Gary Clark Jr.Zilker Park, Saturday, Sept. 28, 5:45pm
By the time Gary Clark Jr. finished wowing ’em at the CapMet tent on the first day of the ACL Music Festival, everything was long. The shadows from the quickly setting sun made giants of the crowd, as 15-foot shadows bobbed between stages, vendors, the food court, and needless to say, lines to the portable toilets. But here came guitarist Gary Clark: long, tall, and with the makings of a blues giant. Dressed in a bright red shirt, the Austin native cut a handsome figure, his skin like dark chocolate and hands so capable as they wrapped around the neck of his Stratocaster. At 18, he’s been playing the guitar since 1996, and has done his homework like a model student. His ACL Fest set was back-to-back tributes to the royal Alberts — King and Collins — Clark demonstrating such a blues veteran’s touch on shuffles and ballads that it’s no wonder James Cotton recently sat in with him on Sixth Street. And by the time Gary Clark finished, even the applause was long. And loud.
This article appears in October 4 • 2002.