Nashville – Guitar virtuoso Gary Clark Jr. has gotten an outrageous amount of attention in the past few years. He was named Rolling Stone’s Best Young Gun, he has appeared alongside larger-than-life rockers like The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, and he’s even laid claim to May 3rd, the day dubbed “Gary Clark Jr. Day” in his hometown of Austin by Mayor Kirk Watson. Before his debut album was released, Clark’s guitar chops and sultry voice had won him accolades beyond what most musicians will ever receive. He’s been touted for resurrecting the blues and for introducing his own generation to the seductive power of fuzzed out electric guitar solos à la Jimi Hendrix. Does he deserve the hype? “Pretty much,” we’d say, after seeing him live.
He stopped in Nashville on his fall tour (which is closing in on “sold out,” so get your tickets now) to play at Marathon Music Works, one of the city’s newest venues built inside a reclaimed car factory dating back to 1881. Clark’s “Blak and Blu” Epiphone Casino reverberated down the brick walls of the expansive hall, filling the venue with an energy of reckless abandon that only a ripping blues guitar player can conjure. Clark played two straight hours of hard-hitting music. “Straight,” in this instance, means non-stop, solo after solo, barely pausing in between songs. Watching Clark play felt a bit like stepping under a waterfall—invigorating, exciting, ear-ringing.
Gary Clark Jr. is not a man of many words. (He did, however, tell BestNewBands.com a bit about himself back in 2011.) He lets the guitar do the talking and loses himself in a maze of improvisation. A barely audible “thank you” passed his lips a few times, and he introduced his phenomenal band in the same murmur. Clark was not there to tell us about himself or his music, and he wasn’t there to be some sort of circus leader ensuring we clapped and sang along at the right times. Clark might come off as dull if interactive entertainment is your thing. But if you can kick back and appreciate one hell of a musician, then you’ll love his show. As for himself, Clark respectfully trusted the audience to understand the fiery magic he created on stage.
The crowd erupted when he played his recorded songs that we’ve come to recognize—the ‘60s-inspired “Bright Lights,” the velvety R&B track “Blak & Blu,” and the catchy “Don’t Owe You A Thing,” during which Clark’s exceptional rhythmic abilities could only be met by the most physically fit dancers. But the real magic began during the encore when Clark’s band left the stage. Alone with his Epiphone, Clark played Elizabeth Cotten’s “Freight Train,” a song nearly as old as the building we were in.
Clark, who has shown knowledge of and reverence for blues tradition, performed this ancient song in the same night as he played Jimi Hendrix’s “Third Stone From the Sun” and his own blues-rock songs that dip into R&B, funk, soul, and hip-hop. Blues music dating back to the turn of the century is the thread that binds these genres together. Clark’s songwriting may incorporate many genres, but it’s his live performance that shows us how these genres incorporate the blues. His live performance shows us how much American music owes to its blues-playing ancestors. Clark is carrying on their tradition and playing hard to earn a place among legends.
Above Photo By Nate Burrell – Slider Photo By Derek Brad
Caroline McDonald
After dabbling in many parts of the music industry—recording studios, PR, management, labels, publishing—I’m expanding into music journalism because I’m yet to find anything more rewarding that finding and sharing new music.
A longtime sucker for girls with guitars, my musical taste unabashedly follows the songwriting lineage of Dolly Parton and includes Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, and Neko Case. But not to pigeonhole myself, my music love is big love that stretches from R.L. Burnside to Animal Collective to Lord Huron.
I’ve recently moved home to Nashville after living in Boston and Big Sur for several years. I’d forgotten how music pours onto the streets ten hours a day, seven days a week. I’m honored to share the creative explosion happening here. If your band is in the area or of the area, please reach out!
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