GARY CLARK JR. - BOSTON, MA 6.9.24

Jun 11

Coverage by Maria A. Mata

Guitar extraordinaire Gary Clark Jr. lit up the evening on the Boston stop of the JPEG RAW Tour, joined on the road by Free Nationals.

There was a distinct sense of chill camaraderie in the room, as the diverse crowd made their way down Lansdowne, excited to see the singer return to the city. With a mix of blues rock and R&B setting up the atmosphere, the anticipation in the room was noticeable.

Free Nationals would take the stage early in the evening, with a luscious vibe that blended rowdy guitars and sultry rhythms. With singer India Shawn at the helm, the ensemble immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention and got everyone in the room grooving. They introduced themselves as Anderson Paak’s band early on, but they clearly hold their own and showed exactly why they’re his band: their energy is full of charisma, and their sound is complex, yet sophisticated.

The energy in the room kept building up with excitement after an outstanding opening set by Free Nationals, it was now time for Gary Clark Jr. to take over, and that he did. Opening up with “Maktub”, the guitarist slowly made his way to his spot, as he seemed to be taking in the sights of the packed room.”You showed up today!” he said with a smirk, but behind his unbothered energy was a sense of warmth and gratitude. There was a strong focus on his latest album release, which was played almost in its entirety; known for his blues roots, JPEG RAW’s sound is different and complex, tapping into a wide variety of musical influences.

There was an electric connection between the artist and his audience, as he kept on briefly pausing to just take in the energy, and even flirt a little bit, “I’m just looking at you for a minute, you look good”. These soft and candid moments stand in contrast with his performance style, which almost takes him into a trance that the crowd is completely mesmerized by. All the way through the end, into “Bright Lights”, “You Saved Me” and “Funk Witch U”, Gary Clark Jr. gifts his audience with a full on sensory experience, with an ever evolving sound that knows no bounds, and a healthy dose of effortless charisma.

THE FREE NATIONALS