GIGO: words unreadable aloud

Eric Clapton in San Jose

Saw Eric Clapton last night at the HP Pavilion. Great show! It's probably been at least ten or twelve years since I've been to an arena-sized show, and it was great to see how much the technology has improved. Clapton was great, as was Derek Trucks. The sound was awesome -- last few large concerts I had seen, in the early 1990's, left me wishing that I had brought earplugs.

More later; just tidbits for now:

At encore time, instead of lighters, people hold up their cell phone screens now.
Doyle Bramhall II plays left-handed, but plays a right-hand model of guitar. Our seat were such that we saw the backs of the big screens on which the live video was playing -- so everything on there was mirror-reversed.
The video work was pretty amazing -- split screen with guitar close-ups and long shots sharing the screen, but not just split in half or quarters.
Lots of geezers in the audience. Deb and I, in our early fifties, felt like we were among the younger attendees.
The pair of backup singers had one move. On the slow songs, they just did that move reeeaaaalllly slowwwwwwwwly.
Clapton sure has written a bunch of good songs.
Robert Cray was opener -- he's a decent guitarist too, with a very nice voice for a blues guy.

10:09:11 AM comment/