It was opening night for a three show stint at the Garden and I could feel the energy in the air as I came out of Penn Station. The crowd hanging outside was a little smaller than normal but that only meant the bars in the area were packed solid.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band opened the show going on @ 7:30 sharp. He is a blues musician that plays one hell of a slide guitar. The band played until 8:10 and they were better than average.

Clapton comes on at 8:30 opening with "Let It Rain" the Garden is about 3/4 of the way full.It is the first time I been to the Garden that it isn't a cloud of Pot smoke a little strange I thought. Clapton then goes right into a blues set playing "Whochie Kochie Man" he plays about 5 older blues songs after that one. I decide to drink Champagne for this show, since they walk around selling it. I figured let me get a different buzz for this special show. The last time I got whacked on champagne was about 17 years ago when we would put a hit of blotter in the bottle and call it electric champagne.After the blues set he breaks right into "I Shot the Sheriff" the Garden erupts and sings along.Eric's band is a 6 piece band along with 2 female back up singers. He sits down and does a couple of acoustic songs,ending with " Mr. Johnson".The Garden is jammed pack know and Clapton is on fire. They break into an old Derek & The Dominos song and the Garden goes crazy everyone comes to their feet singing and dancing.He then starts fuckin around on guitar and I could here "Wonderful Tonight " being the next song and it was I felt that one before anyone in the Garden. The crowd again goes crazy and on the huge overhead T.V screen they pick a guy and his wife slow dancing and kissing and leave them up for most of the song.Eric Clapton defiantly looks his age but still proves that he is the living legend and no one will put on a better show in his home town. The champagne has kicked in and for a change I am feeling wonderful tonight!!!The band then goes into"Layla" everyone sings along with a smile from ear to ear. Clapton goes right into "Cocaine" the Garden is still on there feet, the concrete under foot is swaying in the whole Garden as everyone is having a blast.They leave the stage and come back on shortly for the encore . Clapton breaks into " Sunshine of Your Love" I start to make my way out of the Garden and Clapton goes off at 10:30.From a 1 to 10 I give this show an 8 it was incredible but a little to bluesy for me. This is the 3rd time I've seen Clapton in the Garden and let me tell you no one brings the Garden to their knees like Clapton does. I seen around 100 shows in the Garden and his shows stick out like no other.

By Brandon Dilks
Manager - Nuse

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