Texas troubadour Charley Crockett made his latest ascension on Thursday with a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. For his inaugural late-night appearance, the Son of Davy played “I’m Just A Clown”, taken from his new album The Man From Waco.
While Crockett has made a name for himself as a faithful country revivalist, “I’m Just A Clown” carries an undeniable vintage R&B swagger. Playing an electric guitar for a change, Crockett pounds out a danceable rhythm while his band the Blue Drifters give the song the forlorn texture that permeates his catalog. Of note, his keyboardist pulls double duty as he tickles the ivories with one hand and plays trumpet with the other.
Crockett and his band’s get-up match his confidant demeanor, with his turquoise shirt aligning with his steely blue gaze. As the song builds to a peak, Crockett throws aside his icy cool attitude to howl the final chorus, lamenting his role as the clown.
The Man From Waco arrived as Crockett’s second album of the year and fifth since 2020. Prior to The Man From Waco, the prodigiously productive singer-songwriter explored lesser-known titles from country artists like Tom T. Hall, Jerry Reed, and Willie Nelson on the fourth installment of his Lil G.L. Presents series, Jukebox Charley.
Watch Charley Crockett perform “I’m Just A Clown” on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He has a string of tour dates left for 2022 including two-night stands at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles (12/10–12/11) and ACL Live at Moody Theater in Austin (12/16–12/17). For tickets and a full list of tour dates visit his website.
Charley Crockett – “I’m Just A Clown”