Clapton & Beck: Moon River

 

 My kids got together and surprised Dad on Christmas with a 12th row seat to the "Together and Apart" Tour of my guitar idols. They each played a 45 minute set and then did one together. Beck was out first, dapper in his b&w rock star look (a little like adamant but with his trademark muscle-shirt) and just killed with his riffs and style. He just attacks the Strat, and with just his fingers, never a pick. But a close-up reveals that all five fingers of his right hand are in play all the time. The pinky and ring work the volume, the middle and palmheel, the whammy and he picks with his thumb. Once, after he was really flailing away, he mock (maybe not) waved his hand as if it was cramped. He also reached for the baby powder several times. But the notes, the lyrical side of JB is what I love. That "Cause We Ended As Lovers" melodic thing he finds in many songs. "Moon River" a perfect example.

Moon River - Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton from Cakeroo on Vimeo.

And, yes, that was a small orchestra behind them. Another highlight for me was his rendition of "Nessun Dorma". Yes, opera fans, the Puccini aria from his Turnadot

Nessun dorma (English: None shall sleep)^[1] is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot,^[2] and is one of the best-known tenorarias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, il principe ignoto(the unknown prince), who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot. However, any man who wishes to wed Turandot must first answer her three riddles; if he fails, he will be beheaded. (Wki)

 My type of plot line. Check this great setlist site (they have a web page for everything) for the order and video from the London dates last week.

Clapton's set was OK. He started out with the acoustic and some shuffley blues. "Tell The Truth" from the Dominoes absolutely hit the spot, followed by "Key to the Highway. "I Shot The Sheriff" was my highlight as he spun the reggae feel witha little something extra. Of course, a recovering alcoholic playing "Cocaine" to a screaming crowd is filled with wonderful irony but you can't resist that urge to scream along after "She don't lie, She don't lie, She don't lie...."

Then Jeffrey returned for some slide on "Shake Your Money Maker" and a Cream favorite (missing Jack Bruce's vocals, though) "Outside Woman Blues." But the set ended on such a great high...Sly Stone's "Higher"

 "Crossroads" was the encore and I'll update when I can

Thanks to Sara and Casey.