ERIC CLAPTON, Gary Clark Jr @LG Arena, Birmingham 13/5/13

When Gary Clark Jr released his “Blak and Blu” album late last year it was hailed just about everywhere as being “the future of Texas blues.” RTM has been in a minority before and no doubt will again, but it didn’t do a lot for us, verging into hip-hop a couple of times and sounding like Prince on other occasions. Live, though, opening for Clapton, we get the attraction a lot more. Songs like “Ain’t Messing Round” and “Bright Lights” sound a lot grittier and heavier live – and are delivered with a little more passion it seems.

Half an hour passes before the house lights go down and Eric Clapton and his band stroll on. “Stroll” is the operative word here as there is absolutely no grand entrance from anyone. The low-key opening is in keeping with a relaxed vibe throughout.

Clapton and cast of many are here to commemorate the former’s 50^th anniversary as a performer. The man himself waves and says good evening before playing “Hello Old Friend” and “My Fathers Eyes” on his acoustic guitar.  When he does plug in, it is for Derek And The Dominoes “Tell The Truth.”

The gig is split broadly into three sections. The first eight largely electric, before Clapton sits down for a selection including “Layla,” “Wonderful Tonight,” and the magnificent “Lay Down Sally.”  The black strat is back out for Cream’s “Badge” (the only song he plays from that band tonight – “Sunshine of Your Love,” which had been played at most gigs is dropped), a selection of Robert Johnson covers and JJ Cale’s “Cocaine” which closes the main set and is a real treat.

The true singular highlight, though had come about an hour beforehand, and in this one moment can we see what makes Eric Clapton such an icon. He and his band give a rare outing on this tour to “I Shot The Sheriff.” To top the performance he plays a solo that is absolutely incredible, but he does it in such an unflashy way that you barely notice who it is playing it, merely you hear something truly outstanding.

As most of us will never get closer to Clapton than sitting 50 foot from where he is playing, you can only form your opinions from what you see onstage. What we see tonight is a man that seems to have absolutely none of the “rock star” about him. Happy to share the solos with his sidekick Doyle Bramall III and vocal duties with Paul Carrack – indeed the only time in two hours that this gig wasn’t perfect was when Carrack’s slightly dull “It Ain’t Easy” was played.

When you have been at the top for 50 years you earn the right to do whatever the hell you like. What Clapton wants to do, it seems is surround himself with some fine musicians and play some songs for the fun of it. When they return for an encore it’s the perfect show ender in “High Time We Went,” in keeping with the evening it is Carrack who sings the lead vocals. The man who’s career we are here to celebrate on the other hand puts his guitar down, waves and wanders off, with about as little fanfare as he came on with.

That ladies and gentlemen is Eric Clapton in 2013. Low-key, relaxed, oh, and absolutely brilliant.