In concert for four dates in France, the legendary singer and guitarist Eric Clapton sweated the blues in Lyon

The “guitar hero” was in concert on Wednesday in Lyon. A show mainly dedicated to blues that he offers again this Friday at the Arènes de Nîmes. .

When Breton singer Rover, opening for the show, took to the stage of the brand new LDLC Arena in Lyon on Wednesday May 29 to play his melodic rock, he was visibly very moved when he realized what he was doing. live : “I think you can imagine what it’s like in a musician’s life to open for someone like Eric Clapton”… Indeed, it was indeed a living legend of blues and rock who played in Lyon. Soon to be octogenarian next year, and already more than sixty years into popular music since his debut with the Yardbirds in 1963, the guitar legend had not returned to the capital of Gaul since November 1978, if we except his concert at Jazz à Vienne in 1997 with Marcus Miller.

We no longer hoped to see him again, as his concerts in France had become rare in recent years. And his recent health problems did not bode well for the continuation of his tours. So learning that Eric Clapton was not only coming to France, but also to three different cities – Paris, Lyon and Nîmes – was a miracle. Not so surprising for the guy who was nicknamed “God” in the sixties. If we add to this the fact that the guitar hero seems to have regained his dexterity both guitaristically and vocally, we say to ourselves that we have undoubtedly witnessed one of the last great moments in the career of a myth of the music of the twentieth century.

From the opening, the instrumental Blue Dust announces the color: there will be guitar, big sound, few effects, and a Clapton who sends heavy. Most of the time with his eyes closed, the guitarist plays without embellishments and obtains his different intonations by playing only on the volume of the instrument.

Before grabbing his famous black Stratocaster in the second part of the concert, “Slowhand” (one of the singer’s nicknames) displays firstly a model in the colors of the Palestinian flag, a cause which is dear to him and which he defends in his latest single Prayer of a Child, illustrated in concert with images from the clip. This track appeared as a bonus track on his live album To save a child, the profits of which are donated to the children of Gaza.

One more position taken by the artist who had already sparked controversy with his statements during the Covid crisis. But on stage, Clapton is not the type to launch into Roger Waters-style speeches. Just one “Good evening, nice to see you” before starting the acoustic part of the set consisting of four tracks.

The countryesque Back Home where the guitarist displays a fingerpicking style which is not usual for him, the blues Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Outthe surprise Golden Ringvery beautiful ballad from his album Backless in 1978, and finally the poignant Tears in Heaven. The song dedicated to her little boy Conor who died in 1991 takes a more lively tempo here than in its famous original version.

Over six decades, Eric Clapton has widely explored many musical styles. And with an imposing discography, it’s impossible to go through it all, especially in a concert that doesn’t exceed one hour and thirty minutes, including the encore. So, there are some rock hits like Badgeco-written with George Harrison, or the essential Cocaine which closes the set before the encore by first taking on funky airs with Tim Carmon’s synth solo, then almost ragtime with the piano of veteran Chris Stainton, before a deafening finale. The piece, which gives the audience the opportunity to rush to the stage, is introduced by a suspended moment where bassist Nathan East, also a long-time Clapton accompanist, delivers an aerial rendition of Close To Home by Lyle Mays.

We also find Got to Get Better in a Little While with her wah-wah roaring and its drum solo which makes the singer-guitarist almost hilarious. A song which should have appeared in the second opus of Derek and the Dominos, an album which unfortunately never saw the light of day officially.

But overall, the rest of the setlist is mainly focused on blues. Key to the Highway by Freddie King, Hoochie Coochie Man by Willie Dixon, That’s All Right by Jimmy Rogers, Crossroads And Little Queen of Spades by Robert Johnson and finally Before You Accuse Me by Bo Diddley as an encore, so many standards which remind us that Clapton devoted his life to the blues. A blues that becomes fat and rough like in the very fuzzy intro of Crossroadsor on the contrary jazzy with the interventions of the two excellent keyboardists Tim Carmon and Chris Stainton.

Little Queen of Spades is also an opportunity to offer musicians a space to express their virtuosity. Drummer Sonny Emory delivers a powerful strike, while second guitarist Doyle Bramhall II shines with some notable interventions with his specific left-handed playing with inverted strings. “God” concludes the piece with a solo changing key, like in the heyday of Rambling on My Mindlive EC was here in 1975.

And to support the point, the title as an encore is none other than a classic twelve-bar shuffle. While the Manchester public on May 18 was entitled to Sunshine of your loveit is now with Before You Accuse Me that Clapton closes all his shows. Blues, more blues, always blues… The guitar god lived it and played it all his life. At 79 years old, he continues to fully feel it on stage. If “Clapton is God”, then yesterday, even if we may have regretted the absence of Layla, White Room Or I shot the sheriffwe had the impression of being a little closer to God for a moment.