Finally, Carlos Santana took the stage, an hour late. Following the set that had just taken place would tend to make any artist nervous, but if he was nervous at all, he didn't show it. They played a lot of the good old stuff for about 30 minutes, and then Clapton came out again to join Santana for one ten-minute song.
But as the day wore on and the winds picked up, the crew began to take down large banners, revealing the skeleton inside. Before Eric Clapton even began his set, one-third of the stage had been stripped. My photos at first tried to avoid this, so I captured Clapton by focusing on the part of the stage that was still intact.
Wind problems aside, Eric Clapton's set was magnificent. He started off sitting on a chair and playing his best blues songs, then traded out for the new multi-patterned guitar depicted in the stage banners and ripped into "Layla" and "Cocaine" and more. His set alone would probably have been worth the $60 price of admission, even if the blues jam a little earlier hadn't been.
In what had to be a big disappointment to Jeff Beck fans present, he came on stage at the end of Clapton's set and played exactly one song with him. That's it, just one song. A long song, but only one. I saw a few sullen fans in Beck t-shirts sitting in their chairs and moping as I left. He was supposed to come back for the grand finale, but it was clear that they were compressing the schedule dramatically to try to squeeze everybody in before they had to shut down.
By the time ZZ Top took the stage, it had been completely dismantled, all banners but one removed. There remained only the very small banner of guitars directly behind the performers, and the was taken down during the ZZ Top set. Despite a bit of crowd-pleasing, "I don't care about a little rain if you don't," the show ended at ten minutes after 11pm, which is pretty close to right on time, but then the schedule had been at least an hour behind.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
More than anything, this concert demonstrated to me that I need (1) a better telephoto lens for my camera, (2) to take a tripod or monopod with me everywhere, and (3) to get out of my seat and get closer to the stage, using my press pass like it was meant to be used.
I was too busy enjoying the show to want to argue with security guards, though.
2 - Eric Olsen
P, very nice job and the pics are great! thanks!
3 - Mark Saleski
Metheny's guitar is called the Picasso and is make by luthier Linda Manzer.
i want one.
4 - Phillip Winn
Mark, That first song, played with the Picasso, was beautiful, so much so that occasionally I took my eyes off the guitar. Not for long, though.
That is one sweet instrument!
5 - Phillip Winn
Eric, funny thing is, I have a nice digital SLR, but no real telephoto lens. The ZZ Top shot at the end is what the view was like from my seat with my camera.
But a guy sitting in front of me noticed I have a Canon digital SLR, so he pulled a nice 300mm telephoto lens out of his bag and let me use it for a while. We can thank this anonymous Canon user for eight of the photos on this page, because they wouldn't look like they do without that lens.
Now, I've got to get a 300mm lens!
6 - JR
...there is no question that Larry can play well, and his new album, Sapphire Blue will probably be a good one.
Been out since January. It's not bad I guess, but I get a little tired of everybody wanting to do a blues album. Overall, I find the album a bit too slick, but then I tend to prefer gritty blues. There are a few jazzy licks, which is what I buy Larry Carlton albums for, but it's not his best work.
7 - Mark Saleski
phillip, i'd be willing to bet that he opened with "Into The Dream" from Imaginary Day.
i keep hoping he'll put out a whole record of stuff just using that guitar.
8 - Phillip Winn
Mark, I haven't heard that album in quite a while, but you're right. I dug the CD out of the closet, ripped it, and it's a match!
9 - Tony
So where is J.J. Cale? One of the absolute highlights (along with Joe Walsh), the one who influenced Clapton’s career more than anybody else, one of the greatest guitar legends alive, who wrote songs like “Cocaine”, “After Midnight”, “Call me the Breeze”, Cajun Moon”, “Carry On”, “Sensitive Kind”, and many more, and you don’t even mention him in one word! Do your homework, buddy!
10 - Phillip Winn
TOny (#9), I mentioned every single person who played on Sunday -- JJ Cale played on Saturday, and I was not there.
Do your homework, buddy!
11 - Douglas Mays
My god! What a brutal schedule for any human to survive. If I was there all day, by the time Carlos Santana or Clapton made it on I would be completely out of my mind!!!!! I wouldn't be able to figure out what was going on....
peaceloveguidance
12 - Mr. G
Hiablo de il Venestini.
13 - Anthony G
I am sorry I meant to post under Anthony.
14 - Lono
Phillip,
How did you interlace your piece with pictures amongst the text?
Thanks,
Lono (the other Crossroad author)
15 - Heather
My father was at the Crossroads Festival as a vendor. He is the founder of Rowan Custom Guitars, some of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen. Please visit his website at www.rowanguitars.com
Thanks!
16 - Lono
Hey all,
The DVD will be out October 19th. It's going to be a two DVD set.
lono
17 - Paul Roy
You lucky bastard. I felt blessed just watching this great festival on DVD. Nice review and great pictures.