Austin's Son

While I'm always amazed by musicians that achieve success at a young age, I'm often quickly reminded by the fact that it wasn't any easier for them to get there - they just started earlier and worked harder. This mantra, I would call core to the career of Gary Clark Jr.

An Austin native, Clark wasn't born with a guitar in his hand, however, once he picked it up at the age of 12, I don't think he was ever willing to let go. Heralded by some as the future of the blues, his style combines elements of blues, jazz, country, R&B and hip hop. He's performed alongside some of the Gods of rock n roll and finally, after years of hard work, 3 LPs and 2 EPs, it is starting to feel like he may have made his break. He just released his latest full-length, Blak and Blu, on Warner Bros. and is starting to make splashes that I hope, and predict, will ripple out into tidal waves. He's smooth, he's stylish, his voice is like velvet and his fingers run like claws up and down a guitar neck.

He's the real deal. See for yourself:



-Deliver me in chains; stitch my heart to my sleeve but it just won't stay

Harpoon Murder

A quickie from the road today.  I'm in Chicago and listening to a lot of blues, so it's only fitting that I share. Interestingly, my share has nothing to do with Chicago though.

All the way from the mean streets of Vancouver, may I introduce The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer. This duo's head-bobbing bluesy tone and interesting instrumentation (a harmonica and a guitar... hence the punny name) gives a cool combination of old-school blues feel with new school style. Minimalist and gritty, these talented gentlemen rock a wide range of the blues, throwing homage to the old crown and pushing the envelope on the new.

So, you know... check it out and stuff.


-Poetry written in words that don't rhyme was how you told me no