With over 1.4 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Gary Clark Jr. is no stranger to stardom. His music is powerful, influential, and unique, with a flair for the blues, rock, funk, R&B, jazz, African music, and even some hip-hop. He’s collaborated with the best of the industry, including Stevie Wonder, George Clinton, Foo Fighters, Macy Gray, John Legend, and Alicia Keys, to name a few.
Tuesday night, Gary Clark Jr. graced North Charleston, South Carolina, with his 6-piece band, to share the best of JPEG Raw. His fourth studio album came out last year, and the band played some older hits mixed with the latest jams, leaving the crowd ecstatic! Fans filled every section at North Charleston’s Performing Arts Center. Every seat is a great seat in that venue, and the sound and acoustics were powerful in the smaller space built for 2,300 patrons.
Dressed in a southwestern-style poncho, a cool, wide-brimmed hat, and a pair of square-toed leather boots, Gary Clark Jr. kicked off the show with “Maktub”. This song is the lead single off JPEG Raw and was co-written with Sama'an Ashrawi, who said it's a song about how freedom is our destiny. “Maktub" is an Arabic word which literally translates to "it is written" but more poetically refers to a specific kind of destiny– the one you work towards.
He went on to play hit after hit, totaling over 2 hours of his soulful guitar play, smooth voice, and haunting lyrics. He finished the night with an encore that left the crowd still wanting more (would any number of his songs truly be enough?), and the audience was transcended into another realm as his different styles and broad talents were shown off. I always appreciate a diverse crowd, and in a city like Charleston, you have a great mix of culture, transplants, locals, and all ages. The concert was a melting pot of the city’s best people, and the intermingling at intermission reminded me that good music is something everyone can find common ground with.
The 4-time Grammy winner is making his way across the country with about 26 more tour dates, so if you’re looking for a magical night of true and raw talent, find your way to a show!
