Crossroads Guitar Festival (2004 Video) User Reviews

Eric Clapton hosts a guitar party in Dallas.

[paulef121 · 7/10 · 17 November 2005]

Clapton assembled many of the world's virtuoso guitarist to attend and perform at this festival in Dallas in 2004 to benefit the Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a substance abuse treatment facility.

Some of the performances were magical: Larry Carlton's "Josie", David Hidalgo (of Los Lobos) with Booker T & The MG's doing "Neighborhood", "The March" by the pedal steel phenom Robert Randolph, "Jingo" by Santana with Eric sitting in. Joe Walsh was all over the DVD: with James Taylor on "Steamroller" and with Booker T on "Funk 49" and "Rocky Mountain Way".

Many performances were not as thrilling. But, what really took points away from the DVD (from what I've been told by two attendees) many great performances ended up on the editing room floor. Notably, sets by Jeff Beck, Pat Metheny, Bo Diddley, Duke Robillard, George Lynch and Neal Schon were ignored. I personally would have paid an additional $12.00 to include a third disk with these performances.

However, if you are a guitar player like me, the DVD is at least worth renting, if not buying. Maybe Eric and Warners will consider a second release in time for this Christmas.

Wicked Smashing Time With Eric & Co.

[wtrkorn80dtex · 9/10 · 27 March 2005]

I will die a happy man because I got to work on this concert. For a week I listened to Eric jam out his greatest hits at the Movie Studios at Las Colinas. I stood in the hallway, wanting to cry as he played "Tears In Heaven," truly one of the most memorable moments of my life. Everyone working on the project were a class act: Josh Gobin making sure the stages were set for greatness, Tom Fields always there when a fuse blew or a pun was needed, Brad Smith and Chris Christian running the show. When I saw the DVD I had to watch it over and over, like six times, no kidding. Fans of great guitarist and blues will forever kick themselves by not seeing this show in person, but hey, it is immortalized on DVD, to be witnessed over and over again.

Tons Of Varied & Great Music

[ccthemovieman-1 · 10/10 · 27 January 2006]

Three-and-a-half hours of footage at a guitar festival in Dalls that drew a lot of big names is more than enough entertainment for rock/blues fans. You can pick and choose and still get plenty of great music from this Eric Clapton-organized concert to benefit his alcohol rehab facility.

There are two discs. My personal preference, by far, went to the first disc which featured Clapton, Jimmy Vaughan, B.B. King, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Dan Tyminski, Vince Gill, James Taylor, J.J. Cale, Robert Randolph, Doyle Bramhill, John Mayer and Carlos Santana. Wow!

My personal favorites from this disc were the performances by Gill (known for his country but a fabulous guitar player), Cale (more of a songwriter than singer), Tyminski (the man who performed "Man Of Constant Sorrow" from the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?") and, of course, Clapton.

The second disc sported some entirely different music for the first part, Indian and jazz, and then returned more to the blues/rock venue with Clapton, David Hidalgo (of Los Lobos), Eric Johnson, the frenetic Steve Vai, the crazy Joe Walsh and, finally, capped off by hometown Texas favorites Z.Z. Top.

All in all, an amazing concert with tons of great music.