Few living musicians require less introduction than Eric Clapton, a guitarist who has dipped his feet in nearly every subgenre of rock and blues, inventing a few along the way.
He may be turning 62 later this month, but his passion and inventiveness remain. Clapton’s blues-heavy performance at the Pepsi Center on Wednesday night added layers of meaning to his already legendary career.
Smoking slide player Derek Trucks and southpaw Doyle Bramhall II formed the corners of the guitar pyramid – the youngsters impressively holding their own alongside Slowhand.
With barely a word or pause between songs, Clapton and his players – a bassist, drummer, two keyboard players and two backup singers – made short work of traditional-leaning songs such as “Got to Get Better in a Little While” and “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.”
Standing on a Persian rug in bluejeans, sneakers and a shortsleeved black shirt, the bespectacled and graying Clapton effortlessly picked out searing, twisting notes. Better-known songs such as “Wonderful Tonight” and “Little Wing” or the encore of “Cocaine” and “Crossroads” (the latter sung by opener Robert Cray) were the exception of the set, which had an overall roots-blues feel.
The sellout crowd reacted mildly at first, preferring to remain seated. Eventually, such songs as “Running on Faith” and especially the epic “Layla” brought them to their feet, their screams becoming deafening by the end of the night.
That last song, in particular, sounded spectacular – faithful to the original without being slavish. Never having seen Clapton before, this reviewer was racked with considerable chills during the famously extended solo.
Quieter songs, as when Clapton sat with his acoustic guitar, illustrated the continuing strength of his voice, but make no mistake the night belonged to guitar solos. Not the self-indulgent or flashy sort (even if Bramhall’s tone often felt too shrill) but the warranted, genuinely virtuoso kind.
Clapton’s credentials are unquestionable – Blind Faith, the Yardbirds, Derek and the Dominos, Cream – but his astounding skills ensure he’ll never have to rest on his laurels. There are few near-flawless shows these days, but Clapton delivered one.
Staff writer John Wenzel can be reached at 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com.
