Gary Clark Jr turns on the bright lights at the TLA (photos, review, setlist, video)

You had to crack a smile as Gary Clark Jr. sang to a sold out crowd “you’re gonna know my name by the end of the night” – the signature line to his trademark song “Bright Lights”. But trust me; there was nobody at the TLA this past Saturday night who didn’t know the name Gary Clark Jr. In fact, between nearly every song the crowd showered the Austin-based guitarist & songwriter not just with applause, but with chants of “Gary! Gary! Gary!”. It was a fanatical response to one of the most dynamic new artists in music. And on the heels of his full length debut Blak & Blu, Gary gave Philly a performance that lived up to all the hype and all the expectations one could’ve expected. He and his band sizzled on straight ahead blues-rockers like XPN-favorite “Don’t Owe You A Thang” and album standout “Travis County”. And yes, the new tunes from Blak & Blu came to life on Saturday night. “Blak and Blu” and “Ain’t Messin’ Around” were comfortable fits alongside some of Gary’s more traditional blues-rock staples. No one was safe from the bone-rattling close to the set as Gary and the band brought all the thunder the TLA could handle with the anthemic “Bright Lights”. Well, that until his encore of “Numb” – which may have had the walls shaking and sweating. The only downside of the night was when it ended.

Setlist
When My Train Pulls In [video]
Don’t Owe You A Thang
Please Come Home
Third Stone from the Sun Jam (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
If You Love Me Like You Say (Albert Collins cover)
Ain’t Messin ‘Round
Oh Pretty Woman
Blak and Blu
Bright Lights [video]

Encore:
Travis County
Worryin Blues
Numb [video]