September 12, 2012 — (Burbank, CA) — Singer, songwriter, and guitarist extraordinaire Gary Clark Jr. has revealed the title and track-listing for his long-anticipated full-length debut album for Warner Bros. Records: Blak and Blu, which will be released on October 22. The album was produced by Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Mastodon, Fiona Apple), Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance) and Gary Clark Jr. Apart from Clark on guitar, vocals & trumpet, Blak and Blu features performances from drummer J.J. Johnson, keyboardist Zac Rae, and Elizondo on bass on many of the tracks. Please see below for the full album track-listing. The album will be available for pre-order Sept. 18. The first track off of the album, “Ain’t Messin ‘Round”, will be available to purchase digitally on this date also.
In addition to 12 of Clark’s original compositions, Blak and Blu also features a 13th song – a blistering cover of Little Johnny Taylor’s (popularized by Albert Collins), “If You Love Me Like You Say / Third Stone From The Sun” (Jimi Hendrix) is actually a complete reworking of the song utilizing the Hendrix riff reinterpreted by Clark. The result is an extraordinary hybrid of the two ideas that breathes new fire to an old favorite.
Clark has been slipping songs from Blak and Blu into his sets while performing at all of this year's major music festivals, including Bonnaroo, Coachella, Osheaga Festival, Sasquatch!, Lollapalooza, and the NOLA Jazz & Heritage Festival. He was also the only artist invited to play both nights of Jay Z's Made in America Festival over Labor Day weekend. Clark’s upcoming festival performances include Bridge School Benefit on Oct. 20 – 21 with label-mates Neil Young & Crazy Horse and Flaming Lips, Austin City Limits on Oct. 14, and Voodoo Fest in New Orleans on Oct. 26.
To coincide with the release of his album Clark will also make several television appearances in October. Those details will be announced soon.
With an unpredictable and musically diverse live set that varies based on Clark's mood and the audience vibe on any given night, the Austin native has received tremendous critical praise, with The New York Times opining that he “may be the next Hendrix.” Rolling Stone observed, “Owing as much to Kurt Cobain and the Ramones as Buddy Guy and John Lee Hooker, indebted to hip-hop and psychedelia, his shape-shifting calling card EP is grounded in tradition while standing on the brink of change.” “Gary Clark Jr. cuts through a stunning blend of rock and soul. Clark can sing some sweet R&B, but at heart, he's a blistering blues-rock guitarist who's about to blow up big,” said NPR. Make no mistake about it; Gary Clark Jr is not just a “blues man.” This is a modern amalgam of rock & soul, informed by the blues and everything in-between aimed at a new generation of music fans who want it all. Dig The New Breed!