“Outstanding” “Incredible!” “So Satisfying”
Bathed in a sea of swirling red lights and blurs of black and gray against an unassuming, unclad wall, Clint Lowery stood in silence.
Pacing. Swaying. Adjusting his ear monitor.
Ready to strike.
With “God Bless The Renegades,” Lowery opened his livestream with the one song (perhaps by any artist) that in 2020 that could be seen as prophetic then, but now, in 2021, actually quite cathartic—a masterful stroke of artistry even Nostradomus may not have seen coming.
Line after line, Lowery, backed by To Whom It May members Jonathan Jourdan (guitar) and Dexas Villarreal (drums) delivered blow after blow of pulverizing rock music, almost entirely from Lowery’s 2020 solo debut God Bless The Renegades, set to the fittingly calculated sway of red, orange, blue and pink spotlights, expertly captured and produced by J.T. Ibanez films.
Backed by nothing more than a white backdrop, the lighting created a simplistic artistry—a complimentary motif for Lowery’s vintage hard rock craftsmanship and unflinching sense of rhythm.
Throughout the performance, the livestream (NoCapShows.com) offered a beautifully artistic production that was at once both immersive and reflective—a shining reminder of how great live music can actually look.
Add in the occasional camera blur and random hand-held camera effect and you get a performance that made a statement far beyond its $10 price of admission—and one worth re-streaming (thru 3/19).
But the statement was all Lowery’s.
“I’ve been through hell just for this,” Lowery asserts during “Kings,” the album’s first single and most imploring rendition of the stream as Lowery triumphantly retorts, “Take it from me, you can make it, ‘Cause I’ll be right by your side.”
And by Lowery’s side for the performance were the atmospheric guitar stylings of guitarist Jonathan Jourdan, as his guitar strings bent and seared their way through GBTR tracks such as “Alive” and “What’s The Matter.”
Sonically diverse from its studio predecessor, for those who enjoy another take on an already great album, this livestream performance hit the mark—and is worth multiple watches.
And there were plenty of things to hit during this performance, as Dexas Villareal thundered through a strong cascade of beats and fills—particularly notable during “Silver Lining,” as Lowery refrains, “That part of me will survive if I keep you all around.”
But the clear star of the stream, amidst outstanding light and crystal-clear sound production, was fittingly, Clint Lowery.
As humble and honest as one could hope for in a hard rock artist, let alone musician, Lowery’s authenticity underscores his ability to deliver on honest lyrics backed by driving and inventive rhythms—even dedicating “She’s Free” to his daughter—a track that sounds every bit as strong as she will undoubtedly grow up to be.
It was during these hard-rocking rhythms and creative riffs that Lowery truly shined, leading to countless fire and rock horned emoji icons that appeared in the chat window throughout the performance. And deservedly so.
Throughout the pandemic, as a nation and a planet, we’ve managed to experience a period of grief, isolation and division.
But for 70 minutes last night, we found we haven’t forgotten what it means to come together, either. And that day to do so in person, once again, may not be too far off.
Until then, support your artists: Buy the livestreams. Buy the merch.
God Bless Clint Lowery.
And, God Bless The Renegades.
Show Rating: 5/5 (Very worth it.)
MavStar 