Originally published by L.S. Media. May 14th 2009.

With over fifty years of experience of playing on stage and a song book that most bands would kill for, it is with no small wonder that Eric Clapton still manages to make the art of playing guitar look so incredibly simple. Even appearing on stage to no fanfare and looking more dishevelled than a tumble dryer full of wet clothes, he still manages to look the coolest man in the world.

The song book would have to be slimmed down somehow for Eric’s first visit to Liverpool in many years but thankfully he managed to keep the older members of the audience happy by keeping a lot of his early incarnation with Cream and his early solo career on the list..

These included the Bob Marley written, I Shot the Sheriff from 461 Ocean Boulevard, and two amazing acoustic versions of Layla and Lay Down Sally. The tempo was turned down several notches for a beautiful soul version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow which earned huge applause from the sell out Echo crowd.

Playing alongside Eric Clapton was possibly the only man who can keep up and play just as well as old slow hand, Mr Andy Fairweather Low, who will be playing his own gig at the Pacific Road, Birkenhead in November.

After the acoustic break, Eric went back to what he did best and carried on the set, almost nonchalantly but feeling every note and chord, with Cream’s epic Badge and Little Queen of Spades from the Me and Mr Johnson album.

Perhaps only Eric could get away with playing the Patti Boyd inspired song Wonderful Tonight in George Harrison’s home town but seeing as the two were old friends before and after Eric married George’s wife, it might be that even George would have had a smile on his face as he heard the lyrics.

Eric Clapton finished an incredible night of blues and rock with the amazing Cocaine and the longed for Crossroads as an encore.

Ian D. Hall