Were you there for the storming Hendrix, Cream and Clapton evening?
Voodoo Room, the music of Hendrix, Cream and Clapton
at Arlington Arts, Snelsmore
on Friday, January 31
Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON
THIS was a triumphant return to Arlington Arts for Voodoo Room - a sold-out show and, more notably perhaps, an audience spanning all age ranges from around 10 upwards. Great to see young people being introduced to great classic rock, and clearly loving it.
Jimi Hendrix, Cream and Eric Clapton are, of course, iconic figures in the annals of rock music and Voodoo Room (a name made up of Voodoo Child and White Room) do their illustrious legacy full justice.
A power trio in the tradition of both Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience they combine a solid, tight rhythm section with complex, intricate lead guitar work. As they commented they don't take themselves too seriously, but they are very serious about the music they play. There are no wigs, no pantomime just great music superbly played by three excellent musicians.
Excluding the interval Voodoo Room gave the audience just shy of two and a half hours of great music. I loved seeing Pete Orr playing a replica of ‘The Fool’ a guitar painted by The Fool - (the Dutch collective who designed the Apple boutique in London and released an album) which was given by George Harrison to Eric Clapton, who later sold it to Todd Rundgren. It was more recently sold at auction for over a million dollars.
Opening with a group of Hendrix tracks they alternated mini-sets of Cream and Hendrix numbers throughout, beginning their second set with a trio of Clapton solo tracks thus maintaining the interest and variety of the show.
With such a huge back catalogue to choose from, there is always a chance that some great songs may not make the cut, but Voodoo Room proved adept at highlighting the essence of what makes the music they play so timeless, everything from Hey Joe to Layla to Tales of Brave Ulysses.
Absolutely superb.