It isn’t without effort that one finds inner peace, calm, happiness. For quieting thoughts a person must fight against the louder sirens of pride and provocation.
A mostly white crowd ranging in age from preteen to retirement gathered at the Riviera Theater to hear a black man from Austin sing about his personal fight. Clark’s prose concerning love, struggle, and redemption appeal to anyone who’s lived, even for a short time.
Minus any pomp whatsoever aside from the cheers of the crowd, Clark took the stage, guitar in hand, looking fuller and happier since his last visit to Chicago. I assume he’s playing with more artistic freedom on The Story of Sonny Boy Slim, his second release with Warner Bros. Records. I heard him say during Lolla’ 2015 that he’s more than the blues guy. He’s proving that now. Biting into classic chords intertwined with soulful riffs. He’s still a shy performer. But he’s a confident one.
Photos: Kari Herrera of Chicagoings.com
Gary Clark Jr. in Chicago
