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Biography: Born and raised in Austin, TX, Gary Clark Jr. started playing the guitar at the age of 12. Influenced by blues, jazz, soul, country and as well as hip-hop, he played small gigs anywhere he could throughout his teenage years, Clifford Antone. Antone started featuring Clark at his venue and eventually introduced Clark to an array of musicians including Jimmie Vaughan, in the Austin musical community. A gifted live performer, Clark quickly became an Austin blues and rock scene shining star.
In 2005, Clark released an independent album, Tribute, then two more self-produced albums in 2008, 110 and Worry No More.
In 2010, Eric Clapton selected him to play the Crossroads Guitar Festival, which led to a record deal with Warner Bros. Clark was soon working on his major-label debut, Blak and Blu. Before the release of the full studio album, Gary Clark Jr. released an EP in advance of the album, entitled Bright Lights. His next release was the two-disc live album that he recorded while touring for Blak and Blue.
Gary Clark Jr. is more than just a one-trick pony. Not only can he play a mean guitar, but he can also sing, write and arrange music. He is definitely someone that you want to see perform.
Major Discography: 110 (2004)
Worry No More (2008)
Blak and Blu (2012)
Gary Clark Jr. Live (2014)
Sounds Like Genre: Blues Rock, Soul, R&B, Rock, Rock ‘n’ Roll
Similar Artists: Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmi Vaughan
Similar Bonnaroo Artists: Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals; Alabama Shakes; Benjamin Booker
Suggested Listening I love all his music and feel that you should listen to everything he has done but here a few links to some of his performances:
Physical Reaction/Live Show I was blown away both times I’ve seen Gary, once at Voodoo and once at the House of Blues. At Voodoo, I was towards the back of the crowd and just had to groove. He has such a presence that is felt in his music. I didn’t even try to get close because I wanted room to be able to move around.
When I went to see him at House of Blues, I managed to get about 5 people deep from the stage. I was in awe watching him; it’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. He is so talented and the way he plays the guitar is hypnotizing. He plays such a range of his music, that one moment you are dancing your ass off and the next you are standing still, listening to him sing out a moving ballad.
Interesting Facts Kirk Watson, the Mayor of Austin, proclaimed May 3, 2001, Gary Clark Jr. Day. He was only 17 at the time.
He wrote the original music score for the movie Full Count.
Rolling Stones named Gary Clark Jr. “Best Young Gun” in the April 2011, “Best of Rock” issue.
He has worked with many artists including Sheryl Crow, Alicia Keys and the Foo Fighters most recently.
Grammy Award Nomination for Best Rock Song – 2013
Grammy Award Winner for Best Traditional R&B Performance - 2013
NAACP Image Award Nomination for Outstanding New Artist – 2013
Swept the 31st Annual Austin Music Awards winning 8 awards for Band of the Year, Musician of the Year, Song of the Year - “Ain’t Messin Round”, Album of the Year – Blak and Blu, Electric Guitarist of the Year, Songwriter of the year, Blues/Soul/Funk Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.
Personal Notes
I think that Gary Clark Jr. was an amazing ad to the lineup. He is one of those artists that I will go and see every time I have the opportunity. It is obvious that he lives, breaths, sleeps music and that he was born to perform. I feel that he is very underrated, but hope that will change in the very near future.
Post by FortSteuben on Feb 18, 2015 15:12:32 GMT -5
In 2012 they gave him an early What set on Sunday and I just laid down in the back on the What field and took it in. I would love for Gary Clark to have a sunset tent set this time around for a more intimate and energetic set.
Post by Billadelphia on Feb 18, 2015 15:48:27 GMT -5
I made it to the pit for the 2012 set. When I was getting ready at camp there was some MJ chocolate in my bag so I ate that for some morning fuel. Turned out it was actually some fungus chocolate. Sunday afternoon turned into quite an adventure.
Saw him open up for KoL almost a year ago. Very captivating! You could tell that most of the audience didn't know him, but they were very entertained. I wasn't sure what type of reaction he was gonna get but I was happy they ended up liking him.
Post by FuzzyWarbles on Feb 18, 2015 16:17:46 GMT -5
I used to watch Gary walk into the bars in Austin and sit in for impromptu jams. Most of his band members now were also doing gigs at Nuno's and Friends at the time.. I was happy to see him put them on when he started making it big rather than hire some polished musicians. That sound they created in those small clubs was missing from Black and Blue for me. It seems like that scene has sided down a bit in ATX, but Gary was by far always my favorite doing the Blues around that town at the start of this century. I was so excited to see him on the Crossroads DVD when he had his breakthrough and went a bit crazy with enthusiasm at his first Bonnaroo set as a cafe act. I haven't listened to him in a year or two, but this review reminded me how much I enjoyed his music. I plan to be at this set.
I used to watch Gary walk into the bars in Austin and sit in for impromptu jams. Most of his band members now were also doing gigs at Nuno's and Friends at the time.. I was happy to see him put them on when he started making it big rather than hire some polished musicians. That sound they created in those small clubs was missing from Black and Blue for me. It seems like that scene has sided down a bit in ATX, but Gary was by far always my favorite doing the Blues around that town at the start of this century. I was so excited to see him on the Crossroads DVD when he had his breakthrough and went a bit crazy with enthusiasm at his first Bonnaroo set as a cafe act. I haven't listened to him in a year or two, but this review reminded me how much I enjoyed his music. I plan to be at this set.
I think the sound you're referring to was missing for a lot of people. Blak and Blu was a pretty bi-polar album, with many tracks leaning way too heavily towards the pop end of the spectrum. Honestly I think someone from the label was in his ear during the recording process, pushing for a more marketable sound.
The Live album release on the other hand is much more representative of who he is as an artist.
One of my fav GCJ moments was his Coachella 2012 set as this crazy storm was rolling in. There was about 30 people in the tent and I walked right up to the rail. The sky was so dark and the wind was crazy (one of the few times Ive been freezing at Coachella). I looked back and the palm tress were blowing sideways. He just came out and slayed it. His stage presence is pretty awful but his live set is something special
I've seen him twice: at Bonnaroo in 2012 and later that year in Central Park. Both times I was on the rail (or damn near it), and was absolutely blown away. He really makes his guitar sing with a wonderful gritty tone. I would agree that Blak and Blu was overproduced and underwhelming, but his live show should not be based on that at all. It is a sight to behold. His voice is a little weak, but his guitar work more than makes up for it. It's mind-blowingly good.
5.5/four tet, daphni b2b floating points, avalon emerson 5.12/neil young 5.19/mannequin pussy 5.21/serpentwithfeet 5.25/hozier 6.12-16/bonnaroo 6.28/goose 6.29/goose 9.17/the national + the war on drugs 9.23/sigur ros 9.27-29/making time 10.17/air