OTTAWA - With an album out last year and another not due until later this fall, right now Eric Clapton is that rarest of breeds: A superstar without a product to promote.

The knowledge made Clapton's stop at Scotiabank Place in front of 13,000 fans last night all that much sweeter.

Clapton has always seemed like a guy without much in the way of pretension, and when he strolled out on stage without any fuss or bother -- aside from cheers below and above him -- it just seemed confirmed.

Like Toronto before us, Ottawa was lucky the sore throat that caused Clapton to postpone his Saturday show in Auburn Hills, Mich., last weekend seemed to be all but remedied by last night.

Clapton was on top of his game, tossing out trademark rasps and the odd throaty growl as easily as the masterful guitar work he has used to build a 40-year music career that is rivalled by only a select few.

That prowess was in play from the get-go, when Clapton walked out to the opening chords of Pretending off 1989's Journeyman only to later launch into crowd favourite I Shot the Sheriff from 1974's 461 Ocean Boulevard.

Clapton, 61, donned a hot pink dress shirt and jeans for his gig, hair cropped short, spectacles in place.

He was all business too, closing his eyes to soak up his bluesiest moments, rolling up his right strumming sleeve, joking with his six-piece band in between songs, saying little to the crowd.

There was lots of time to showcase the band, with generous intervals devoted to guitar, bass, drum and keyboard solos.

One of those featured was young Derek Trucks, who is still in his 20s, but has already played with his own band and the Allman Brothers, before joining Clapton.

Trucks is one spectacular slide guitarist as was evident when he was highlighted during Further Up the Road.

Trucks and Clapton also sat down on a couple of chairs mid-show for a three-song acoustic set starting out with last year's album title track Back Home, the beautiful Running on Faith and Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out, which inspired a clap-a-long.

Clapton also invited his friend, opening act and fellow guitar virtuoso Robert Cray, out for a couple of tunes.

I wouldn't have minded hearing a little Whiteroom, Sunshine of Your Love, or even Cream's cover of I'm So Glad last night, but you can't have it all.

It was a solid night of blues featuring some outstanding musicians.

There was lots to soak in from throughout Clapton's career during the nearly two-hour show, including After Midnight, the rollicking Top 40 hit from his debut album, the still-awesome Cocaine from 1977's famous Slowhand, and sappy crowd favourite Wonderful Tonight, which rolled right into 1970's indefatigable Layla.

Clapton is one laid-back, unassuming rock star. And that's a good thing, because I doubt those who have loved him for this long would have it any other way.