PhillyCheeze's Rock & Blues Reviews: Shaun Hague : Journeyman A Tribute to Eric Clapton

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Shaun Hague : Journeyman A Tribute to Eric Clapton - Live @ Campbell Steele Gallery : 4/22/16

Live @ Campbell Steele Gallery

April 22, 2016 – Marion, Iowa

By Phillip Smith; April 23, 2016

Friday, April 22, Chicago guitarist/vocalist Shaun Hague brought his captivating show, Journeyman - A Tribute to Eric Clapton, to Campbell Steele Gallery in Marion, Iowa. Joining Hague onstage for this delightful retrospective is keyboardist Robert Monroe, bassist Brian Burke and drummer Andy Taylor. In this sold-out show, Journeyman treated the audience to three sets of hits and deep cuts, making sure to cover every era of Clapton’s career.

Beginning with the Sixties, Journeyman hit the ground running with a killer cover of “White Room” which almost immediately gave me goosebumps. This was followed up with a riveting “Badge”. Burke's sweet bassline cemented the intoxicating groove on “Sunshine of Your Love”, in which Hague and Monroe alternated vocals. The band was in total synchronicity for this one. Taylor’s drum solo was spectacular and was a definitely ‘Hell Yeah’ moment. Hague doles out more smokin’ guitar grooves on Robert Johnson’s iconic classic “Crossroads” to end the first set.

Set two, featured songs from the Eighties and Nineties, where Journeyman hit on deep cuts, “Holy Mother”, and honky-tonk friendly “Alberta”. After a jamming performance of “Pretending”, they brought onstage with them, guest guitarist Billy Satterfield. Watching Hague and Satterfield go toe-to-toe on Muddy Water’s “Hoochi Coochi Man” was phenomenal. The dual guitar sounded terrific. Monroe downright tore it up on keys, reminding me of a mad scientist at work. His talent definitely runs deep.

The third and final set covered the classic Clapton songs of the Seventies. Taylor grabs another captivating drum solo on “Let it Rain”. I love this song. I haven’t heard it in a while, but it transports me instantly to the days of my youth. Satterfield is invited onstage again to join the band for “Cocaine”, where they tendered another absolutely grand performance. Electric and spacy, their rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” was an example of rock and roll at its best. No Clapton tribute would be complete without “Layla”. This beautifully played song was the cherry on top, and ended the last set of the evening, bringing the walk down memory lane to a close. It was a terrific night for music.

All Photos by Phillip Smith