Photos by Suzanne Cadgene
After an opening set from Fiona Silver and Little Thunder, Gary Clark Jr. rocked, socked and delivered the blues to a capacity crowd at Celebrate Brooklyn!, BRIC’s top-shelf performing arts series that runs hot each summer. Celebrate Brooklyn!, just completed its 40th season at the bandshell in Prospect Park. BRIC (Brooklyn Information and Culture) is the parent organization that runs this and other media programs in Brooklyn.
Nobody can say Clark doesn’t put everything he’s got into his performances, and this was no exception. Starting out with a slow blues rendition of Robert Petway’s classic “Catfish Blues,” Clark segued into his “Ain’t Messin ‘Round,” which starts off rocking and ramps it up fast—kind of like his whole concert.
He began one of his favorites, “Don’t Owe You A Thang,” as a slow-paced blues number and then full-tilted his guitar and the band behind him into a driving version that had several women in the front row screaming for more—not the usual response when a man says he owes you nothing and sure ain’t buying you a ring. But that’s Gary Clark Jr.- a long tall drink of water that just makes you thirsty for more.
The set also included Clark’s “Next Door Neighbor Blues” and “Travis County,” and BB Kings’ “My Baby’s Gone.” Fellow guitarist King Zapata filled in the powerful sound with searing guitar riffs, while bassist Johnny Bradley and drummer Johnny Radelat never missed a beat.
Clark paces his show as well as he plays guitar—like a virtuoso. Saving the heavy stuff for last, he did a version of “All Along the Watchtower” and somewhere, Jimi Hendrix is saying to himself, “Why didn’t I do it that way?”
For his encore, he brought out his opening act, Fiona Silver, and together they gave a rousing and pointed version of the Beatles’ “Come Together.” Mission accomplished, Gary, at least for one night in Prospect Park.
—Suzanne Cadgène and Howard B. Leibowitz
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