A gambler rolling into a casino is always on the lookout for that lucky seat. Turns out the luckiest seat on Sunday September 15th at Reno’s Grand Sierra Resort was a ticket inside it’s Grand Theater for a fantastic evening of musical payouts.
The fashionable Gary Clark Jr. commands any stage he walks on with the dominant presence of his lanky, six-foot five-inch frame. While rightly identified as one of the premier blues guitarists alive today, Clark also showed that pigeon-holing is done at one’s own peril.
Married to an Australian supermodel and himself a John Varvatos boot model off the stage, Clark Jr. rocked his always strong Nick Fouquet hat game. The Austin native isn’t just a stylishly attired guitar stud though, dropping an impressive range of vocal talents and musical styles during a powerful two-hour set.
Opening the show and making their first-ever appearance in Reno was fellow Austin, Texas band Los Coast. Fresh off their debut record, “Samsara” the quintet was a delicious treat for the relatively small casino showroom. Led by the vocals of Trey Privott, their 45-minute set featured cleverly married elements of soul, r&b, psych-rock, funk, and pop.
Privott, borrowing styles from Otis Redding, Amos Lee, and even Little Richard moved comfortably through tunes that kept everyone guessing where they’d go next. Paired with guitarist John Courtney’s jazz-tinged psychedelic licks, the band offered unique and creative arrangements while still maintaining their own sound. Los Coast achieved the rarest of air for an opening band, calls for an encore and a standing ovation. This is a band to watch.
Gary Clark Jr wasted no time, opening with “Bright Lights” from 2012 breakout record “Blak and Blue” that included his first blistering guitar solo of the evening. But as the set went on Clark showed he’s much more than a prolific bluesman from Texas.
A five-song run in the middle of the set demonstrated how wide Clark’s talents stretch and serves as a reminder that he’s probably under-appreciated as an artist, primarily due to his prodigious guitar talents.
“When I’m Gone” from the latest release “This Land” is a jaunty soul tune that might just as easily have come out of the Stax Records stable 60 years ago. From there Clark launched into “You Saved Me”, a contemporary soul-driven composition with airy guitar work, and ethereal keyboards before heading straight down the reggae road with “Feelin’ Like a Million”. Just when you think he’ll drop a pure blues tune, Clark changes it up with a singeing falsetto vocal backed with pop synth keys on “I Walk Alone”.
The genius here is not only does he pull off all the genres more than capably at the microphone, Clark manages to seamlessly insert guitar solos that mesh in the style, yet stand apart. But, don’t think for a moment that the fans didn’t also get exactly what they came for. A scorching slow blues tribute to BB King, who’s 94th birthday would have been the following day, and “When My Train Pulls In” gave them the power and yawning notes that mark Gary Clark Jr.
A three-song encore began with a mini drum solo leading into the soul-pop “The Guitar Man”. The Beatles “Come Together”, with it’s familiar chords thunderously rattling the stage, as the audience sang the chorus brought the night to a close.
Gary Clark Jr. somehow still manages to fly just under the radar of the biggest of the big names, much how until this year Brandi Carlile has for a decade before her breakout moment at this year’s Grammy’s. Whenever his moment comes, Clark Jr. has earned it with a body of work that shines beyond the blues
Setlist
Bright Lights
Ain’t Messin ‘Round
Got To Get Up
What About Us
Feed The Babies
When I’m Gone
You Saved Me
Feelin’ Like A Million
I Walk Alone
Got My Eyes On You
When My Train Comes In
Our Love
Low Down Rolling Stone
Got To Get Into Something
Pearl Caddy
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The Guitar Man
This Land
Come Together
One Response
I was at this concert. I drove 2 1/2 hrs to be there and ALL OF IT was worth it. The opening act was awesome. I never buy stuff at the concession stand but I sure did go down there and ask if they were selling their CD! And as for Gary Clark Jr…first off, I’m glad I didn’t wait to see him in Berkeley. Those ticket prices are SKY HIGH for General Admission. I am COOL on that. This venue was perfect! I wish I would have known about the show earlier because I sure would have sat closer. It was the first concert that I put my phone away for and did NOT get bored through the set-I did not miss a thing. Both bands were hella tight and I had a great time. I didn’t stay for the encore because of the drive back to the Bay Area but if you miss him, you are truly missing something incredible.