Eric Clapton - Crossroads Guitar Festival [DVD]

Most compelling are the rare and sometimes unusual collaborations. Joe Walsh and Taylor clown around on "Steamroller Blues" and Booker T. & the M.G.'s back both Joe Walsh on a rollicking "Rocky Mountain Way" and Los Lobos' David Hidalgo tearing into a sizzling "The Neighborhood". Clapton and J.J. Cale share the stage as do Clapton and Carlos Santana, and a show-stopping blues summit with Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughan, Hubert Sumlin, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Clapton is a treat for all involved.

There are some shortcomings. The event isn't presented in chronological order--different stages, days, and backing bands are shuffled with Clapton's own set scattered throughout--ZZ Top's closing is a bit anticlimactic, and there are many omissions due to time constraints. But every act rises to the occasion, and this expertly recorded and shot DVD gives the viewer a front-row seat to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. --Hal Horowitz

Just brilliant!

There's lots of stuff (even though there are sad omissions, like Jeff Beck), and lots of styles, although blues is obviously the common link...

There's lots of interesting and amazing playing throughout, and even Clapton seems to play with a little more fire than usual...

It was a pity the old bluesmen get so little time, but I enjoyed the whole thing a lot and even those guitarists I didn't know about... made some fine discoveries too, of course...

At some point halfway through watching it, I felt Lynyrd Skynyrd would have fitted the bill just perfect, and I wished they had played there... guitar power they don't lack, that's for sure... and Rossington, Thomasson and Medlocke are all brilliant...

But anyway, even though one wishes it was a 3 DVD set, there's plenty to get one's teeth into...

First off, the bluesmen (Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Vaughan, BB King, Buddy Guy) all put on a beautiful performance and it is very clear they are enjoying themselves, which adds to one's own enjoyment...

Then it's country time!
Watching Dan Tyminski and Ron Block play "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" was pure joy... I loved their guitar styilings and they just sound wonderful.... plus, it's such a great tune... they also play "Road To Nash Vegas", an instrumental where they get to show off their interplay...

Somebody I had never heard of is Vince Gill, but his country songs, and especially the solo on "Oklahoma Borderline" left me in awe...

A nice addition is James Taylor... he gets to play some blues side by side with Joe Walsh, who just can't stop being the goof he's always been and who puts some of the best performances on the DVD, "Funk 49" and "Rocky Mountain Way"... Walsh is always great to see live...

John Mayer was another unknown for me... he's very young but classy and passionate... I enjoyed his performance...

There was also Steve Vai and his band who just floor anyone with their performance... one song is enough to blow you away... intense!

There were lots more great performances: J.J. Cale, Larry Carlton, John McLaughlin...

Highlights for me were the bluesmen... Clapton's own performances and his collaboration with Santana on a scorching "Jingo"... Tyminski & Block... Vince Gill... plus Joe Walsh... Vai... McLaughlin... and an Indian player called Vishwa Mohan Batt, who plays a veena that he built himself out of a guitar.....

Clapton's band puts the finishing touches to the show..... or so it seems because after him, comes one of the absolute best moments in the DVD, when the lights dim and a voice comes out of the speakers: "Señores y señoritas.... it's fiesta time!"

Of course, it's that "little old band from Texas", ZZ TOP!

It's such a damn shame they get so little time in the DVD, because their performance is hugely enjoyable and you can see the big Dallas crowd having fun with the band...

Yes, it should have been a 3 DVD set!


Fantastic!!!   March 4, 2005
A. T. B. Tan (UK)
25 out of 25 found this review helpful

Absolutely fantastic! I don't know what else I could say to describe how i felt watching this DVD... it "got me on my knees!". a breathtaking experience. i only wish i was there live! PS the hidden clip on disc 2 isn't necessarily next to the words MAIN - mine was beneath the guitar solos bit :)


This DVD has a hidden extra!!!!!!!!!!   February 15, 2005
I. MCCORMACK (UK)
36 out of 37 found this review helpful

Put disc 2 in
In the menu, go to Extras
Move the 'pointer' to the option 'Main' but don't select it
Move left one more time and you'll notice the 'pointer' vanishes then Hit select - a rather familiar riff will fill your ears....fantastic.

Oh and by the way, the whole DVD is magical.


Unmissable!   December 30, 2004
Claptonite (Northampton)
29 out of 30 found this review helpful

This is not a DVD of the 2004 tour but Eric is on good form with his tour band in evidence amongst a plethora of well-known and not-so well-known guitarists. There's a great overall atmosphere and, despite the characters there, no sense of competition. Everyone just came along at Clapton's invitiation. Highlights? James Taylor's two offerings and Claptons "I shot the sherriff" followed by "Have you ever loved a woman?". But the whole thing is just 3 1/2 hours of ace axemen doing their stuff - live!


Crossroads Guitar Fstival   November 30, 2004
Brin (Bracknell, Berkshire United Kingdom)
28 out of 29 found this review helpful

Maybe not the best performances you can get of the individual artists involved, but it's live and the enjoyment of the contributors shines through. If you play guitar it's an essential for your collection. If you just like music it's a trawl through the ages, from delta blues to modern rock.
A must have, and part of your dosh goes to a worthy cause.