GARY CLARK,JR.

Little Jimmy King’s Live From Monterey
album made me start playing and buying
Flying V’s. His tone, his licks, and his voice
made me a fan. I met him one time in Memphis
before I knew he had a twin. I had mistaken
his brother (Daniel Gales) for him.
That was funny. Been a fan of L’il Dave
Thompson when he was playing his guitar
with a quarter and spraying his fretboard
with 10-40 oil. I would run from my gig to
play his last set when he was in Chicago.
L.C. Walker, another good dude gone.
He’s the reason I carry around business
cards today. He wanted me to play with him
on a gig, so I go to write my number down
on a napkin. He says, “Would you trust a
dentist writing his number on a napkin?” He
took the napkin and the next time I saw him
he had four sheets of business cards that I
had to cut out myself. He said, “This should
get you started.”
L.V. Banks was an elder statesman of
Southside blues. He was my first experience
playing on the South Side. So you
know I had to learn something! I would
have one pedal on the floor and he would
look down and look at me, then look down
24 BLUES REVUE
again and look at me and say, “This ain’t no
rock-n-roll show. This is my sound right
here” and wiggle his fingers. Very good
memories of these dudes no matter how
small or great.
BR: What’s the current Chicago blues scene
like? What are some of your favorite clubs?
TC: The current state of Chicago blues is
like everywhere else: bands want to work
and show their stuff and keep the genre
alive. There might be added pressure on
Chicago musicians because of the history
of Chicago, as we know it. I have to thank
Delmark Records for giving new Chicago
blues guys and ladies a chance in getting
our music out. People like Mike Wheeler,
Demetria Taylor, Linsey Alexander, and
Quintus McCormick. My favorite clubs in
Chicago are B.L.U.E.S., Buddy Guy’s Legends,
House of Blues, and Rosa’s.
BR: You recently came east for the first time
in July to play the Bucks County Blues Society
30th Annual R&B Picnic. Any plans to
tour the West Coast or Europe?
TC: I just played the San Jose Jazz Festival
and I do have tentative plans to return to
France and Latvia.
BR: Are you working on a follow-up to
Leaving Mood? If so, can you give us a brief
preview?
TC: Oh yes. It’ll be more songs from my
experiences in life. I try to write songs that
you can see, songs that someone has felt in
life. But the whole CD won’t be downer
songs. I have fun too, BIG FUN. All of that
will come out on the next CD.
BR: What do you envision for the future of
the blues?
TC: In some ways Chicago artists are under
represented at some festivals. If they want
Chicago blues, we’re here, ready to give it to
you. But the future relies on everybody doing
his or her part to keep the genre alive.
Attention: promoters, booking agents, record
labels, club owners, fans of the music, radio,
and musicians – there’s a lot of blues to be
given, and I’m here to do my part!