Clapton in Dublin

storka · 24-06-2008 03:53PM

comac wrote: »

Hi Guys.

I am heading to the Neil Young gig in Malahide Castle this weekend. I am driving from Galway and back after the gig and I am trying to figure out the best way to get in and out. I was thinking of parking at a DART station somewhere northside and using that to get in and out of malahide. But do they put extra services on or is it a complete Irish Rail joke? Or am I best to drive into malahide itself and try to park in a side steet someplace (or are there 'no parking' cones in every residental street?). Anyhow, any suggestions appreciated. I really do not want to be stuck for 2 hours trying to get out of Malahide and then have at face a 3 hour drive back to Galway after!

Thanks...
/C.

Single best way of getting to Malahide is the DART. The station is 100m from the castle entrance and Irish Rail run 10 extra trains after the concert. In contrast the Car Park took 1h15 to clear the other night.

jusmeig · 24-06-2008 05:40PM

CRAP GIG!!!
Very very angry that after two power outages he did not even pla and Encore....could not believe that everyone just walked out.

Eric Clapton Complaints

Clare Bear · 24-06-2008 06:05PM

Let's just say I'm very glad I didn't have to pay for our tickets (Malahide residents get free tickets to the castle gigs), we came away bored. I'd be pretty annoyed to say the least if we paid and had to travel to see that show. I don't blame everyone for giving out about it.

caff · 24-06-2008 08:18PM

anna766 wrote: »

One final point about the darts back into town. The dart we were on had to stop in Raheny for about 20 mins as someone was seriously ill (either stroke or heart attack I think?) and we'd to wait for an ambulance - this may have caused delays to later darts?

My Dad and about 4 other doctors who were on the train checked him out, dude had a stroke.

On the gig, I thought Clapton was great was dissapointed aboutn the power cuts and short set for Randolph though. Got a reply from aiken... not too impressed with their explanation though.. If they were using generators, should they not have had them kitted out for the weather?

Hi Ros,

Aiken Promotions were delighted that Eric Clapton at Malahide Castle on
Sat 21st June could take place due to the exceptionally severe
un-seasonal weather conditions.

This presented major challenges for the producers of the show. Aiken
Promotions would like to apologise for the break in sound which was due
to the generator failing for short periods towards the end of the show.

Also for your reference please see a copy for the set-list for both the
Malahide and Cork shows;
TELL THE TRUTH
KEY TO THE HIGHWAY
HOOCHIE COOCHIE
ISN'T IT A PITY
OUTSIDE WOMAN BLUES
DOUBLE TROUBLE
WHY DOES LOVE
BLUES
ROCKIN' CHAIR
MOTHERLESS CHILD
TRAVELLING RIVERSIDE
RUNNING ON FAITH
MOTHERLESS CHILDREN
QUEEN OF SPADES
BEFORE YOU ACCUSE ME
WONDERFUL TONIGHT
LAYLA
COCAINE

MOJO

Regards,

Aiken Promotions
24 Holles Street
Dublin 2

mumoffour · 24-06-2008 09:12PM

Must have been a standard reply because I got the exact same one

molloyjh · 24-06-2008 09:44PM

sophie01 wrote: »

i have to say i was disappointed too. the main problems seemed to be in the planning/organising - I couldn't believe the queues for the bar, in a similar concert in marley there are usually 2 or 3 areas serving - the 1 bar in malahide was totally inadequate - we queued for 20 mins each time to get a beer. the sound failure was a huge disappointment, particularly in the middle of Layla. I did think it was a bit of a let down when at ten o clock on the dot they all just said goodbye and left the stage - no thank yous or encores or any sort of interaction with the crowd.
and as for trying to get home - bedlam at the dart station is an understatement.
typical ireland - 80 euro a ticket, mediocre service and experience but no explanation or apology. would love to hear if any of you get a response from Aikens, please keep us posted.

They did play an encore.....Got my Mojo Working. There were a good few numbers in the middle that a lot of people wouldn't know, and a few variations of older numbers - Why Does Love Got to Be So Sad being one I wasn't too pushed on. The sound failures were a disgrace. Clapton did know about it, I saw him throwing his hands up at someone during Layla giving out. Some of the Robert Johnson stuff was great and he did a good solo version of Driftin'.

Loved the drummer though!!! Already know Doyle Bramhall from his solo stuff, great guitar player. Was disappointed Nathan East wasn't on bass....he's total class.

Squirrel · 24-06-2008 10:39PM

jusmeig wrote: »

CRAP GIG!!!
Very very angry that after two power outages he did not even pla and Encore....could not believe that everyone just walked out.

Eric Clapton Complaints

What a dodgy review, let me refer to the section about the power outage,

The gig itself started well, with Clapton wowing the masses with his effortless control of the guitar. The crowd were just getting warmed up when he began to bang out "Lalya", this is when things for Eirc, and Aiken Promotions, took a nose dive (from which they never recovered). About half way through the song the sound/power in the entire venue failed. It was obvious to us that the band were unawares as their monitors appeared to be fine. So as Eric hammered away....95% of the crowd stood in the rain going: "This is ****e", "This is crap", "This is a ****e gig"...etc...etc...

I want to know how it took 16 songs for the crowd to be "just getting warmed up"

I was delighted he played a lot of blues numbers because otherwise they'd just be an Eric Clapton tribute band playing all the hits.

molloyjh · 24-06-2008 11:58PM

And may I just add Squirrel that it rained for the first 3 songs and then stopped. It diodn't rain once during Layla. Makes you wonder if the reviewer was even there.....

niallon · 25-06-2008 01:13AM

Saw Clapton in The Point last time. Great gig, banged out all the classics etc. Only said one thing throughout the entire gig, Thank You after each song. Just didn't seem to care. Solely based on that gig I actually refused free tickets, glad to see I was right to do so. That's a crap setlist first off (and it's not that I'm in the neighbourhood of not knowing the tracks, I know them, just think they're crap [not all obviously]). Second of all, to not repeat the "lost tracks" is a disgrace. The fact that he was on early also gives me the sense of not really being arsed about the fans or even about being there.

grumpytrousers · 25-06-2008 01:29AM

molloyjh wrote: »

Loved the drummer though!!!

The drummer is a legend; he's the guy that was in paul mccartneys band in 2003 and he just whacks seven shades out of the kit. It's not that he's showing off, he's just putting everything he's got into playing. Of course, being built like a brick sh1thouse, that means the drums get hell!

lev · 25-06-2008 09:19AM

I thoroughly enjoyed the gig, he played for 2 hours with a single song encore, the exact same as his North American gigs! I'm sure he was advised to go on a little early due to technical and safety issues that could have presented themselves (and did) if it kept on raining for another 2 hours. The tickets clearly stated gates open at 5pm, so anyone turning up at 8:30pm and complaining about missing 30mins has very little sympathy from me.

When he took to the stage at 8pm he did say "I have the utmost respect for you all for sticking around", for a man of few words this was his way of saying thanks for coming out on such a bad night. For a two hour set the PA system went down for about 2mins at the end of Layla and for about 30seconds during MOJO. Although this was disappointing it was in no way enough to spoil a 2 hour set.

Also, for anyone who complained about the band improvising during some of the songs, can I ask what the hell you were doing at an Eric Clapton gig? This is the main reason people go to see legends like Clapton!

molloyjh · 25-06-2008 11:56AM

lev wrote: »

Also, for anyone who complained about the band improvising during some of the songs, can I ask what the hell you were doing at an Eric Clapton gig? This is the main reason people go to see legends like Clapton!

+1

Totally agree. Claptons is at his best when he's playing live and imporving. Anyone who has seen the version of Little Wing on the Live for Antigua DVD (with Sheryl Crow) has seen just how good he is on stage.

As for him not saying much, he's renowned for being quite a shy bloke on stage. He's never been one to say much at all, he lets his songs do that for him. It was a shame he didn't repeat Layla, but he had played most of the song before the power went and it was just the extended outro that we missed. I was one of the people that didn't show until almost 8.30, and while I was disappointed that I missed some of it, I'll readily admit it was my own doing. Was raging I missed Robert Randolph and the Family band too. Saw them last time in the Point and they were amazing.

jusmeig · 25-06-2008 06:41PM

"What a dodgy review, let me refer to the section about the power outage" -

I was indeed at this gig, although I wish I had stayed at home. Granted I did not want Eirc to play his A-Z of greatest hits....but I do recall a very loud cheer from the crowd when they heard Layla starting?

I would go as far as saying this cheer was only matched when the sound came back on for the second time!?!

My biggest point of contention to the Eirc Clapton fans was his failure to address the crowd. Its just not acceptable for the power to go out, and the performers to ignore it. Is this the first time it has rained at a gig? And the guy who said he was in the pit....well thats well and good for about 5% of the crowd who cause the monitors....but what about the rest of us!!

The icing on the cake would have been had he of walked out and said "Hello Dundee....erm Dublin".

Its a lot of money to pay to see anyone play, and we just felt a bit cheated by the whole thing.

grainne_ed · 25-06-2008 07:53PM

jusmeig wrote: »

"What a dodgy review, let me refer to the section about the power outage" -

I was indeed at this gig, although I wish I had stayed at home. Granted I did not want Eirc to play his A-Z of greatest hits....but I do recall a very loud cheer from the crowd when they heard Layla starting?

I would go as far as saying this cheer was only matched when the sound came back on for the second time!?!

My biggest point of contention to the Eirc Clapton fans was his failure to address the crowd. Its just not acceptable for the power to go out, and the performers to ignore it. Is this the first time it has rained at a gig? And the guy who said he was in the pit....well thats well and good for about 5% of the crowd who cause the monitors....but what about the rest of us!!

The icing on the cake would have been had he of walked out and said "Hello Dundee....erm Dublin".

Its a lot of money to pay to see anyone play, and we just felt a bit cheated by the whole thing.

Very arrogant of Clapton indeed.

Then again, how does a man whos been around the block so much get motivated to sing the same songs over & over.

recipio · 26-06-2008 01:46AM

I think the weather was a real downer and the gig needed some rockers like 'further on up the road' or some of the Cream stuff. Clapton played a very disjointed set and the acoustic numbers were too subtle for a large gig on a cold night.
I saw him at the point about two years ago and I think he's given up on addressing the audience which is a tad arrogant ( but did you ever see Van Morrison -he's no bag of laughs !)
He's still an exciting guitarist but I think he should get some fresh material.

Clare Bear · 26-06-2008 10:29PM

grainne_ed wrote: »

Very arrogant of Clapton indeed.

Then again, how does a man whos been around the block so much get motivated to sing the same songs over & over.

Maybe he should take a leaf out of Bruce Springstein's book then.

Red Alert · 28-06-2008 05:06PM

Actually just to point out, the on-stage monitors (and guitar amps) are themselves very loud, so it's understandble enough if he didn't notice, though a poster above has mentioned that he did throw his hands up.

I agree about the acoustic bit - it probably would have worked better indoors. But overall not bad at all.

Toast · 01-07-2008 12:41PM

Just to put things into context the sound at Neil Diamond on the pyramid stage at Glastonbury cut out for a good minute and a half. If an event of that size can have it happen I suppose its understandable it can happen to anyone. At least Diamond acknowledged it.

Clapton in Dublin

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