Eric Clapton and his music

Guitar legend Eric Clapton brought his travelling blues show to the Saddledome last night. (Kevin Udahl, Sun Media)
CALGARY - Eric Clapton's show at the Saddledome last night was either one of best concerts of the year or a huge disappointment, depending on who you ask. Those who came out expecting the 61-year-old legend to pump out hit after hit during the two-hour gig, were probably not impressed with the blues-filled set list, which mostly ignored Clapton's popular rock catalogue. So the rest of the sold-out crowd -- namely those who expected to be blown away by the thrice-inducted Rock-and-Roll Hall of Famer's talent -- likely saw the concert as an unforgettable display of raw, innate ability.

But whatever their take on the show, all had to be impressed by Clapton's honed skills, both as an axemaster and as a vocalist. Kicking things off with five soulful numbers from the Derek and the Dominos era -- including Tell the Truth, Key To The Highway, and Jimi Hendrix's Little Wing -- Slow Hand, dressed in jeans and a black button-up shirt, warmed the room before his bandmates broke into a few early solos. Guitarist Doyle Bramhall II and bassist Willie Weeks took turns throughout the set one-upping each other as the audience cheered them on with whistles and applause, before Clapton grabbed their attention with a solo of his own. Performing an acoustic version of Driftin' Blues, the main attraction proved to still have magic fingers and a pretty decent singing voice, though his raspy vocals have softened somewhat over the years. While the seated, sold-out crowd appeared to be enthralled with the men onstage throughout the first hour, most seemed relieved when Clapton finally rolled out the first hit of the night, Motherless Children. Instantly, the vibe in the room changed for the better, as concert-goers leapt out of their chairs, though only for a moment. Then it was back to the blues, as the second half of the concert, which was expected to include hits Wonderful, Tonight, Layla and Cocaine, got underway. Throughout the show, there was not only a noticeable absence of chart-toppers, but of Clapton's personality. Opting to let the lyrics speak for him, he rarely acknowledged the crowd with anything more than a quick thank-you, leaving the room feeling a bit left out at times. Openers, the Robert Cray Band, however, made up for this with its audience-pleasing set, which included a Calgary-specific version of Phone Booth. Cray, known for his soulful voice and crisp guitarwork, was definitely on his A game, belting out his own unique style of blues, through songs like Bad Influence and the anti-war tune Twenty. For this he was rewarded with a rare opening-act standing ovation and undoubtedly, the loyalty of many new fans.