Down To The Crossroads

We went to Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival on June 26th.  We all had a fantastic time with the exception of Lillie, who was bored out of her skull.  Tom loved it.  Mary and I have had enough Blues for the rest of our lives so when Vince Gill came out with James Burton and Albert Lee we were thrilled.  Hearing James Burton play Mystery Train was the thrill of a lifetime.  Jeff Beck was great and easily stole the show.  Clapton was boring until Winwood joined him.  They played Glad, some Blind Faith song, Dear Mr Fantasy, Voodoo Chile which cooked and ended with Cocaine, which was hilarious with female backing vocals.

John Mayer was the big surprise, in a good way.  He played with Pino Palladino (third time Mary and I have seen him) and Steve Jordan.  They were second to Beck for best in show.  I was ready to poo-poo his performance big time.  Apparently he’s one of those musicians with the radio friendly songs to get airplay but live he kills with the other material.  I’ve only heard the XRT songs and consider them lightweight.

ZZ Top were dependable and played exactly what you wanted (Have Mercy into Jesus Just Left Chicago, some song I don’t remember and La Grange).  Robert Cray was okay.  Ronnie Wood was a surprise with Buddy Guy and Johnnie Lang.  They were enjoyable enough.  Johnny Winter will not be with us much longer.  He butchered Red House but given his health, he was completely forgiven.  We left after Clapton/Winwood so we missed BB King and the Finale but from what I’ve read it was just as well.

Sonny Landreth was a great opener.  Robert Randolph band was as good as they needed to be.  Doyle Bramhall II and Sheryl Crow and the Derek Trucks and Susan Tadeski Band were yawn inducing.  At least Trucks was a last minute fill in for the Allman Bros so he had an excuse.

Bill Murray was a great MC.  Earl Klugh played a nice 15 minute set of what Lillie called Elevator Music.  Given the time of day, we called it dinner music.  It was also a treat to see Bert Jansch.

Clapton said he had so much fun that there will be another.  We would go again, sans Lillie.

We were in the stands.  Section 109 Row 5.  Pretty far away from the stage but they would have been good soccer seats.

Very hot but tolerable once the sun went behind the roof.