GARY CLARK JR.
"I JUST LOVE MAKING NOISE.MY OWN NOISE""I JUST LOVE MAKING NOISE.MY OWN NOISE"
In a powerful and experimental new album, Gary Clark Jr. is channelling the pioneering spirit of the blues greats. “With music and gear,” he says,“it’s cool to paint with all the colours…”
When Gary Clark Jr. greets Total Guitar on Zoom, it’s with awarm smile and a slight sense of amazement. After a quick scan of this writer’s music room, what grabs his attention is an unexpected “blast from the past” –the same electric guitar he cut his teeth on, in the exact same nish, on a guitar rack in the background. The rare model in question is a late-’90s Japanese-made Ibanez Blazer in Vintage Sunburst, which is exactly what the Texan brought along to the blues jams that schooled him at the very beginning of his teenage years. These were no ordinary club nights, however, given how Antone’s –the legendary downtown Austin venue –was also where Stevie Ray and Jimmie Vaughan started their careers, and a place that was frequented by many a guitar great.
Seeing the old favourite transports Clark Jr. back to the start of his musical journey and, as we soon learn, draws parallels to much of his work on latest album JPEGRAW. The 12 tracks eloquently stretch out the format of blues into new sonic horizons without losing the core fundamental values, travelling through the realms of gospel, jazz, soul and hip-hop while also roping in star guests including Stevie Wonder, George Clinton and Valerie June.
“What felt di erent about this record is that I kinda went back to my 12 year-old self,” Gary says. “There was a fork in the road where I could have headed towards blues or shred. I chose blues, and ended up being the kid at those jam nights with that same Ibanez Blazer and a 60-watt solid-state Crate amp. The blues guys were looking at me like Iwas crazy! I actually still have the Blazer and play it all the time. I bought it because I needed some versatility. I thought the coil tap meant it would cover all the tones I’d need for the rest of my life.”
He adds with a laugh: “That didn’t quite go according to plan…”
So what exactly informed the musical direction you took on this album?
After that Ibanez and Crate setup, I got myself a Fender DeVille, a Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster and a Gibson ES-125, but I had a bunch of friends who were listening to Guns N’ Roses and they introduced me to Slash’s playing. The G3 thing was also huge when I started –you had Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Eric Johnson playing together. I’d read about those guys all the time in the guitar magazines. I’ll never forget seeing Eric Johnson playing Cli sOfDoveron Austin City Limits. I’d stop the tape, rewind it and watch every part closely.
Eventually I realised it was too complicated for me. Iknew I needed to
