Nothing more relaxing than spending a Monday evening paying witness to Gary Clark Jr.’s superb musicianship in one of Grand Rapid’s finest venues. A diverse crowd packed Michigan’s own 20 Monroe Live to hear blues-tinged rock and roll performed by a true old soul. Pre-show anticipation was strong with fans, old and young, who were boasting with pure excitement for Clark Jr.’s artistry. The man of the hour hails from Austin, Texas along with his opening band, Think No Think, who were now playing their fourth show with Gary Clark Jr.
Three-piece rock band, Think No Think, was the perfect complement to Clark’s infamous riff breaks. The self-proclaimed “noisy and melodic” rockers played a few songs from their 2017 album, Silent City. Both highly energetic and bass driven, the band set the tone for the rest of the night’s activities. With small hints of punk and psychedelia, Think No Think created an illusion of nostalgia for ghosts of rock’s past. Intense and heavily percussed, it’s energy was reflected by the crowd.
The perfectly prepped room and its contents created tension with exploding elation for Gary Clark Jr.’s entrance. Donned with his signature hat and a pair of sunglasses, Clark Jr. made his presence known. He opened the show with a cover of Robert Petway’s “Catfish Blues” and sped it up with older favorites, “Travis County” and “Ain’t Messin ‘Round.” The blues artist debuted new music with “Walk Alone,” a tune that explores sonic textures outside his norm demonstrating a more evolved sound than previous releases. Clark Jr. took a break from shredding riff after riff with a few love songs. His raspy vocals invoked a sense of belonging and warmth that should be shared with someone special in “Our Love.” Showing no mercy, Gary Clark Jr. left the crowd wanting more before returning for a multi-song encore.
Feeding off the crowd’s desires, Clark Jr. re-entered alone to end the night with three fan favorites. With just himself and his guitar he serenaded the crowd with “Things Are Changin’.” The guitarist exclaimed, “let’s do this blues thing…I’m doing this for BB King,” before beginning “Bright Lights,” his second of three encore songs. Oozing passion and knowledge for his craft, Clark Jr.’s guitar was an extension of himself resembling another limb. His artistry went beyond music with his captivating and enticing stage presence. He finished the night off right with an explosive performance of the Beatles tune, “Come Together.”
| Review By: Veronica Anderson | Instagram: @dxzzyoncaffeine | Exclusively for @Music, Why Not! |
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