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Gary Clark Jr. performs live in the UBS Forum

  Play Now [32:25]

by Jill Riley and Gary Clark Jr.

November 27, 2013

gary clark jr
Gary Clark Jr. performs live in the UBS Forum at Minnesota Public Radio.
MPR photo/Nate Ryan

When Gary Clark Jr. was 14 years old, like a lot of kids that age, his universe consisted of his backyard, the baseball field, the park, the creek. But when he got to see Buddy Guy play at fabled Austin club Antone's, his universe expanded significantly and he dedicated himself to music.

The dedication paid off. In town to play a sold-out show at First Avenue, Gary Clark Jr. — together with bandmates King Zapata (guitar), Johnny Bradley (bass) and Johnny Radelat (drums) — paid a visit to the UBS Forum at Minnesota Public Radio to play an intimate show for a live audience and to chat with The Current's Jill Riley.

It's been a meteoric rise for the Texas-tinged blues-rock guitar ace. Between songs, Gary Clark Jr. tells Jill about his experiences playing in Eric Clapton's Crossroads Festival, buying guitars in London, sharing a microphone with Mick Jagger and talking about the Chicago blues scene with one of his biggest fans: U.S. President Barack Obama.

Songs Performed


"When My Train Comes In"
"If Trouble Was Money"
"Travis County"
"Numb"

Gary Clark Jr.'s album Blak and Blu is available on Warner Bros. Records.

Hosted by Jill Riley
Produced by Jade
Engineered by Michael DeMark