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Anyone see Cream in London?

Sorry only second hand commentary here too. A newspaper review I read yesterday said it was excellent - a great performance.

There's a review here - Invalid Link Removed

looks like it was a good show.
 
I thought the review was entertaining:

"We're going to play for as long as we can," he announces happily, a remark greeted with deafening cheers, rather than the deeply apprehensive gulp it warrants…" :)

- of course, I don't know how accurate the review is, bearing in mind that I didn't see the show, and the review didn't really say much about the music they performed - although it was very complimentary about Ginger Baker's playing - but I thought the comment about Wilfred Bramble was pretty funny… From the picture I thought they looked very uncomfortable - almost as if they felt totally out of place. Why is it that most celebrities seem to have problems with growing old gracefully?

- Wil
 
Rolling Stone also has a pretty good review up, as well as a setlist.

Here it is for your pleasure:
I'm So Glad
Spoonful
Outside Woman Blues
Pressed Rat and Warthog
Sleepy Time Time
N.S.U.
Badge
Politician
Sweet Wine
Rolling and Tumbling'
Stormy Monday
Deserted Cities of the Heart
Born Under a Bad Sign
We're Going Wrong'
Crossroads
Sitting on Top of the World
White Room
Toad

Sunshine of Your Love
 
The review seemed to be written by someone who is not very appreciative of their music, and churns out backhanded compliments, while continuing to bag on Clapton like he can't handle it, and give praise to Bruce & Ginger –“Bruce abandons his bass guitar in favour of a harmonica”, and (“Ginger Baker turns out to be the evening's surprise star”) but when it comes to Claptopn – “After the band's split, Clapton dismissed its "maestro bullsh*t", but tonight, he seems worryingly reconciled to it. "We're going to play for as long as we can," he announces happily, a remark greeted with deafening cheers, rather than the deeply apprehensive gulp it warrants”

*** is that supposed to mean, completely an ungrateful dik who wrote the review. I mean after all it’s a review on their reunion show not a review of this guys opinion on Clapton.

Alexis Petridis – is a Clapton hating wanker

To see a real reviews by fans that wanted to see the band perform go here –
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
I wonder if that's Felix Papilardi's EB1 Jack's playing in that picture that accompanies the first review.

The first posted review reminds of all those people who miss the subtleties of bands like Cream, Zeppelin, the Who, etc... they think it's all about the bombast!

Also don't blame Cream because other less-talented bands were inspired to churn out self-indulgent jam rock by them.
 
Wil Davis said:
I thought the review was entertaining:

"We're going to play for as long as we can," he announces happily, a remark greeted with deafening cheers, rather than the deeply apprehensive gulp it warrants…" :)

- of course, I don't know how accurate the review is, bearing in mind that I didn't see the show, and the review didn't really say much about the music they performed - although it was very complimentary about Ginger Baker's playing - but I thought the comment about Wilfred Bramble was pretty funny… From the picture I thought they looked very uncomfortable - almost as if they felt totally out of place. Why is it that most celebrities seem to have problems with growing old gracefully?

- Wil
I read that review too! Wasn't it in a british newspaper though? My best friend is going to see them tomorrow night with his woman, so I'll ask him for the lowdown/photos. I'm so jealous.............
 
I attended the Cream reunion on Monday, opening night and Friday the last night. On Monday I was on the arena floor block E row 19 seat 19 pretty much in the center. On Friday I was in a box to the left of the stage with an excellent view also.

Cream are the reason I'm in a band so it was pretty important for me to get there.

They were without doubt superb on both nights. Yes there were times particularly on Monday when things could have gone very wrong and timings were a bit off in places, but they knew it and accepted it and so did all of the audience, the band looked and smiled at each other as though to say
' we just managed to hold onto that one ! ' But the occasion was wonderful. From the opening chords of I'm so glad to the finals chords of Sunshine of your love. Friday was magnificent.

I can't pretend that they played every note perfectly and that they replicated Live Cream I & II or that they played Sitting on top of the world in the same way as is heard on Goodbye or that Crossroads was as blistering as it was in the 60's but to my mind Cream never were a band of formulas with strict patterns to follow each night their appeal was that they were what they were great musicians who play off each other, sometimes getting there by the skin of their teeth, flying without a net - they were amazing then and still are now.

I talked to lots of people from the USA about the gigs people who had needed to buy their tickets on Ebay and paid a fortune, they all felt the same way as I did. I was lucky I guess being able to buy my tickets on line at face value.

After the show on Friday I went along to the Hard Rock cafe to see some guitarist who was playing with Pete Brown, we were full og hope that it would end the night well but it was very disappointing so my friends and I left after a few numbers.

I think the thing that made it extra special for me was that at 42 now, I was to young to see them in the 60's and I never thought I'd get to see my major musical influences together on the same stage playing the music that I love and still do love.

How can this ever be topped ?


Stu