BLUES N'AT

Consol Energy Center was on fire last night. No, it wasn't the Penguins lighting up opposing goalies with a barrage of pucks to the net. It was the scorching licks of one Eric Clapton and his TNT-laced band. As with most 3-alarm fires, you have to create a small spark with some kindling. Slowhand did just that, breaking out the acoustic to start us off with Hello Old Friend and My Father's Eyes. He quickly got the fire roaring when he broughte out the Strat for a white-hot version of Tell the Truth. At first it seemed like Clapton was happy, as always to play the role of sideman. He even did it with the opening act, the Wallflowers', final number, a cover of The Weight. He let Doyle Bramhall II, who produced his current CD, Old Sock, take the lead a number of times. Bramhall is an accomplished and phenomenal guitarist in his own right. But face it, folks came to see EC tear it up. And tear it up, he did. They broke out Gotta Get Over from the new disc. Then Clapton veared into the blues, as he would on several occasions this evening with a burning version of Albert Collins' Black Cat Bone. By then, it was time to bring the funk, and bring it they did. Fireworks erupted musically for the funky version of Got to Get Better in a Little While. Clapton truly took my breath away on this one! At that point, Clapton was ready to take a step back. He handed vocals over to keyboardist, Paul Carrack, formerly of Squeeze and Ace and broke out the Squeeze classic Tempted. A little later on he jumped into a version of How Long, too. Carrack still has the pipes that made both of those tunes hits. And what would a Clapton concert be without some fresh Cream? Loved hearing Badge, a tune that doesn't get enough airplay. He also did a tremendous version of Crossroads during his Robert Johnson portion of the show.  He really lit a fire under Sunshine of Your Love, too. EC broke the acoustic back out for Tears in Heaven. I swear, there wasn't a dry eye in the place. He kept it unplugged for Layla and pulled out Lay Down Sally and Wonderful Tonight for the unplugged portion, as well. Loved that he did Love in Vain and Little Queen of Spades for the Johnson tribute. And Cocaine was as hot as ever. Unfortunately, when Carrack tore into Joe Cocker's High Time We Went, I knew it was time to put out the fire. But much props goes out to all of Clapton's band. It's always great to see the explosive Steve Jordan on drums, for sure. Greg Liesz's lap steel work was burning up the joint all night. I loved how Clapton's backup singers, Sharon White and Michelle John, fanned the flames all evening. Bassist Willie Weeks and organist Chris Stainton kept the fire burning. It's like Mr. BlackNGold said "it's Clapton, you have to be good to be in his band". How true. But the one whose fire burned brightest last night WAS Eric Clapton. Bravo.