The aggression of a storm and economically torn community was stirred and brewed to the brim by genre-stretching hard rockers, Clutch.
Two days after a major windstorm, left several thousand without power and less than two weeks after an ice storm that forced the city into a natural disaster area, Clutch provided a release to nearly 1,000 people.
The members of Clutch began the show by playing several songs from their instrumental jam band project, The Bakerton Group.
The Group, which released their second full length album, “El Rojo,” Jan. 17, had a bluesy improvisational feel, with thick, lengthy drum fills, hellish guitar tones and a melting bass. The Bakerton Group, a bit more cultured than Clutch, with jazzy drums, complex harmonizing guitar parts and running bass lines, allowed its members to show off their diverse range of influences and proved to be a killer opening act.
With singer, Neil Fallon’s grip of the vocal
mic, Clutch’s set began. Fallon’s floor shaking voice thundered from behind his long beard as he belted out the opening verse from “The Incomparable Mr. Flannery,” the riff-wild first track from their 2005 release “Robot Hive: Exodus.”
As Clutch continued to stomp through their set, they played songs from their 2004 album “Blast Tyrant,” including their hit, “The Mob Goes Wild,” in which the crowd sang along, while slamming across the floor. One would be best equipped with a mouthpiece and change of clothes if even considering getting close to the stage.
Others sang from the side balcony switching their attention from the band, which was hitting on all cylinders, to the security guards who attempted to keep the wild fans under control.
Clutch sifted through several yet to be titled new songs that are supposed to appear on the group’s upcoming album.
The band finished with a heavier, vamped up version of “Spacegrass,” from their 1995 self-titled album. A worn audience left assured that Clutch will begin work on a new album following this tour.
By HUNTER EMBRY
Staff Writer
ahembry@ius.edu