On a breezy Monday evening, Melbourne's Palais Theatre warmed up to a scorching set from the one and only Gary Clark Jr.
Bathed in a low orange glow, the band set the scene with dramatic, droning tones, synth bass rumbling heavy in the air. These sonorous notes lent immediate gravitas to the affair, clearly bringing an unexpected heaviness to some patrons of the seated Palais Theatre (14 April).However, this was no night at the opera – this was an evening of the blues. Kicking in with their iconic cover of Robert Petway's 'Catfish Blues', the ensemble bumped and swayed through its paces with cool, slinking energy.
Clark Jr.'s smokey vocals cut to the soul, each verse punctuated by southern blues solos, sizzling tube amplifiers sliced into rhythm with bone-dry, undulating tremolo. Stormy atmosphere established, the seven-piece stomped slowly into the thick groove of 'Maktub'.
Like lightning from a rain cloud striking thirsty desert earth, the thunderous beat infuses West African rhythms with thumping Moog bass and contemporary hip hop. The track's soaring, Pink Floyd-esque slide solo saw Clark Jr. encircled by swirling beams of psychedelic green, his guitar's wail beaming like a diamond – a prism refracting pure light.
Approaching the middle portion of the set, opener Hamish Anderson joined in for 'Don't Owe You A Thang', a swampy cut from Clark Jr.'s 2011 'The Bright Lights EP'. The palpable chemistry of the two ripping through solos made obvious why this is the second consecutive Australian tour their bands have shared.
Clark Jr. himself is certainly no newcomer to the land down under. Aside from countless Australian tours over the past 15 years, he's performed in Baz Luhrman's 'Elvis' (both as an actor and on the soundtrack), and is married to Australian model Nicole Trunfio.
2019's 17-song epic 'This Land' earned him Grammys for both the album and the title track. The genre-blending 'This Land' hits with immense purpose and righteous fury, fusing hip hop grooves, blues rock, and an ingenious Woody Guthrie sample.
Lovers of 'This Land' were treated to one of the record's catchiest bops. The righteous funk rock of 'What About Us' had heads bobbing out of their seats, with the trio of backing vocalists – Clark Jr's sisters, Shanan, Shawn and Savannah – elevating its chorus to an irrefutable, infectious crowd sing-along.
Live and in the studio, Gary Clark Jr. is no stranger to collaboration. The scope of his credits is matched by few, having worked with the likes of Childish Gambino on 'Awaken, My Love!', Tech N9ne, Foo Fighters, and John Legend.
Onstage, he's performed with The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Alicia Keys, and Dave Grohl, just to rattle off a few. The calibre of these artists is indicative not only of his success, but of Gary Clark Jr.'s passion for broad styles and influences.
His latest record, 'JPEG Raw', hosts a wealth of features, including Stevie Wonder on 'What About the Children' and George Clinton on 'Funk Witch U'. One of the album's most romantic hits, 'Alone Together' shuffled with an incredible blend of flavours, infusing P-Funk bass with Marvin Gaye vocals and a D'Angelo-esque drum feel.
"I always wanted to be Marvin Gaye when I grew up," Clark Jr. half-joked to the audience. Ever reverential to the original masters, Gary Clark Jr. proudly wears his influences on his sleeves. From jazzy octave guitar riffs reminiscent of George Benson to classical-leaning interludes, there are truly no limits to his inspirations.
Cheers abounded to the opening strums of time-tested classic 'Bright Lights'. A brooding meditation on the hubris and self-destruction often required to make it as a musician, the tune's gristly rhythm and Hendrix-like solo smacked harder than a double shot of dark liquor.
Get lost in the city, try to find myself /
I went up a different person, came down somebody else /
I know it ain't right, but it's all in my head /
Oh, I'm surprised that I'm still alive, I should be dead
Approaching curtain call, a spellbinding solo guitar movement wove its way into nine-minute epic, 'Habits'. One of his most emotional songs to date, the vulnerability of the performance saw Clark Jr. baring his heart and soul.
Clark Jr.'s current set lists span decades of records and genre experimentation, curated perfectly, sewing the lineage of blues to psychedelia, hip hop, and beyond. The tunes take lives of their own with extended instrumental sections and solos, leaning into the raw spirit that only the world’s very best can harness.
His unmatched stage presence and the band's otherworldly prowess transcend entertainment, conveying a powerful sense of purpose and passion. There are no words to describe something so remarkable as experiencing this band live – Gary Clark Jr. must be seen to be believed.
