THURSDAY, MAY 28
CLAPTON & WINWOOD
Live at MSG
It takes a couple of songs before Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood: Live from Madison Square Garden finds its groove.
But when it does, that groove for the most part is a slow and steady stream of great songs, familiar and not-so-familiar songs, from two old-time rockers who make everything about getting up on a stage to play music in front of thousands of people easy – old hat.
Live is from Clapton and Winwood’s reunion tour last year. They were both members of Blind Faith a million years ago, before taking off on solo careers.
Each performs solo hits but the entire concert is a collaboration. It often feels like two old guys in the garage jamming on old, old songs.
The best songs on Live are when the two guys sing together – Clapton on guitar, Winwood on keyboards – including Clapton’s hit “Forever Man.”
Another highlight is “Presence of the Lord,” a song that long-time fans may be familiar with, but which I’d never heard.
There’s something kind of striking about watching Live.
These guys are old-school performers. They stand on stage, play their music and then call it a night. It all comes easy and most of it’s just amazing to watch.
What’s most striking, though, is just how much live concerts have changed since rock’s heyday a few decades back.
Today, it’s so commonplace to see stages full of dancers and gigantic video screens that it almost seems odd and outdated to watch two guys stand up on stage strumming guitars.
It’s refreshing, too – the music takes center stage.
Live from Madison Square Garden may be a bit difficult to find – it’s airing on only some PBS stations tonight. Check pbs.org for listings.
