As Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood sat center stage Sunday night — closing out a sprawling shared set with hits “Layla” and “Can’t Find My Way Home,” each with an acoustic guitar in hand — the veteran rock musicians were in charge.
Drawing from their individual catalogs and that of their short-lived band Blind Faith, the duo and their competent, blues-educated band had plenty to draw from.
The sold-out Pepsi Center was more reverent than raucous as Clapton and Winwood threw down a straightforward, solo-heavy show that nearly reached the two-hour mark.
They opened with a unique choice: Blind Faith’s “Had to Cry Today,” which was an anachronistic nugget with its driving, unmistakably late-’60s lead guitar line.
After Clapton took two memorable solos in the first song, he and Winwood shared the vocals on the blues-infected rocker “Low Down.” The song benefited from the two backup singers and a righteous, song-closing keys solo from Chris Stainton.
The group wasted no time in jumping into the hit “After Midnight.” Featuring Clapton on guitar and vocals and Winwood on organ, the band sounded tight and full of life — even though the hit song’s age was obvious.
Blind Faith’s most important contribution to popular music, the gorgeous, gospel-infused “Presence of the Lord,” followed with a quiet, studied intensity. The two frontmen shared the vocals on the epic, two-part electric psychedelic gospel rager, and the elongated song was a thing of beauty.
A casual fan might have thought the concert indulgent. But judging from the audience’s reaction throughout the show, there didn’t appear to be many casual fans in the house. Audience members celebrated Winwood’s thoughtful grand piano appearance on “Sleeping in the Ground” and the Dead-like, piano-psych approach to “Well Alright.”
Those who love listening to — and watching — Clapton play the blues got a treat with “Tough Luck Blues,” which included a couple of solos (keys and guitar) that defied logic and tone in a glorious way.
“Forever Man,” with its often-imitated guitar intro, still sounds like the theme song to some ’70s TV show (even though it was released in the mid-’80s).
Both songs were proof that Clapton — eyes closed and back arched, railing on his steed and laying down some sick fingering — is one of the most lasting icons of rock ‘n’ roll.
Ricardo Baca: 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com
