Gary Clark

Gary Clark Jr. grew up in Austin, Texas, where he started playing guitar as a teenager. He was drawn to blues players like B.B. King and Jimi Hendrix, learning their styles while developing his own approach. His debut album 'Blak and Blu' came out in 2012, mixing blues with rock and earning attention for his guitar work.

After that first record, Clark put out 'The Story of Sonny Boy Slim' in 2015 and 'This Land' in 2019. Songs like 'Fire' and 'Human Love' show how he handles both heavy riffs and more melodic material. He's also played with other musicians, including Eric Clapton and John Mayer, though those collaborations aren't the main story.

Clark's playing has a rough, immediate quality that comes through even on studio recordings. He doesn't treat the blues as a museum piece, but he's not trying to reinvent it completely either. The track 'Setting Sail' with John Carney has a different, quieter feel, suggesting he's comfortable shifting gears when he wants to.