They say what's meant for you will always find you, but it finds some sooner than others.
For one of blues' living legends, it was a guitar that found him at the tender age of 12. Gary Clark Jr. spent the following years surrounded by a whirlwind of talent that swept him up and shot him to a place of mastery that has seen him lauded as one of the greats.Just don't use that word around him, as he feels he still has a ways to go. "I struggle all the time," he laughs from the comfort of home, post one of his famously lengthy tours. "The thing about growing up in Austin is there's so many talented guitar players.
"I remember days of practicing and coming up with new licks, thinking I'll show these off at the show. Then I walk down the street and Eric Tessmer's playing or Nick Curran, somebody incredible. I gotta go back and do better. I still feel that way, but it's good. It keeps folks inspired and on their game."
Clark Jr. takes the challenge as inspiration rather than demotivation. . . usually. "Sometimes it bums me out, but I'm excited,” he smiles. "The only time I got really bummed out was when Eric Gales opened for me. I watched the whole show and thought I probably shouldn't have, 'cause he's just so incredible."
When asked about his rise through the industry, the remarkably humble Clark Jr. fires off a roster of mentors quickly, eager to give credit where due.
"I had a lot of mentors in this great town. When I was young, I had guys like Appa Perry who had a show called Blues Power. It was a live gig on 6th St at Joe's Generic Bar, Tuesdays, Thursdays and either Friday or Saturday, sometimes both.
"He would invite guitar players to play alongside the legendary Uncle John Turner and the incredible Johnny Winter. So I got to play guitar night after night with these great mentors, Johnny Moeller, Mike Keller, Dave Herrero, Tony Redman.
"Then I moved over to Antone's and I started hanging with guys like James Cotton and Hubert Sumlin, they took me under their wing. Jimmy Vaughn took me to get a harmonica 'cause he saw me covering some Jimmy Reed. He was like, 'I'm gonna show you how to play this stuff the real way!'. So I went to music university while I was still in high school. It was incredible.
"Jimmy Bond took me on my first tour right out of high school. I was fortunate that way. I remember we were in San Francisco and I was sneaking drinks, underage. He walked into our dressing room and he grabbed a bottle of water and pointed at the water and looked me dead in the eye. Didn't say anything, just walked out. I understood."
After his birth through a fireball of talent, Clark Jr.'s status as a legend in his own right was cemented when he won three Grammys for the album 'This Land' in 2020 (having won the Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance for 'Please Come Home' in 2014), the title track inspired by small minds in outdated landscapes.
Showing his words strike a chord as much as his guitar, Clark Jr.'s follow-up album, 2024's 'JPEG Raw' showed a man enjoying freedom of expression, defying genre and simply creating.
By playing the album on the road, it has shown new dimensions to Clark Jr.'s stage manner. "Playing these songs live has been freeing and liberating, to step outside what folks say are blues players' boxes. I feel like myself again. I think Dave Chappelle said, prepare to have your creative heart broken once you mix it with the business, just because there are so many opinions.
"During that time of making the album, you couldn't really talk to anybody, so there weren't opinions or compliments that may sway you subconsciously. I was just like a 13 year old again in the garage with way too much time on their hands, going back to creative freedom, where you didn't know what the future was. I really am passionate about it. I'm obsessed still, to this day.
"To fly overseas and have people singing these songs is pretty incredible. I enjoyed doing 'Alone Together' ['JPEG Raw' album track with Keyon Harrold], because it's a chance for me to put the guitar down. I was a singer before I was a guitar player and listened to soul singers like Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke. So that's fun, prancing around the stage crooning."
The album's varied textures drew the ear of many guitar enthusiasts, and Clark Jr. was kind enough to divulge his tonal secrets. "I used the Cesar Diaz 100 Watt combo for a good chunk of the album. That's my favourite amp that I use when I work with [producer] Jacob Sciba. From the first time I played it, I was like, 'this is the sound', but he won't sell it to me," Gary smiles wryly.
"I also stuck to my Fenders, Princeton, my regular go-to's." With a list of collaborators that could make a grown person cry, Clark Jr. doesn't have to think long about his dream collaboration, living or dead.
"I've had this dream a couple of times, where I'm smoking a spliff with Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix and Keith Richards. I don't know why that keeps happening, but that would have been pretty cool to hang with those guys, fool around on some guitars. I've already worked with Keith, so that was a bucket list.
"I have to be honest, and it's not bragging. I've been really fortunate to work with people that I've looked up to, pretty much anybody who I've wanted to collaborate with. It's a sequence of events that I'm grateful for. When I look back on my life, I'm like, 'wow, the kid with the guitar and a dream, I've been able to be onstage with everyone from B.B. King to Citizen Cope to Beyoncé', it's wild.
"I give myself some credit, but also, I think somebody's got a plan for me. I'm just trying to pay attention."
With his touring ethic well known and documented thanks to 2014's 'Gary Clark Jr. Live', the man with the unstoppable hands will be making his way down under for the iconic Bluesfest.
He reflects on touring's place in his life. "I love it. The work is the travel, that can tire you out, but getting up onstage for two hours every night, that's invigorating.
"I'm excited to do that. Out on the road, to keep myself sane, I walk around and take pictures, and I'm on a quest for the perfect Reuben sandwich, and the best ramen. I keep myself occupied by doing things like that. It's a beautiful life. I got to take my kids out earlier in the year to Europe, and my sister had her three kids, so it was an experience. It is what you make it."
Australia is dear to Clark Jr. for more reasons than one. "It's absolutely beautiful there. The people are fun, funny. I like being called Gazza. If we can make it over, my wife [Australian model Nicole Trunfio] comes with me. We go see her family, which is always cool, but the best part, I come to play the shows.
"I'm grateful that people even give my songs a spin. So to come look at people in real life and hopefully put a smile on some folks faces and have a good time, that's the highlight every time."
A master of many things, Gary Clark Jr. is one artist you don't want to miss.
Gary Clark Jr. 2025 Tour Dates
Mon 14 Apr - Palais Theatre (Melbourne)Tue 15 Apr - Hindley Street Music Hall (Adelaide)
Thu 17 Apr - Enmore Theatre (Sydney)
Fri 18 Apr - Bluesfest (Byron Bay)
Sat 19 Apr - Bluesfest (Byron Bay)
