If you’ve never heard of Gary Clark Jr., go to YouTube right now, search his name and educate yourself. You won’t regret it.

Clark is a 28-year-old blues musician from Austin, Texas whose talent seems to have been bestowed upon him by some otherworldly being.

He has been critically acclaimed for reviving blues-rock, along with other artists such as Jack White, Derek Trucks, Ben Harper and The Black Keys. Last August, his EP “Bright Lights” was featured in Rolling Stone magazine’s 50 Best Albums of the year, and last October he released his debut studio album “Blak and Blu” to rave reviews.

In an age when albums may have two or three hit songs and six or seven that are just fillers, “Blak and Blu” does not have a single clunker.

Clark is an incredible blues musician, and will continue to be instrumental in bringing blues to the main stream. He is a rock ‘n’ roll throwback, yet by blending genres he creates a sound all his own.

Magazines and established musicians have praised this Texas bluesman. Alicia Keys has lauded Clark for his musical talent. In November 2011, the two performed a stirring rendition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” at the Black Ball, an annual benefit concert for families with HIV/AIDS.

Moreover, Eric Clapton, who is regarded by many as one of the greatest guitarists who ever lived, hand-picked Clark to play at his Crossroads Guitar Festival on April 12-13 at Madison Square Garden.

Other noteworthy performances include a gig at the White House where Clark had the first family rhythmically nodding their heads as his six-string put the entire room in a trance of electric, soulful bliss. He has also shredded at renowned music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits.

While he has greatly contributed to a blues revival, Clark has also set himself apart from other blues musicians through his versatility. Clark has no doubt proven himself as a blues man, but to pigeonhole him into this one genre would be to overlook his skills as a musician in general.

His debut album testifies to this. With numerous songs such as “The Life” and “You Saved Me,” Clark has proven that he can delve into rhythm and blues and soul as well. “Please Come Home” sounds like something The Temptations could have done 50 years ago, as Clark’s falsetto singing seemingly conjures the spirit of Eddie Kendricks.

It’s incredible how deftly the tracks change from heavy riffs and wailing solos to high-hat heavy beats, with his guitar taking a back seat to a keyboard and supporting horns section.

But Clark instills a hip-hop aspect into his music as well. For instance, in his solo for “If You Love Me Like You Say,” he brilliantly uses a slide to create a sound effect similar to scratching on a turntable. Jam Master Jay would be proud.

Though Clark is still relatively unknown, he is celebrated among those who are aware of his music. In “Bright Lights,” a cover of an old Jimmy Reed song, Clark howls, “You’re gonna know my name by the end of the night.” Let it be known.

James O’Hare is a senior history and political science major. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at [email protected]. 

Published on January 15, 2013 at 1:35 am