Bringing good old classic rock, full of melody, riffs and memorable guitar solos, Eric Clapton ended his tour in Brazil on the night of last Sunday, the 29th.
The guitarist performed his second show in São Paulo at Allianz Parque, on a night with completely sold-out tickets.
The opening act was performed by Gary Clark Jr. , who delivered a top-notch and perfectly timed performance.
With a well-integrated band, everything works smoothly so that the guitarist can demonstrate his technique and talent in a melodic and rhythmic way.
It's a show that will please any guitar fan. Well-crafted elements and well-composed music are two of the characteristics that best describe what a show by this artist is like.
And this was directly reflected in the audience, who, after the songs, applauded enthusiastically, with the musician receiving an excellent reception even from those who may not have known his career. An element that greatly enhances the guitarist's live performances is the vocal harmonies, which blend perfectly with that of Gary Clark Jr. – who, in turn, possesses a smooth voice that conveys emotion and melody.
The way the setlist is put together, ranging from ballads to more upbeat songs, works perfectly. The songs have a unique groove, are danceable, and entertain anyone. It's a light show, without overly elaborate details – yet full of skill – and that's precisely what makes it so above average.
The highlight, without a doubt, goes to the more tranquil and slower songs, which nevertheless possess a unique power and presence, and perhaps the best example of this is the track "Habits". Beautiful from beginning to end, it was responsible for closing the first show of the night in a special way.
Eric Clapton was highly anticipated by the audience, receiving much applause as soon as he appeared on stage. “Sunshine Of Your Love,” a Cream , was the first song on his setlist, thrilling the crowd who sang the chorus loudly and clearly. Accompanied by a band that functioned very well, the keyboard stands out in particular, as seen in the track “Key to the Highway,” originally by Charles Segar .
The guitarist's show was marked by cover songs, which made up the majority of the setlist.
Even with limited stage movement, the musician compensates with skill that truly impresses and demonstrates why he is one of the greatest guitarists in music history.
But it's not just his guitar playing that deserves to be highlighted. Clapton's voice is fundamental to his career and, even if it doesn't have any major distinguishing features, it complements the songs, fulfilling its role.
“I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man” demonstrates this, as it's not a song with complicated vocals, allowing the guitar to stand out and take center stage.
From the music to the stage, everything was designed to be as inviting and pleasant as possible for the fans. The created ambiance offered a feeling of comfort, without screens behind the musicians, with warm lighting and elements that simulated lampposts.
This combined perfectly with "Badge," which, in its second part, delivers a sonic explosion, once again rich in keyboards and harmonies.
Next, the show took a different turn. In an acoustic performance, Eric Clapton picked up his guitar and played the gentle "Kind Hearted Woman Blues." "Running On Faith," "Change The World"—in a beautiful version, it must be said—"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out," "Lonely Stranger," and "Believe In Life" followed, with the musician playing the guitar.
Probably the most anticipated moment in any of his shows is when he plays "Tears In Heaven." With its touching lyrics and an even more poignant story, the track was able to illuminate Allianz Parque with flashlights, moving the audience and concluding the acoustic session of the show.
Upon picking up a guitar with the Palestinian flag on it, “Before You Accuse Me” was chosen as the track to close the show, which in turn was fast-paced, without many pauses, with the songs being played one after the other and few spoken words in between.
From start to finish, the performance maintained a consistent standard of high quality. Without any dull moments, the guitarist and his band delivered a top-notch evening.
The solos, executed flawlessly, were perhaps one of the highlights, brimming with precision.
In a joyful show that showcases all of Eric Clapton's talent, the guitarist truly leaves his mark on such a memorable performance.
Our contributor Leca Suzuki was also present and captured the evening with exclusive photos. Check out our gallery below:
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