I Should Have Been a rock Star - Guitar Fest

Eric Clapton Guitar fest

Ashley, the boys and I traveled to Dallas Texas in June of 2004. The event that drew us there was the huge Eric Clapton Guitar Fest at the Cotton Bowl.
From the first moment I saw ads for the 2-day show, I was drooling over the prospect of seeing so many great guitarists all in one place. Some of them, I had seen live before., Some, I was ready to see and hear for the first time.
Ashley has a way of making things happen even when I feel like there’s no money for it, but we did decide that one day of the show was about all we could afford. The show ran on a Friday and Saturday, and the choice was a tough one.
Fletch, who had just finished his junior year of high school, and listened to a lot of classic rock also wanted to see the show. He and I scanned the lineup and decided that the Saturday show was what we would shoot for. Cor and Ashley had big plans on making the most of a hotel stay, swimming and lazing through the day after dropping us at the fairgrounds. They would also retrieve us late that evening, so she could keep the car that whole day.
Our choice of days meant we would miss a few great artists, such as Johnny Lang, Eric Johnson, Robert Cray and the one I missed most, J.J. Cale, who had penned so many tunes I loved. It was a tough choice for us, but the line-up for Saturday promised to be spectacular.
We drove to Dallas the evening before, MapQuest instructions close at hand. I spent a restless night in the hotel, cell alarm set to get up early and be at the gate awaiting the opening.
The day started out hot, warmer than normal for an early June day in Dallas. Of course, the festival allowed no outside drinks, water included, into the Cotton Bowl. I was really kind of shocked at the age of the stadium. It was the site of the yearly football showdown between U. of Texas and the Sooners, so I guess I expected something more on par with what Memorial Stadium in Norman or the stadium at Austin.
We wandered our way to an entrance, following other early morning devotees. It was like a crowd on the way to see the Pope pass by, or devotees of the Dalli Lama. Each, ranging in ages form teens to gray haired rockers in their sixties, all adorned in their personal favorite concert T-shirts. Everyone wore their colors, advertising either the last time they saw Clapton, or any other of the musicians to appear on stage.

“Clapton is God” I had seen splashed over the pages of “The Rolling Stone” in the 70’s. I had no doubt then as he was the man who wailed on “:Layla,” and provided the pounding guitar to “Sunshine of Your Love.” He even played the guitar solo on the Beatles “While MY Guitar Gently weeps.” Clapton was god, and walked in the circles of other rock gods. Who else could command the lineup he had procured for charity? Only George Harrison’s “Concert for Bandla Desh” and Bob Geldoff’s “Live Aid” had come close.
I had seen Clapton one time before. In the late 70’s he played a show in Tulsa, with a band that at that was made up primarily of Tulsa musicians and imitated much of what people referred to as the Tulsa sound. His first solo album had even featured Leon Russell, another Tulsa legend. His band included Tulsan Jamie Oldaker on drums, Tulsa bassist Carl Radle who had also played on the Dominos LP, backup singer Marcy Levy, who had recorded and performed with Leon. In fact, at one point in his frequent trips to Tulsa, Eric had been arrested in the Tulsa Airport for drunk and disorderly conduct after tossing his bags from the top floor to friends below.
The old concert had been fantastic, with Clapton and guitarist George Terry exchanging licks. For the final encore, Clapton was joined by opening act, blues guitarist Freddie King for a blistering guitar battle. That would be King’s last tour, as he would pass away that December from heart failure at the age of 42.

Fletch and I made our way to the front half of the Cotton Bowl floor. It was covered, to protect the turf, but that covering reflected the sun. It promised to be a hot day, with a sweaty and raucous crowd. I told Fletch that because of the h4eat, he might get his wish for a large, outdoor semi-clad ocean of females! The rising temps, as we waited for the opening acts, promised that.

At just about noon, the MC walked to the front of the stage to introduce Neal Shon and Jonathan Cain of Journey. Neal is a great guitarist, who got his start as a young guy playing for Carlos Santana. Cain came to Journey from the Babys. They opened up the show with a tune that Fletch said would be hard for any of the rest of the bands to beat. Schon and Cain played an amazing blistering version of Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child!” It was a greta tribute to Hendrix. The song was later left off the concert DVD. I can only imagine that the Hendrix estate wouldn’t allow it without compensation. I had read they were pretty stingy with Jimi’s tunes.

But, there was no let up in rocking music. Steve Vai an dhis band had a scorched earth policy. They left no survivors. The climax of their set found the entire band at stage front on guitars, each playing the fret board as the other picked. Pretty amazing.
Vai was not someone I ordinarily listened to, but there was no doubt that this guy, whom I knew primarily as the devil’s guitarist from the movie “Crossroads” (not the Brittany Spears same titled flick) played like someone possessed.
We saw Larry Carleton, jazz guitarist who played the lead guitar on Steely dan’s “Peg.” We listened to blues by Jimmy Vaughn, once of the Fabulous Thunderbirds and brother to another guitar legend, Stevie ray Vaughn. Vaugh’s band acted as house band for several of the following acts, including Bo Diddly, Buddy Guy and BB King.
Those blues icons were later joined by John Mayer, who showed he could soar with the eagles, and Clapton in a huge mid jam on the stage. BB seemed unwilling to ever let the jam end, forcing the show behind schedule.
BookerT and the MDG’s palyed and then played behind other rock legends Joe Walsh and Clapton. Walsh, always the clown, as he was when I saw him on a solo tour in the 80’s commented before palying “Rocky Mountain Way,” “If I had known I would have had to play this song so many times, I would have written something else.”
Things mellowed out with Okie product and country star Vince Gill. Vince displayed some fine picking and we saw wife Amy Grant standing just offstage. James Taylor and his smooth voice were joined by Jjerry Douglas on dobro. You can’t help but feel good when Taylor sings.

The day was hot and we drank several expensive bottles of water. The sun beat down and we retreated into the hall of guitars to get a rest from the rays. On the way there, I sighted the first semi-clad female and asked Fletch if this was what he had been waiting for. Unfortunately for my 16 year old, the skimpily dressed woman was older than me and almost as big!
Night fell. Clapton introduced Carlos Santana and the crowd roared. The lights came on to show him beginning the sounds of “Black magic Woman.” Fletch and I, who stood maybe 30 yards from the stage, were suddenly shoved this way and that as crowds of young Hispanics rushed toward the stage. Santana was definitely the highlight of the show for the Hispanic portion of the crowd. After a few songs, Clapton walked on stage to duet with Santana. Spectacular moment.
With time winding down, and a n apparent curfew on sound and lights, Jeff beck made a quick appearance on stage. He and Clapton, both ex-members of the Yardbirds, traded licks to a still standing, but weather beaten crowd.
The weather changed with the darkness and the clouds began to roll overhead. As the stage darkened for the local favorites, ZZ Top, winds whipped at the stage and some drops of rain fell. The plan on the schedule had been for Eric to finish off by playing with the Top, but weather and the curfew forced that guitar duel between Billy Gibbons and Claptoon to await another time.
People know ZZ Top now for their songs like ”Legs” or “sharp Dressed man,” but I have seen them several times early in their career, when Billy would make his guitar whine with the blues. Not any better blues song than his :”Blue jean Blues” from the “Fandango” album. Unfortunately, the LP also contained “Tush,” which was a hit and many later songs imitated that rather than his much better bluesy style.
The show ended, Fletch and I slogged out of the stadium, searching for Ash and Cor and the car.
It had been a spectacular day in guitar heaven.

Fletch and I saw Clapton live again that Fall in OKC. The Randolph family Band opened and he played a fiery set that showed no signs of age.

What guitarist would I still like to see???
Let’s see……

11:50am Neal Schon
12:10pm Steve Vai and his band
12:30pm Sonny Landreth
1:00pm Larry Carlton and his Band
2:00pm John McLaughlin
2:30pm Robert Cray Band
3:00pm Jimmie Vaughan
3:40pm Booker T and the MGs
3:50pm Bo Diddley
4:00pm David Hidalgo
4:30pm Joe Walsh
5:00pm Vince Gill with Jerry Douglas
5:30pm James Taylor and his band
6:00pm Buddy Guy
6:30pm B.B. King
7:00pm Carlos Santana
8:00pm Eric Clapton
9:20pm Jeff Beck with Eric Clapton
9:45pm ZZ Top