Eric Clapton / Mellon Arena Pittsburgh (2CDR)

(CD01 Acoustic Side)
01 Intro
02 Going Down Slow
03 Key To The Highway
04 Tell The Truth
05 Old Love
06 I Shot The Sheriff
07 Driftin' Blues
08 Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
09 Running On Faith
10 I've Got A Rock 'N Roll Heart

(CD02 Electric Side)
11 Badge
12 Little Queen Of Spades
13 Before You Accuse Me
14 Wonderful Tonight
15 Cocaine (Encore)
16 Crossroads

"ERIC CLAPTON & HIS BAND"
Eric Clapton - guitar / vocals
Chris Stainton - keyboards
Walt Richmond - keyboards
Willie Weeks - bass
Steve Gadd - drums
Michelle John - backing vocals
Sharon White - backing vocals

Following the huge success of his joint tour with Jeff—which had caused a temporary hiatus—EC & His Band resumed their 2010 U.S. tour. This release captures the concert held at the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh on February 25, 2010. With a completely revamped lineup of supporting musicians compared to 2009, the rhythm section boasts a much richer, fuller sound. EC himself seems intent on a more deliberate, listening-focused experience, performing ten acoustic numbers right from the opening before transitioning to the electric set. While the joint tour also began with an acoustic set, it left some fans wanting a bit more; this release, however, offers a full concert experience—including the encore—allowing listeners to fully immerse themselves in the world of EC across fifteen tracks. As there hasn't been a new album release in a while, the setlist is packed with hits. Notably, the masterpiece "Layla" is absent, but the sound—shaped by the new backing band—is excellent, offering a rich, stable, and reassuring listening experience. One could argue this is the best backing band lineup he has ever had. As for the sound quality, although it is an audience recording, it is clear and stable throughout—with no muddiness—making for a very enjoyable listening experience.