Chicago – Last Friday night, Austin guitar wizard Gary Clark Jr. performed a sold-out show in Chicago, at the Riviera Theatre, in support of his second studio LP, The Story of Sonny Boy Slim. I’ve been stumped as to what to say about this show. The show was brilliant. Stunning. Breathtaking. Phenomenal. Extraordinary. But there are only so many synonyms for amazing… what more can I say?

You’d think this would be easy for me. I’ve reviewed two of Gary Clark Jr.’s albums. Both blew me away. I said of Clark’s live album: “Just like Howlin’ Wolf, Hound Dog Taylor, and Muddy Waters, one day Gary Clark, Jr. will be called a legend among men, the musician of our generation, and when parents school their children in what ‘real music’ is, they’ll reference the guitar wizard who ignited a fire in their bones and pull out a copy of Gary Clark Jr. Live.” When it came to The Story of Sonny Boy Slim, I wrote:

Gary Clark Jr. released the quintessential R&B album, soaked in sounds of rhythm and blues, past and present, from the 50s and 70s to the contemporary R&B of the 90s, sprinkled with funk and hip hop, and wrapped in love, faith, and hope. Gary Clark Jr. has graced us with a sound that’s surely been missed. When the 2000s rolled around, the lush R&B landscape that graced radio for a glorious decade, began to perish. Hip hop and rap seemed to rule the day. At the start of 2005, it began to return, but rather white-washed and dressed as ‘soul,’ mostly sung by people across the pond, from Duffy and Adele to Sam Smith. Now I’m not knocking these artists. I’d be the first to tell you I love Adele, and I played out Duffy’s Rockferry. However, if we’re really being honest, might we ask what is going on when Ed Sheeran tops a BBC list of the most important artists in the black and urban music scene? (That title itself is problematic because why does ‘urban’ always seem to equate black and brown in our society? But that’s a whole other discussion.) Okay, yes Usher’s still been hanging in there – but by a thin thread that’s been waxed by a team of top 40 pop writers and producers – D’Angelo returned to us with Black Messiah, and for a minute we had Frank Ocean (Oh where did you go Frank Ocean?), but here comes Clark riding in, like the shining knight of R&B, ready to save us all with his self-produced thirteen track pièce de résistance.

So then why the struggle to write about seeing Gary Clark Jr. perform live? He left my jaw on the floor. He didn’t say much between songs, but when you’re as remarkable as Clark, the music speaks for itself. It doesn’t need to be bogged down with chatter, and really, don’t we just want to take in as much music as we can, especially when it’s as mind-blowing as Clark’s? People did just that. Yes, there was talking between songs and sometimes during, by members of the audience – and that’s to be expected at a large show, in such a giant venue – but overall, people were mesmerized with Gary Clark Jr.

The night started out with “Bright Lights,” from 2012’s Blak and Blu. There was a surprising mix of old and new, with oldies like “Ain’t Messin ‘Round” and “Numb” and newer tracks like “Down to Ride,” “Hold On,” and “The Healing.” Clark also covered Albert Collins’ “If Trouble Was Money.” Though Clark leans heavily towards modern R&B in his recordings, especially with The Story of Sonny Boy Slim, live the bluesy, southern rock he became known for can’t help but ooze out. Even songs like the 90s R&B inspired “Down to Ride” sound much more like that old-time rock, that can be heard in many a bar along the Bible Belt… and gospel seeps in, too. No better example of that than with the song which ended the evening: “Church.”

So, what else can I really write or say about seeing Gary Clark Jr. live? Would any words do him justice? You just have to see him, and then perhaps you’ll understand that the man is a genius. His performance will leave you feeling profoundly happy; giddy at just how amazing life can be, especially when you have good music. Great music. Exceptional music. Okay, I’m putting my thesaurus away… Just please do yourself a favor and see Gary Clark Jr. live. You’ll be better for it.

Gary Clark Jr. is on tour now, and will be touring North America throughout the spring and summer, which includes performances at Coachella, Governors Ball Music Festival, and Forecastle Festival. A full list of tour dates is available on the Gary Clark Jr. Facebook page.