Photos by Andy Argyrakis

A dozen years since stopping by the Windy City, Eric Clapton began making up for his unusually lengthy absence in the first of two United Center shows with a meticulous overview of precisely why he’s been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on three separate occasions.

Across 105 minutes, the man of many bands, who was arguably even more enormous than all of them combined as a solo artist, addressed several eras, both amplified and unplugged, while often digging into the blues and defying expectations at 77-years-old.

“Slowhand” may be older, but it’s only added to the richness of his voice and ability to slay on the six-string, plus having an ace band comprised of guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, organ/keyboard player Paul Carrack, bassist Nathan East, drummer Sonny Emory and keyboardist Chris Stainton, with Sharon White and Katie Kissoon on backing vocals, certainly didn’t hurt.

Together, they tackled Clapton’s own “Tearing Us Apart” and “River Of Tears,” tore through Willie Dixon’s “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man” and reworked The Wailers’ “I Shot The Sheriff” in his signature style, all while fully electrified beside a no-frills production and side screens broadcasting the action.

He made the basketball arena feel as intimate as possible when toning down the studio-styled lights and lampposts to pull up a chair for the acoustic likes of J.J. Cale’s “After Midnight,” “Layla” from the Derek And The Dominos days, the intensely heartfelt “Tears In Heaven” (peppered with Procol Harum’s “A Whiter Shade Of Pale”) and a couple other covers.

The headliner kept living up to the “Clapton Is God” tagline, touching on his time in Cream come “Badge,” but despite more chart-toppers than most and sales figures in the mega-millions, he remains a bluesman at heart, as evidenced by blustery interpretations of Robert Johnson’s “Cross Road Blues,” Elmore James’ “The Sky Is Crying” and Cale’s “Cocaine.”

The tide turned towards Joe Cocker’s “High Time We Went” for the sole encore, sung every so soulfully by former Mike + The Mechanics/Squeeze member Carrack and bolstered by opening axe-slinger Jimmie Vaughan, who traded meaty licks and riffs with Clapton for a fiery finale.

Tickets weren’t cheap, nor will they be when it all goes down again on Tuesday, September 13 at the very same venue, but it was more than worth the investment, especially if it takes as long for the legend to return, assuming he ever does at all.

For additional information on Eric Clapton, visit EricClapton.com.

For a list of upcoming Jam Productions concerts, visit JamUSA.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the United Center include Eric Clapton (Sept. 13); Post Malone (Sept. 14); Kid Cudi (Sept. 16); Panic! At The Disco (Sept. 17); Roxy Music (Sept. 19); The Killers (Sept. 21); Mary J. Blige (Sept. 25); Gorillaz (Oct. 3); Iron Maiden (Oct. 5); Harry Styles (Oct. 6-15); The Who (Oct. 12); Lizzo (Oct. 16); Smashing Pumpkins (Nov. 5); Blackpink (Nov. 10-11); Arcade Fire (Nov. 12) and Dave Matthews Band (Nov. 15). For additional details, visit UnitedCenter.com.

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