Good blues guitarists are noted for their ability to articulate what they feel through the strings of their instruments. The most accomplished blues guitarists are able to advance the use of their instruments to trigger these sensations in the souls of the listeners. Gary Clark Jr. is such a blues guitarist.
The Grammy-winning guitarist brought his fusion of rock, soul and blues to a rare and hastily announced pop-up performance at the 250-capacity Mercury Lounge. This was the launch of a concert tour that will include several prestigious and high-profile festivals, including the Newport Jazz Festival, the Buddy Guy Blues Festival, and Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival. Clark will return to New York City to headline the nearly 2,900-capacity Beacon Theatre.
At the Mercury Lounge performance, Clark told the audience that this was the first venue where he performed in New York City. (Contrarily, our records show that in 2011 Clark played Brooklyn Bowl, Rockwood Music Hall and the Highline Ballroom prior to his Mercury Lounge performance.) In the 15 years since he first came to New York, he has performed in several additional venues, including the Beacon Theatre. Local fans will remember that a severe lightning storm aborted his most recent New York City performance last summer after three songs.
Now playing in an intimate setting again, it was time for Clark to chill with his core band of four musicians (guitarist King Zapata, keyboardist Dayne Reliford, bassist Elijah Ford, and drummer J.J. Johnson). Perhaps this event served as a test run before playing larger stages. It was so casual that Clark removed his blazer after a few songs and played most of the show in his white tank top. Periodically between songs, Clark rambled and conversed with audience members. Mostly, however, he had his guitar to do the talking.
Clark remained firmly rooted in the blues for the entire two-hour set. Along the way, he drifted in and out of related genres, including hard rock. He occasionally sang in a rhythm & blues-inflected falsetto. At one point, he sat on a stool and played an unfinished song that he said he had been developing at home.
Clark tempered the set masterfully by switching tempos and moods. He wrapped the songs with soulful vocals. He pleased the audience by diving into a plethora of extended guitar leads. His musicians supported him well during these fiery jams. The musicians also gave him breaks by contributing heavily to the arrangements. There may have been an imbalance, however, in that Reliford had many more spotlight moments on his organ than Zapata had on his guitar. Nevertheless, the audience came to hear Clark play impressive blues guitar, and he fulfilled all expectations.
Clark with remain in the New York area for the rest of this week. Later this week, he will participate in “Music America: The Songs That Shaped Us,” a concert concept celebrating America’s 250th birthday. Clark with perform alongside Jon Bon Jovi, Jackson Browne, Rosanne Cash, Kenny Chesney, Dion, Dropkick Murphys, Shemekia Copeland, Valerie June, Keb’ Mo’, Nils Lofgren, Darlene Love, Public Enemy, David Sancious, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Trischka and Sister Sadie, Mavis Staples, Trombone Shorty and the New Breed Brass Band, Stevie Van Zandt, and Jimmie Vaughan. The Disciples of Soul will serve as the house band.
The concerts, designed to be a journey through America’s musical history, will be staged at the OceanFirst Bank Center on the campus of Monmouth University in New Jersey on June 4 and 5, just prior to the grand opening there of the new Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music on June 13.
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