GARY CLARK JR
Gary Clark Jr., Charleston Performing Arts Center, Charleston, SC. 3/11/25.
Like the protagonist from a spaghetti western, Gary Clark Jr coolly sauntered onto stage donning a poncho and a blonde hat that would likely make the Man With No Name envious. Gary Clark Jr brought his JPEG/RAW tour to the Charleston Performing Arts Center, and the legend from Austin Texas did not disappoint. The lights glowed red and yellow like the sunset over a desert. The beefy tone of Clark’s Asher S-90 guitar filled the venue bringing the crowd to their feet. Kicking off his set with “Maktub” the fuzzed-up opening track to Clark’s latest JPEG/RAW. Another standout from the album, the sing-along anthem “This Is Who We Are” allowed Clark to show off what makes him one of the best to do it. His fingers effortlessly danced up and down the fretboard, and his embellishments were as smooth as butter. Clark was soft-spoken but smooth like silk. He oozed swagger, from the moment he stepped to the mic. When he strapped on his Epiphone Casino, the crowd wasn't ready for the onslaught of honey-thick screeches and wails during the performance of “When My Train Pulls In” from 2012s breakout album Blak and Blu. His performance solidified his status as one of the best to do it. When you watch Gary Clark Jr play, you see masters like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Prince. When he sings you can feel the soulful blues of Muddy Waters, or B.B. King. If you are a music lover or a guitar enthusiast you owe it to yourself to get out and see the legend Gary Clark Jr.
Shot and Written by Clif Rhodes.
