Crossroads Guitar Festival - Bridgeview, IL

06/26/2010
Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival
Toyota Park
Bridgeview, IL

This was an awesome show...all 12 hours of it. The highlight, however, was a surprise guest. Ron Wood showed up and jammed to a Stones song with Buddy Guy and Johnny Lang. I have not been able to get this out of my head since then!

The complete performance schedule is:

11:50A – 12:15P Sonny Landreth

12:20P – 12:55P Robert Randolph joined by Joe Bonamassa, & Pino Daneile

1P – 1:40P Robert Cray with Jimmie Vaughan, & Hubert Sumlin

1:45P – 2P Bert Jansch

2:05P – 2:20P Stefan Grossman

2:25P – 2:50P ZZ Top

3P – 3:40P Doyle Bramhall joined by Gary Clark, Sheryl Crow

3:50P – 4:35P Vince Gill joined by Albert Lee, James Burton, Keb Mo

4:45P – 5P Citizen Cope

5:05P – 5:20P Earl Klugh

5:25P – 5:50P John Mayer

6P – 6:35P Buddy Guy with Jonny Lang

6:45P – 7:35P Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band joined by Warren Haynes, Sheryl Crow, David Hidalgo, Cesar Rojas, & Johnny Winter

7:45P – 8:20P Jeff Beck

8:35P – 10:05P Eric Clapton with Steve Winwood

10:10P – 10:30P BB King with Robert Cray Band

10:30P – 10:50P FINALE

Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood - Chicago, IL

06/17/2009
Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood
United Center
Chicago, IL

Opening Band: None

I didn't know a lot of the songs, but it was a great show!

Set List:
01. Had To Cry Today
02. Low Down
03. After Midnight
04. Presence of The Lord
05. Sleeping in the Ground
06. Glad
07. Well Alright
08. Tough Luck Blues
09. Pearly Queen
10. Crossroads
11. There's A River
12. Forever Man
13. Georgia On My Mind - Steve Winwood solo
14. Driftin' - acoustic
15. How Long Blues
- possible that Nobody Knows You was performed here -
16. Layla - acoustic version
17. Can't Find My Way Home
18. Split Decision
19. Voodoo Chile

Encore:
20. Sweet Home Chicago / Watch Yourself*
21. Going Down*

* with Buddy Guy (guitar, vocals)

Additional reviews here.

Crossroads Guitar Festival - Bridgeview, IL

07/28/2007
Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival
Toyota Park
Bridgeview, IL

What an incredible day of music! It was a very long day...I think that I'm getting too old :) We had general admission tickets, and didn't know that we could bring in blankets and pillows. Luckily, they gave us a brochure in the parking lot, and we grabbed some towels out of the truck to sit on. For July, the weather cooperated quite nicely. It was about 80 degrees, but cloudy (thank goodness!!) There was a wind out of the north, which helped to keep things cool.

The entire show was incredible. They had a stage that revolved around, so there was very little "down time" between artists. As one act was performing, they were able to set up the equipment for the next act...and then twirl the stage around. Bill Murray was the host for the day, and did a great job!

I was very impressed with Derek Trucks and his band. I could have done without Willie Nelson. It took him half way through the first song to remember the lyrics, and he was very boring! Shery Crow was great, but I wish that she played longer. Jeff Beck was good...and had a (very!) young lady bass player who was incredible...but an hour was a bit too long for all instrumental stuff. Robert Randolph was great, and B.B. King put on a great show as well.

We left a bit early, and missed the last part of Clapton, and Buddy Guy. But after nearly 10 hours of sitting on the ground, we were worn out. The good thing, though, was that it didn't take us two extra hours to get out of the parking lot!

I'm a bit sore after sitting / standing on the lawn for 10 hours, but that's okay :) This was an incredible event, with an impressive line-up, for a great cause. *AND* the did it in Chicago :)

Artist Listing:
Jeff Beck
Doyle Bramhall II
Eric Clapton
Robert Cray
Sheryl Crow
Vince Gill
Buddy Guy
BB King
Alison Krauss and Union Station
Sonny Landreth
Albert Lee
Los Lobos
John Mayer
John McLaughlin
Willie Nelson
Robert Randolph
Hubert Sumlin
Derek Trucks
Jimmie Vaughan
Steve Winwood

Reviews:

Rolling Stone 1
Rolling Stone 2
Rolling Stone Pics
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune Interview with Clapton
MSN Clips

Buddy Guy - Joliet, IL

03/10/2007
Buddy Guy
Rialto Square Theatre
Joliet, IL

Opening Band: Koko Taylor

It is always so cool when you can see legends like this in concert!

Buddy Guy - Joliet, IL

03/12/2004
Buddy Guy
Rialto Square Theatre
Joliet, IL

Buddy was in rare form.

Buddy Guy - Joliet, IL

03/08/2003
Buddy Guy
Rialto Square Theatre
Joliet, IL

I have gained much appreciation for the blues. Buddy put on a great show that was filled with funk and soul. And, the Rialto is a great place for a show!!!

Dave Matthews Band - Chicago, IL

07/07/2001
Dave Matthews
Soldier Field
Chicago, IL

Chicago is notorious for its frigid winters, but summer can be just as oppressive with the humidity. It was frightfully hot for this show, but so was the band. Buddy Guy was the opening act again :) Three of the five songs on a bonus CD for fan club members were recorded in Chicago over the past 2 nights.

Set List:

The Dreaming Tree (Tease)
Grey Street
So Much To Say
Too Much
What You Are
Pig (Tease)
Mother Father
Satellite
Angel
Pig (Tease)
Sleep to Dream Her
Grace Is Gone
#41
So Right
Everyday
Recently
Digging a Ditch
Lie In Our Graves
The Space Between
Stay

Encore:
Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away
Ants Marching

Dave Matthews Band - Chicago, IL

07/06/2001
Dave Matthews
Soldier Field
Chicago, IL

This show was kick ass! We were down on the field for this one. They played Two Step and Watchtower back to back!!! We were all whipped up!!! Luckily, Macy Gray cancelled and Buddy Guy was the opening act...BONUS!!!

Set List:

JTR
One Sweet World
When the World Ends
Granny
Crush
Big Eyed Fish
Bartender
So Right
If I Had It All
I Did It
Seek Up
Fool to Think
Angel
All Along The Watchtower
Two Step

Encore:
The Space Between
Pantala Naga Pampa
Rapunzel

Buddy Guy - Chicago, IL

01/05/2001
Buddy Guy
Buddy Guy's Legends
Chicago, IL

Great Chicago blues played in a blues club. Buddy was pretty wound up...wandering all over the club while playing...it was cool!