The Crossroads Guitar Festival
Tuesday, 06 July 2010 12:08
If guitar heroes feed your musical soul, then the Crossroads Guitar Festival at Toyota Park outside Chicago would have been your smorgasbord. There was no punk rock posturing, no jamband noodling, no indie reluctance. This was a celebration of the possibilities of the guitar, particularly in the blues-rock idiom, and the soloing was larger than life. This was the third Crossroads festival and Bill Murray hosted the event for the second time, occasionally dressed as a recognizable guitar hero. He introduced ZZ Top dressed as Buddy Holly, Eric Clapton as Jimi Hendrix and even played a little bit of guitar, with a little help from Clapton.
Story and Photos by John Davisson
The first act on the bill was Sonny Landreth, showing some sizzling slide guitar and getting some help from Clapton on a song. Then Robert Randolph played some pedal steel on compositions that sounded more traditional than the flash he usually brings. Next up, Robert Cray, Jimmie Vaughn and Hubert Sumlin (who was seated with oxygen tubes in his nose) played some blues.
The focus then changed as Bert Jansch mesmerized the stadium with a solo acoustic set that showcased his unique folky finger-style playing. Next, Clapton's old friend Stefan Grossman played an acoustic blues set with Keb’ Mo’ sitting in on part of the set.
ZZ Top then brought some Texas blues, with some Jimi Hendrix thrown in and a set that had fans jumping and waving their arms in the air enthusiastically. Doyle Bramhall II played next, a set that had some sound issues when the PA dropped out. He was joined by Sheryl Crow, Derek Trucks and Clapton for some electrifying blues-rock.
The focus then changed a little for a set by Vince Gill, with Alvin Lee (from Ten Years After), James Burton (who has played with legends such as Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and many others), and Keb’ Mo’ with Alvin’s daughter Alex singing on a song. Their set was more about the twangy country guitar sound, with some of the best playing you will find in the genre. Sheryl Crow also came out for a cover of Clapton’s “Lay Down Sally.” Citizen Cope then played some low-key songs, and he was also joined by Sheryl Crow. Earl Klugh then showed the power of the guitar in the jazz genre. The John Mayer Trio then provided a set showcasing the modern guitar heroes fretwork.
Then it was back to blues-rock with a loose but fun set by Buddy Guy with Ron Wood and Johnny Lang that included an instrumental cover of the Stones’ “Miss You.”
Next, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi filled the slot that intended for the Allman Brothers (Gregg Allman had to cancel when a liver became available for transplant). Warren Haynes and Johnny Winter also joined in for some fretwork fireworks.
Jeff Beck played a set of his intergalactic guitar pyrotechnics afterward that defied categorization as it touched on jazz, rock, pop and funk.
At last, it was time for the man himself, Clapton, in a long set that featured some of the evening’s best guitar solos. He started out with his band and Citizen Cope came out for the third song. After a few more songs, Jeff Beck came out for a blues duet. For the end of his set, Steve Winwood played some songs from both Clapton and Steve’s catalog, including some Blind Faith. Steve played some keyboards, but when he and Clapton were both wailing on guitar, an amazing sound filling the stadium. Though I thought it might rain, it seemed their fretwork chased the clouds away for good.
One last surprise: Bill Murray informed the crowd there would be another legend joining Clapton. The last set featured BB King, Jimmie Vaughn, Robert Cray and Clapton, of course. This was the end of a hot 12-hour day of guitar heroes showing their prowess. Missed the show? Don't fret. Clapton promised their would be another one. For now, look for footage of the show at movie theaters on July 27 and expect the DVD to be released soon. The festival benefited the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, which provides drug addiction treatment.
 perform at the Crossroads Guitar Festival in Chicago, Ill. on June 26, 2010..jpg)
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