He began his set with a cover of “Somebody’s Knocking” and continued with “Key to the Highway.” Grammy-winning artist John Mayer joined him for a special collaboration of “Pretending,” prior to covering “Hoochie Coochie Man.”
He blew his audience away with a haunting rendition of “You Are So Beautiful,” which was well-received by the New York crowd. R&B sensation Nathan East joined him on lead vocals on “Can’t Find My Way Home,” while “I Shot the Sheriff” and “Driftin’ Blues” were equally impressive and entertaining vocals.
Just when you thought that the living rock legend could not get any better, he left the audience spellbound with his signature tune “Tears in Heaven,” which he performed acoustic, and he was able to silence the entire grand arena. Jimmie Vaughan joined Clapton on “Before You Accuse Me” and it was followed by yet another stellar vocal, the classic “Wonderful Tonight.”
Blues musicians Doyle Bramhall II was superb with Clapton on “Let It Rain” and all his musical guests returned on stage for the encore tune and grand finale “High Time We Went.”
The Verdict
Overall, Eric Clapton gave New York City a memorable evening of music. The audience knew that they were in the presence of a musical giant. He commanded the Madison Square Garden stage for the entire duration of his concert. While it was the rock star’s 70th birthday, the fans were the ones that got the best present: a top-notch rock show. He earned 5 out of 5 stars.
For more information on Eric Clapton, check out his official website.
