Texas Guitar Icons Open & Close 1st of Clapton’s Farewell Shows

Eric Clapton's putting the wraps on a 50-year musical-career with 4 concerts this month.  The first happened Sunday night at New York's Madison Square Garden, with two rock & blues guitar virtuoso's from Austin adding a Lone Star touch to the occasion.  Jimmie Vaughan & Gary Clark Jr. not only did solo opening sets, but joined Slowhand on stage for the show's finale.

Billboard described Clapton's concert as "retrospective, containing no real surprises", but acknowledged that's exactly what the crowd wanted.  Besides the fact that he's 71 & been performing for a half-century, the main reason Eric's stepping away from touring is nerve pain he says now affects his playing.  The reporter noted Clapton's physical challenges were not an impediment during this performance, as he took the audience through a series of blues numbers mixed in between his incredible catalogue of classics.  When Slowhand was ready to finish off the night, he brought Jimmie & Gary back out to join him for a rousing rendition of "Before You Accuse Me", a Bo Diddley original Clapton covered on his 1989 album "Journeyman".  Check it out above.