original varnished Marshall 45w Plexi (as photographed in the Mitch Fleiger book). This amp runs KT66's and I can tell you it's probably the best sounding Marshall on the planet.

Maybe EC should start using it again.

six
Jazzzbo
Username: Jazzzbo

Registered: 09-2005
Posted on Sunday, August 13, 2006 - 1:28 pm:   

What im saying is this, try to get a hold of the Mayall 70th birthday unicef video, Clapton really sounds weak and has NO TONE, on the other hand, Mick Taylor is playing a Les paul through a fender THE TWIN, and sounds killer , along with his slide work, I just dont know what happened to E.C. but his tone is not making it any longer for me, cheers jazzz ps, i have heard that claptons people are afraid to tell him he sounds like doo doo

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