Perhaps the most amazing thing about Eric Clapton’s long-awaited, all-blues album “From the Cradle” isn’t the actual performances, but the fact he’s brought the songs of blues greats like Muddy Waters, Lowell Fulson, Willie Dixon, Freddie King and Elmore James literally to the top of the charts. Clapton, who will be appearing in a sold-out show Friday at the United Center, has his heart in the right place, even though the album has its flat spots. Then again, blues has always been music best appreciated live rather than on record, and if his spirited performance on “Saturday Night Live” a few weeks ago is any indication, he ought to be on fire in Chicago.
At earlier stops on the current tour Clapton opened with several solo acoustic blues tunes before being joined by essentially the same band that backed him on the new album. Expect him to play virtually all of the “From the Cradle” material as well as blues tunes dating back to various points in his musical career. Thankfully, this show should be “Layla”-free. Also, this being Chicago-the “home of the blues,” don’t be surprised if one or two of Clapton’s Chicago blues buddies (hint, hint) drop in to play.
Opening is Clapton pal and former Fabulous Thunderbirds guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, who recently released his debut solo album, “Strange Pleasure.”
Other concerts of note
Violent Femmes, Friday at the Riviera Theatre, Saturday at Park West: The pretentiousness ought to be thick enough to taste at these shows. Violent Femmes’ current “New Times” album is pretty forgettable, and whiny-voiced frontman Gordon Gano’s artistic pretensions have become more transparent with time. Opening the sold-out Friday show is G. Love and Special Sauce.
G. Love and Special Sauce, Friday at Lounge Ax: Philly’s G. Love and Special Sauce will be busy boys with two gigs on the same night. While the band has been receiving lots of industry hype, Love’s laconic rapping and barely competent guitar playing over his trio’s bluesy grooves wears thin after a few tunes. This is definitely an example of attitude triumphing over musical substance.
Gilby Clarke, Friday at the Avalon: Has Guns N’ Roses called it a day? It’s still up in the air, with both Slash and second guitarist Gilby Clarke working on solo projects. Clarke’s new “Pawnshop Guitars” album is full of Stones/Faces ’70s-style riff rockers, which, if not particularly distinctive, go down easily enough. Predictably, the best tune on the album is Clarke’s cover of the Stones’ “Dead Flowers.”
Hole, Veruca Salt and Madder Rose, Friday at Metro: It’s sad that it’s taken the death of her husband, Kurt Cobain, to propel Courtney Love’s band, Hole, into the limelight. The always controversial Love, who has a particularly strong following among women, is something of a wild card onstage. At one recent show in New Jersey she tossed Barbie dolls into the crowd; at a New York show she stage-dived into the mosh pit. Who knows what she’ll do at this sold-out show. Opening are Chicago’s Veruca Salt, whose new “American Thighs” album is generating quite a buzz across the country, and Madder Rose.
Candlebox, Friday and Saturday at the Aragon Ballroom: Candlebox’s self-titled debut album has already sold more than 2 million copies, which explains why these two shows sold out quickly. Although the band hails from Seattle, its sound is more akin to Led Zeppelin-style ’70s hard rock than grunge. The songs are above average for the genre, while leather-lunged vocalist Kevin Martin and guitar ace Peter Klett combine for a sort of ’90s Robert Plant/Jimmy Page dynamic. To complete the Zep analogy, the group mixes in the occasional acoustic interlude to soften the bombast. The sound may be a bit derivative, but it’s certainly dynamic. Also appearing are 1994 Lollapalooza second stage stars Flaming Lips and Mother Tongue.
Engine Alley, Saturday at Schubas: It’s ironic that Engine Alley sounds like the prototypical British ’90s band steeped on ’70s glam-rock, as the band actually hails from Dublin. Regardless, the band’s assimilation of the vintage sounds of T. Rex, David Bowie and Thin Lizzy is given a fresh spin. Engine Alley’s songs on its self-titled American debut album are filled with catchy hooks and memorable refrains, resulting in some sonic ear candy you can file under the “Guilty Pleasures” section of your music collection.
311, Saturday at Metro: The unlikely product of Omaha (though currently based in L.A.), 311 can be thought of as a poor man’s Red Hot Chili Peppers. The group works that same hard rock/hip-hop/funk territory as the Peppers, adding a bit of reggae and ska into the blend as well. The band’s new “Grassroots” album has its moments, but the outfit is still trying to find its own distinctive sound. Opening is the Urge.
Tom Paxton, Saturday and Sunday at the Old Town School of Folk Music: Veteran old guard folkie Tom Paxton and his songs have worn better over time than most of his contemporaries. On Saturday expect him to play material from his new “Wearing the Time” album and signature tunes like “Whose Garden Was This” and “Bottle of Wine.” Sunday’s show is billed as a children’s concert. Also appearing on Saturday is topical songwriter John Forster.
Jorma Kaukonen, Sunday at Schubas: On hiatus from Hot Tuna, this rare solo date from former Jefferson Airplane guitarist Jorma Kaukonen will showcase his deft traditional folk-blues guitar picking. Requests for “White Rabbit” will probably not be honored.
The Lightning Seeds, Monday at the Double Door: Liverpool popsters the Lightning Seeds are a fairly major attraction in the U.K. The band is led by Ian Broudie, whose vocals have been compared to everyone from John Lennon to Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant. We think that’s a compliment. Opening is New York’s Murmurs.
Steve Howe, Thursday at Park West: Best known for his virtuoso guitar playing in Yes during the group’s classic years, Steve Howe ought to have both Yes fans and guitar geeks alike gaping at his fingers during this solo show. Word is in addition to performing signature pieces like “The Clap” and “Mood For a Day,” Howe will be doing a “Close To the Edge” medley.
Brave Combo, Thursday at Lounge Ax, Oct. 28 at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn: The accordion has become a pretty common instrument in rock ‘n’ roll, but when Texas’ Brave Combo formed in 1979, the squeezebox was anathema. The band’s accordion-led, highly danceable music blends rock, polka, Latin and other various ethnic styles, making it truly a band for all tastes.
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Blue Rodeo, Wednesday and Thursday at Schubas: Think of Toronto’s Blue Rodeo as a sort of modern version of the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers. The band’s new “Five Days In July” album shows it to be more than a worthy upholder of the rock/folk/country mixture those seminal groups created in the ’60s and ’70s. The band’s first-rate material is written by vocalists Greg Keelor and Jim Cuddy, and is fleshed out with acoustic guitars and piano, pedal steel, mandolin, harmonica and, occasionally, some searing Neil Young-inspired electric guitar work. Highly recommended.