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Friendship, love of craft and music came together when music industry photographer and filmmaker Danny Clinch invited famed guitarist and bluesman Gary Clark Jr to headline a live streamed concert event ahead of the latter’s sold show Saturday night at The Stone Pony.

“Asbury Park is about community,” Clinch said. “It’s art and music culture, and a lot of it has started to percolate right here in this area and right here in the gallery.”

‘Live from the Asbury with Danny Clinch’ launched Saturday afternoon at the Toms River native’s Transparent gallery inside The Asbury, located at Fifth Avenue and Kingsley Street. Sponsored by YETI with assistance from the TourGigs production team, the event drew a standing room only crowd who were treated to a short set by the Austin bluesman as well as an impromptu performance by the duo.

“He’s had me up to play some harp with him quite a few times, which I really appreciate,” Clinch said. “I like to think it’s because I’m an awesome harmonica player but I think it’s just because I have good friends.”

Reminiscent of a 3 a.m., back in the day, jam at NYC’s Smalls jazz club on 10th Avenue, but this was 2 p.m. on a Saturday in Asbury Park. They reflected on those personal moments between friends, like Clark losing a prized hat falling backward into a pool during the Bright Lights video, which Clinch shot.  

“Men with hats, I don’t know where that came from,” Clinch said.

The two men struck up an instant friendship some years back, so when Clark came to town Saturday, he asked Clinch’s Tangiers Blues Band to join the bill.  

“Being a lover of guitar player, lover of blues and good music, I immediately loved Gary,” Clinch said while showing a photograph he took on their first meeting. Other shots were from their time spent at Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, and time spent with Jimmy Page during a John Varvatos Campaign.

Clark also shared his first trip to Asbury Park as an opening act for Grace Potter, and the first date he had with his now wife Nicole Trunfio, which was at The Stone Pony.

“We drove all the way up from the city,” Clark said. “Citizen Cope [Clarence Greenwood ] was playing and he kind of earned me some points because he invited me up to play with him.”

In the end, Clinch and Clark dedicated a tune to lighting guru Keith Wissmar, who died July 30 after a 14-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Wissmar worked with Clark, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Neil Young, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, to name a few.

“If you think about all those people and what they stand for, it’s a great testament to what kind of guy he was,” Clinch said. “We are sure going to miss him.”

The duo opted to perform Jimmy Reed’s ‘Honest I Do.’

The live stream event yielded 51K views, close to 300 shares and over 600 comments, said Transparent Manager Tina Kerekes, whose refurbished mid century modern decor line is featured at the gallery.  

“And, that’s just the beginning,” she said. “We hope to do more in the future. We all felt it was a really good way for us to set the tone for the hotel, Asbury Park, The Stone Pony, Danny and myself.”

For about Danny Clinch Transparent, click here.

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