Dear Mr. Fantasy, play us a tune....

Last night's Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood show at the Brendan Byrne Arena (to you youngsters: Izod Center) was amazing. This was my 2nd time seeing the greatest living guitar player in the world today. The first was the last of the 3 night CREAM reunion shows at MSG 3 years ago.

A few observations:

1. Steve Winwood had a pretty good face-lift and is truly "back in the high-life again".

2. This was the ultimate "trophy-wife" concert. I have never seen so many late-50s, early 60 year old men with women 20 years or younger since I had dinner at Cipriani.

3. Getting "Layla" at an Eric Clapton show is always an amazing treat. But, getting Layla acoustically is kind of like....well, disappointing. My friend Fred, a huge Clapton fan and a veteran of many shows, put it this way: "you go to see Clapton play the electric guitar...not the acoustic guitar". "Layla" is one of the greatest songs of all-time, hands down. From the opening chords of Clapton's Fender to the last note on the piano, its music at its finest. I would have loved to have seen Steve Winwood jam on that too.

Clapton on the electric guitar made the cover of the Hendrix classic "Little Wing" the highlight of the night in my eyes.

However in an oxy-moronic way, the acoustic version of the Blind Faith classic "Can't Find My Way Home" was unreal.

Whenever there's someone of this caliber on tour and you haven't seen them, skip the Hot97 Summer Jam and go.

And below is why you want Clapton to play the electric guitar version of "Layla".





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