Anytime a Yardbyrd plays Toronto is a cause for celebration, but when you have two of the three biggest guitarists to emerge from that '60s stable of rotating axemen on the same bill, it is a definite cause for glee (not that Glee television series everyone loves and will forget by March).And whether or not I will be there to see the guitarist on the left (Mr. Jeff Beck) and the guitarist on the right (Mr. Eric Clapton) on Feb. 21 is irrelevant. The fact is Jeff Beck will probably be playing a supporting role to Clapton, resulting in a set that if extremely generous might last one hour tops. It's a lot to squeeze in for a man whose Jeff Beck Guitar Shop was just one of his many gems, not counting his 70s heyday of instrumental gold.
Beck has occasionally performed in North America (including the Montreal Int'l Jazz Fest in recent years) but this marks his first Toronto show in ages, one which should easily result in a set equal in length to Clapton's. The only silver lining might be seeing the two guitarists together for extended periods of time rehashing Yardbyrds material. Seeing Beck playing second fiddle (figuratively) to Layla or Cocaine would be a complete waste of Beck's talent. Seeing Clapton reduced to tears trying to master some of the odd but stellar instrumentals Beck has created over the years would be worth the hefty ticket price.
This is of course provided I am not covering something else on Feb. 21, which is currently looking like that is the case.....oh well.....
Hardcore Beck fans can see him perform a full set on the West Coast, but Toronto will have to live with whatever time he is assigned. May it be a long set.
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