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Gary Clark Jr. Live at the Beacon Theater

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Born in Austin, Texas and playing since age 12, Gary Clark Jr.’s command of the instrument is just about unequaled in this day and age of rock star posers. His style, a blend of blues, rock, soul and a wisp of hip-hop, is unique. It’s his brand as much as the Pharrell-size hats he wears.”

Published

6 years ago

March 25, 2019

Oakland Post

By Dwight Brown NNPA News Wire Entertainment Critic

It takes a genius musician to get a guitar to do the talking for him. Gary Clark Jr. did that Saturday night at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Sure, he sang and bantered with the audience, but when he wanted to get a message across, his flaming red guitar did the talking. It had a lot to say to an audience that was constantly jumping out of their seats. Clark rocked the house and his fans responded.

The second he stepped on the stage with his imposing figure, Clark owned the audience. Standing 6’ 5” wearing boots and a wide-brimmed hat, he had the silhouette of a cowboy gunslinger. Only, instead of packing a Colt.45, he was holding a classic Fender Stratocaster guitar.

Born in Austin, Texas and playing since age 12, his command of the instrument is just about unequaled in this day and age of rock star posers. His style, a blend of blues, rock, soul and a wisp of hip-hop, is unique. It’s his brand as much as the Pharrell-size hats he wears.

Clark didn’t mess around. The first song he laid into was his signature stadium-rock tune, “Bright Lights.” Singing it like he was daring the audience to disagree, he growled: “Woke up in New York City, Lying on the floor. Just outside of Marcy’s – West 54 wow. You gonna know my name by the end of the night…”

The crowd stood up and rocked and swayed to the vibe he was sending full force. When he was through with the first verse and refrain, he dug into his guitar and made it wail like a siren warning a tornado was about to come through.

Clark’s regular voice has a Motown sound to it and his falsetto will remind many of Curtis Mayfield. Yet he’s singing songs they would never sing. That’s where his command of blues, rock and soul comes in handy and makes him versatile. “Bright Lights” is a pure rock anthem. Songs like “Church,” blend blues and gospel effortlessly: “Lord, my Lord I need your helpin’ hand. I’m in love with a woman who’s in love with a man. That I can’t be, it ain’t me.” Soul is most evident on tunes like “Star”: “…Some will try to shake you. And some will try to break you. Just know that I’ll be waiting.”

Clark is quick to pay respect to the greats who came before and shaped him: Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King, Albert King, Buddy Guy. And he should, as the echoes of their guitar licks are in his too. He’s modernized their sound in a way that makes it his own and also carries the spirit of Jimi Hendrix, Prince and Eric Clapton.

The songs he performed had themes centering around love, lost love, having a good time on payday… Clark’s lyrics turned to pure anger and outrage on the title song of his latest album by the same name, This Land.

The song was born after an incident in Kyle, Texas where he’d bought a 50-acre farm. A nosy neighbor questioned him about why he was on the land. That spawned a set of searing lyrics that sparked words like “..F— you, I’m America’s son. This is where I come from…” He corralled his reaction and emotion, harnessed it and let the music flow where it may.

“This Land” was the highlight of the night at the Beacon. Clark blasted the lyrics like a prophet warning the masses. His guitar yowled like a wolf ready to attack. Backed by a drummer, lead guitarist, bass player and keyboardist, who were as deft as any jazz musicians, the brother from Austin, Texas fulfilled what he promised at the beginning of the show. “You’re gonna know my name by the end of the night.” His coda was telling them that the land he owns is his and “… right in the middle of Trump Country…” God help anyone who questions what he’s accomplished or the possessions he has.

From rock guitar god to fiery protest singer, Gary Clark Jr. is on an international tour that’s flaunting his dexterity and setting music venues around the world on fire.

He walks softly but carries a big guitar.

Visit NNPA News Wire Entertainment Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com and BlackPressUSA.com.

Oakland Post

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Tiguan’s AI Touchscreen & Gear Shift: VW Just Changed the Game! #2

Explore the Tiguan’s cutting-edge 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice control, and a new AI assistant. See how VW innovatively moved the gear shifter to the steering column, enhancing the center console and navigation system! #AutoNetwork #Tiguan #Infotainment #AppleCarPlay #AndroidAuto #AISystem #NavigationSystem #CarTech #TechReview #CarInnovation #Automotive

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

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IN MEMORIAM: Legendary Funk Pioneer Sly Stone Dies at 82

Sly Stone’s musical approach radically reshaped popular music. He transcended genre boundaries and empowered a new generation of artists. The band’s socially conscious message and infectious rhythms sparked a wave of influence, reaching artists as diverse as Miles Davis, George Clinton, Prince, Dr. Dre, and the Roots.

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Sly and the Family Stone play the Opera House in Bournemouth. Mojo review. Photo by Simon Fernandez.

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Newswire

Sylvester “Sly” Stewart—known to the world as Sly Stone, frontman of the groundbreaking band Sly and the Family Stone—has died at the age of 82.

His family confirmed that he passed away peacefully at his Los Angeles home surrounded by loved ones, after battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other health complications.

Born March 15, 1943, in Denton, Texas, Stone moved with his family to Vallejo, California, as a child. He began recording gospel music at age 8 with his siblings in a group called the Stewart Four. By his teenage years, he had mastered multiple instruments and was already pioneering racial integration in music—an ethos that would define his career.

In 1966, Sly and his brother Freddie merged their bands to form Sly and the Family Stone, complete with a revolutionary interracial, mixed-gender lineup.

The band quickly became a commercial and cultural force with hits such as “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—all penned by Stone himself.

Their album “Stand!” (1969) and live performances—most notably at Woodstock—cemented their reputation, blending soul, funk, rock, gospel, and psychedelia to reflect the optimism and turmoil of their era.

As the 1970s progressed, Stone confronted personal demons. His desire to use music as a response to war, racism, and societal change culminated in the intense album “There’s a Riot Goin’ On” (1971). But drug dependency began to undermine both his health and professional life, leading to erratic behavior and band decline through the early 1980s.

Withdrawn from the public eye for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, Stone staged occasional comebacks. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys in 2017, and captured public attention following the 2023 release of his memoir “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—published under Questlove’s imprint. He also completed a biographical screenplay and was featured in Questlove’s documentary “Sly Lives!” earlier this year.

His influence endured across generations. Critics and historians repeatedly credit him with perfecting funk and creating a “progressive soul,” shaping a path for racial integration both onstage and in the broader culture.

“Rest in beats Sly Stone,” legendary Public Enemy frontman Chuck D posted on social media with an illustrative drawing of the artist. “We should thank Questlove of the Roots for keeping his fire blazing in this century.”

Emmy-winning entertainment publicist Danny Deraney also paid homage. “Rest easy Sly Stone,” Deraney posted. “You changed music (and me) forever. The time he won over Ed Sullivan’s audience in 1968. Simply magical. Freelance music publicist and Sirius XM host Eric Alper also offered a tribute.

“The funk pioneer who made the world dance, think, and get higher,” Alper wrote of Sly Stone. “His music changed everything—and it still does.”

Sly Stone is survived by three children.

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PRESS ROOM: Clyburn on 10th Anniversary of Mother Emanuel AME Church Shooting in Charleston

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

By Congressman James E. Clyburn

WATCH HERE

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) released the following video on X, paying tribute to the 10^th anniversary of the shooting that took place at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015.

“Over 6 years ago, the House first passed my Enhanced Background Checks Act to close the Charleston Loophole that allowed a white supremacist to obtain the gun he used to murder nine worshipers at Emanuel AME Church on June 17, 2015.

“I’ll never stop fighting to pass this law.”