Concert Review: Gary Clark Jr. at Hogg Memorial Auditorium

Austin native Gary Clark Jr. set the bar high after headlining the first concert in the newly-renovated Hogg Memorial Auditorium on October 27.

Written by Sophia Guild

Photo courtesy of GWN Entertainment

Born and raised in Austin, Texas, guitarist Gary Clark Jr. masterfully blended R&B, hip-hop, and soul into his performance at Hogg Memorial Auditorium. Despite downpouring rain, eager fans made up of University of Texas at Austin’s students and faculty lined up outside the auditorium to listen to the four-time Grammy winner’s soulful sound. Clark’s headlining show was the first concert since the Auditorium’s extensive renovations began two years ago.

Before Clark’s show, KUTX radio host Jody Denburg came onstage to preface the special opening of Hogg Memorial Auditorium and alluded to more developments within the University’s live music space.

“This renovation is just the start because the University has committed to investing in bringing a key part of campus life back to where it belongs: bringing music back to UT,” said Denberg. “Really soon, UT is going to share some plans about its live music initiative. It’s a program they designed to offer more music across the Forty Acres and to support and develop the next generation of Austin musicians, as a campus, as a city, and as a community.”

Although UT’s community has yet to see these plans put into action, Denberg noted that students and faculty should look forward to upcoming announcements from the University on the unnamed initiative. After his speech, the lights faded as Clark and his band arrived onstage to a round of applause from the excited audience.

The band showcased their musical talents after busting into the hit song “Bright Lights” from the 2012 debut album Blak and Blu. Opening with powerful guitar chords, Clark roused his audience as he forcefully sang the standout lyric, “You’re gonna know my name by the end of the night.” A smiling Clark pointed at a fan in the audience, saying, “I see you,” while they sang the words back at him.

Taking no time to pause, Clark immediately went into “Ain’t Messin’ Round,” showcasing his vocal range with the high-energy track. Released as a lead single off of Blak and Blu, the track’s catchy hook revealed an upbeat Clark as he enthusiastically sang “Give it up now / Play it cool.” Next, Clark turned to the blues with his song “The Healing” off his 2015 release The Story of Sonny Boy Slim. As the band played the opening chords, Clark addressed the audience of fellow Austinites.

“I spent a lot of time running up and down these streets of Austin, Texas,” Clark said. “I spent a whole lot of time and a whole lot of money at the Hole in the Wall across the street. I’ll tell you one thing: if it weren’t for this music stuff, I’d be in trouble.”

While “The Healing” addressed Clark’s love of music, Clark traveled deeper into the blues with a cover of Elmore James’ 1971 track “My Baby’s Gone.” Filled with deep vocals and a gritty slide guitar, the cover added even more depth to Clark's already soulful performance.

Transitioning into the falsetto-fueled “I Walk Alone,” Clark played an aggressive guitar riff accompanied by glistening piano and clashing distortion. Channeling his internal turmoil, he belted the line “I move in darkness ‘cause the darkness always soothes me / It’s natural, but I don’t want to be alone.”

Moving away from the darkness, Clark pivoted into the affectionate “Our Love,” where he and keyboardist Jon Deas took on a spirited guitar-and-keys duel. The two musicians faced each other as they feverishly played their respective instruments, inciting wild applause from the audience. As the song ended, Clark asked the audience if anyone played guitar before tossing his guitar slide to a lucky student in the front row.

After digging into the funk-fueled track “Feed the Babies,” the artist reminisced on his years growing up in Austin before going into the atmospheric “You Saved Me.” “When I wrote this song, I was probably a kid running around,” said Clark. “My folks met at The Varsity, which used to be across the street – I don’t know if y’all know about this place, but – Austin true-and-true, man.”

Taking the audience into a gospel-filled Sunday morning with the track “Church” before breaking into his blues-rock staple “Low Down Rolling Stone,” Clark led the powerhouse song with impressive vocals backed by a heated drumline.

Closing with a grand finale, Clark pulled out a 10-minute version of “When My Train Pulls In.” As the resounding opening notes rang out into the auditorium, the crowd cheered. The blues-heavy sound captivated listeners, who were awed by Clark’s performance combined with the meticulous plucks of his guitar.

Clark and his band, composed of guitarists King Zapata and Elijah Ford, keyboardist Jon Deas, and drummer JJ Johnson, are set to return to Austin in December. They’re set to play a New Year’s Eve headlining show at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. With an expertly blended mix of rock, soul, and R&B, the band’s performance made for a memorable re-opening night at the Auditorium.