By Tim & Ananda Owen (Photos by Tim Owen)
Nearly 40 years after psychedelicizing and rocking the blues with ear-bending and cutting edge collaborations, while becoming one of the most influential and legendary musicians of the last 1/2 century, Eric Clapton now humbly pays tribute and dues to his own major influence, Robert Johnson. Finishing up an international summer tour promoting his latest release, Me and Mr. Johnson, at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon, he performed the songs of the great blues legend along with his own. Eric honored Mr. Johnson by inserting a short set centerpiece that began with a sit down acoustic duet with guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, including "Me and the Devil Blues" and gradually building to a full band electric finale, "If I Had Possession Over Judgement Day." Clapton's blues voice has aged to a smooth, rich and unmistakable authenticity. Whether belting growling blues laments or crooning ballads, his delivery is at once emotionally convincing.

A man of few words, his no-nonsense approach to his show makes solid use of every moment, running smooth, polished and precisely, while providing his audience with fresh and creative treatments of decades worth of classic hits. The uplifting opener, "Let it Rain," had everyone on their feet immediately. Other standouts included "I Shot the Sheriff" and the sultry blues number "Have You Ever Loved a Woman?," with Clapton again releasing the most amazingly purely-heaven blues licks one could imagine.

Apparently Bramhall is filling more shoes than he expected when two other accompanying guitarists had to drop off the tour. He made fast work of proving he has plenty of feet to fill those metaphorical shoes. Add the solid and reliable foundation by monster drummer Steve Gadd and bassist Nathan East, along with powerful B3 and keyboards from Billy Preston, and the backup vocals of Sharon White and Michelle John, and we have more than a sufficient backing band: rather we have a great band in which Clapton appeared comfortable as a member. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy showcasing each member throughout the evening.

The pre-encore final four included "Badge," the tender "Wonderful Tonight," and a stinging rock version of "Layla" that featured an outstanding piano solo by Chris Stainton and slide support with soaring duel leads by Bramhall and Clapton. As the final strains sounded, rather than pausing to bask in the crowd's roaring approval, Clapton stepped out a rhythm in place, about three measures worth, and launched into a blistering "Cocaine," jamming it with a classic Clapton Slowhand start and building until his lightning leads blazed over the fretboard.

The encore, "Sunshine of Your Love," was followed by "Got My Mojo Working," on which Eric and the band were joined by the show opener, Robert Randolph, on ripping lap steel guitar.

Eric has recent guest appearances on both Joe Cocker and Brian Wilson's latest releases and was also recently inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk for his achievements as a guitarist and performer. He devotes much of his time and resources to the Crossroads Centre, an International Non-Profit facility for Recovery from Alcoholism and other Drug Dependencies that he founded. He recently sold off several of his guitars to raise money for the facility, as well as hosting a three day benefit guitar festival. For more information on Crossroads go to crossroadsantigua.org.

It was an absolute honor and a thrill to experience Eric and Friends live.

Photos © 2004 Tim Owen
Review by Tim and Ananda Owen