Donated by John Laitar
In the January/February 1995 "bluesletter" of Buddy Guy's Legends there was a
review of the three shows EC played there.
After months and months of speculation and rumor Eric Clapton's "Nothing But the Blues" tour finally made Buddy Guy's Legends it's second stop on its five club tour of the US. After playing both the Fillmore in San Fancisco and the House of Blues in Los Angeles, Clapton performed for three historic nights at Legends before going on to the House of Blues in New Orleans and Irving Park Plaza in New York City. The shows which took place November 16,17, and 18 [1995] were offically announced a week in advance. It was announced that tickets would go on sale that same night at 7pm at Ticketmaster by phone only. Upon Clapton's request a voucher system was to be used to avoid any scalping. Those who were fortunate enough to get tickets were limited to two each. While, the actual tickets were not distributed until the person was already inside on the night of the performance and had showed proper identification that matched the information on the voucher. The reason for these precautions was simple - Clapton wanted this show to be for the real fans - and it was. Industry brass was kept to a minimum and no guests wre allowed. All tickets were paid for. E.C. arrived approximately a half hour before the show. His crew had spent the entire day readying their traveling sound system. Everything appeared to be in order and by 8:30 the show began. There was no opening act and no introduction. E.C. clad in jeans and a white T-shirt simply walked out and took his place on a chair centered on the stage. While he rarely spoke to the crowd at all over the course of three nights, he began this night with a few words of disappointment as he explained to the anxious crowd that Buddy would not be joining him on this night. Unfortunately, Buddy had been committed to a European tour and would not be back for the shows. He read a short note faxed from Buddy wishing everyone well and immediately broke into an acoustic version of "Motherless Child." Thus began two hours plus of straight blues from Muddy Waters to Robert Johnson to Otis Rush to Willie Dixon to Lowell Fulson to Albert King. Clapton played them all and the crowd truly was in awe. He seemed at ease despite the fact that this was probably the smallest venue he had played in 20 years and the crowd was in awe. After the extended set E.C. left the stage apparently asking a security guard who the familar looking "cowboy" in the front row was. After learning it was Lonnie Brooks, E.C. insisted that he join him for an encore. Lonnie borrowed an axe and the two closed the with an appropriate version of "Sweet Home Chicago" that brought the house down. Ticketless fans began to line up before noon for the second night's show. Word had gotten out that a few tickets had become available the night before at show time and the cold weather did not deter them. Clapton arrived less than an hour before show time, and a few minutes behind him was longtime friend, Pete Townsend, who had flown to town specifically for ths show. E.C. again remained true to the orginators, even down to his guitar selection. For Freddie King's "Tore Down" he broke out his red Gibson 335, the case read "Cream." The crowd like previous night, was motionless, almost hypnotized, save for the ferocious applause at the end of each song. Of the entire crowd, Pete Townsend was the most active as he bounced around in his chair for two straight hours, only stopping for an occasional autograph. The antcipation on the thrid night was high as Otis Rush arrived early, with guitar in hand. The crowd flied in with greater ease as the Ticketmaster voucher system became less cumbersome with practice. Like the previous nights each person was patted down before admittance. No cameras or recording devices of any kind were allowed. E.C. arrived early enough to enjoy a game of Fooz Ball- the table was the only unusual item that the band travelled with. Again Clapton featured the classics, "Hoochie Coochie Man," "Five Long Years," an electric version of "Crossroads," and several more standards. His playing was precise and he truly lived up to the club's name. For the encore E.C. called up Otis Rush who earlier in the show Eric had cited as one of his personal heros. Otis suggested his own tune, "All Your Love." Without hesitation Clapton and the band jumped in. Otis Rush and Eric Clapton together on Buddy Guy's stage; what more needs to be said? The show ended and after some visiting with Otis and his wife, as well as Koko Taylor and her daughter, E.C. was gone. One month before Clapton had been in town where he played the new United Center. The show sold out in minutes, somewhere in the neighborhood of 15,000 or 20,000 tickets in all. So the question remains, why do a club tour? The reason is simple, E.C. is a man of integrity. He has fashioned himself as something of a blues man for years and with the release of his first true blues album, the timing was perfect. He finally got back to his roots.