Clutch

strummers

Anyone going to see Clutch this summer?

Going to see 3 shows in the Uk (Nottingham, Sheffield and Birmingham).

Can't wait, fantastic band.

manipulatedliving

Unfortunatly no...but I do like me some clutch when i'm drinkin

strummers

I like me some Clutch when I'm driving!

release30

I like me some Clutch at the gym....

CHANGEinWAVES

strummers wrote:

Anyone going to see Clutch this summer?

Going to see 3 shows in the Uk (Nottingham, Sheffield and Birmingham).

Can't wait, fantastic band.

Hoping to make it to the atlantic city show....though my ex husband will be there so I'm having second thoughts:(
WTF it's clutch...can't miss it:)

Red Lukin

I love Clutch, but disappointed when I saw them last...I think they played less than an hour.

Drummer totally reminds me of John Bonham..he's fuckin awesome!

strummers

Red Lukin wrote:

I love Clutch, but disappointed when I saw them last...I think they played less than an hour.

Drummer totally reminds me of John Bonham..he's fuckin awesome!

Aw man, that's a shame!

I didn't really know that much by them until my other half took me along to a show last year, was so impressed we went to another one a few days later. Now I'm hooked - up there with my favourite bands now. I love Neil's lyrics!

BetterThanYou

only know one song by them, and i dig it. 10001110101.

smarchee

Clutch rule, I have been listening to them and going to their shows since 1995. I have been to see them about 12 times, and besides Pearl Jam, they are the only band right now that I am willing to travel to see.

JP definitly is one hell of a drummer.

I am glad to see so many people get into them when they hear them, definitly a band I love to pass along to new people I meet who have never heard of them, most become fans

strummers

BetterThanYou wrote:

only know one song by them, and i dig it. 10001110101.

You need to check out more!

strummers

smarchee wrote:

Clutch rule, I have been listening to them and going to their shows since 1995. I have been to see them about 12 times, and besides Pearl Jam, they are the only band right now that I am willing to travel to see.

JP definitly is one hell of a drummer.

I am glad to see so many people get into them when they hear them, definitly a band I love to pass along to new people I meet who have never heard of them, most become fans

I totally know what you mean - wish I'd gotten into them earlier. Better late than never though - after the summer they'll be up there with the bands I've seen the most! (Living in the north of England isn't good for PJ shows unfortunately :( )

BetterThanYou

strummers wrote:

You need to check out more!

suggestions, please.

All Those Yesterdays

Saw them in Toledo a few weeks ago. Rocked out hard.

Sian-of-the-dead

strummers wrote:

Anyone going to see Clutch this summer?

Going to see 3 shows in the Uk (Nottingham, Sheffield and Birmingham).

Can't wait, fantastic band.

See you in Birmingham

The Vacant

BetterThanYou wrote:

suggestions, please.

Well, since you know and like 10001110101, Robot Hive/Exodus would be a logical starting point. It took me a long time to warm up to that album, but its happening. Their cover of Gravel Road is the highlight. Several tunes from this album used to be mainstays of the set, but they have been touring without a keyboardist this year and a lot have been put on the shelf.

Blast Tyrant is the one I usually point people to first. It’s a badass album, and they still pull heavily from it in their live sets. Similar in sound and production to Robot Hive/Exodus, but with a more streamlined vibe. Highlights are Regulator, (Notes From The Trial of) La Curandera, Promoter (of Earth Bound Causes), and pretty much everything else.

Their self-titled album is the other one I usually throw out there right away. I picked it and Blast Tyrant up at the same time and was hooked. This one is chock full of heavy tunes with a groove to them. Neil uses more of a growl/Cookie Monster tone with his vocals, but it works here. Spacegrass seems to be the most known song off of this one, but never gets played any more. Never really got the big deal around it anyway. The highlights include: Big News I and II, Escape From The Prison Planet, I Have The Body of John Wilkes Booth, Animal Farm, and the closing 7 Jam and Tim Sult vs. The Greys. The last two really show off what a master of tone Tim Sult is. Definitely an underrated guitar player. He isn't a shredder, but his solos contain all the right notes to fit the mood of the song. JP (drums) really shines on the Big News tunes as well.

Elephant Riders was produced by Jack Douglas, and sounds like it. It's a fun album with a lot of grooves in there. The title track, Ship of Gold, and Dragonfly are my favorites from that one. The Soapmakers is frequently played live and extended with some jamming. They have also been revisiting The Yeti and Eight Times Over Miss October recently, as both songs had been rested for a few years. There are three unlisted bonus tracks that were added to the album. The only problem is you don't know which of the three you get until you listen to the album.

Slow Hole To China is only available through their website and at shows, but is well worth finding. The title track and Sea of Destruction are brutal. Oregon is trippy, and seems to foreshadow the Blast Tyrant/Robot Hive era. Hoodoo Operator has a bit of a delta feel to it. Willie Nelson and Easy Breeze are a pair of fun tunes. Guild of Mute Assassins is the true highlight though. A six+ minute monster with a killer groove to it. They do a nice swampy cover of John Coltrane's Equinox as well. Find it, get it, and enjoy it.

From Beale Street To Oblivion is their most recent. It’s like Clutch meets ZZ Top. There has always been a groove to their songs, but a lot of the tunes here have that ZZ Top boogie vibe, just all heavied up in that Clutch way. It's a logical next step in the Blast Tyrant -> Robot Hive/Exodus progression. White's Ferry is the highlight here, with shades of early Iron Maiden. Other cool tracks on here are Child of The City, You Can't Stop Progress, Power Player, and Electric Worry - One Eye Dollar. The last three have been played very heavily the last two years and have lost some of their luster, but they would be new to you.

Pure Rock Fury is one to wait on. Open Up The Border, Red Horse Rainbow, Immortal, and the title track are cool, but the rest is forgettable at best, and lame at worst. It’s their weakest album. The production is very harsh, with a very loud and compressed sound.

Transnational Speedway League is more of a hardcore album. Very different from everything else they've done. They still pull out A Shogun Named Marcus every now and again. Rats is pretty cool as well. Not really my thing though.

Jam Room lives up to its title. A lot of short little jams put on tape. It almost feels like a collection of well polished demos and ideas. One Eye Dollar was originally released on this album, and is pretty typical of what would be found on it. Going to Market is a JP drum solo. Basket of Eggs is dark and haunting. Release The Kraken takes them into some dub territory, which is interesting. Those last two are highlights.

They have also released three live albums, with a fourth on the way. Of these, Live In Flint is the highlight, although like Slow Hole To China, it is only available through the website and shows. Heard It All Before is an accurate representation of the 2007 tour with keys, harp, and an additional guitar to round out the band's sound. Avoid Live At The Googleplex, as the sound quality isn't too hot and the tracklist is questionable. Their upcoming live album is also going to have a DVD, I can't remember the name though.

There are a couple of EP's and non-album tracks floating about too. Some of the EP's pre-date Transnational and are more of the hardcore Clutch, as opposed to the groove-metal-blues hybrid they've become. What Would A Wookie Do is a RH/E outtake that kicks ass. King of Arizona is a tune that was released on a Bam Margrita compilation last year, and is also worth seeking out. Very Beale Street sounding.

The Bakerton Group album is worth checking out as well, it's Clutch without Neil on vocals. Some killer instrumentals on there, some of which pop up in Clutch sets from time to time. You can download three Bakerton songs from Clutch's website: http://www.pro-rock.com/v6/multimedia.html

Yielded

Love Clutch, got all their albums. Groove metal at its best.

Wish they did a Leeds show, might have to go to Sheffield which is probably the next best thing. Gotta see if I can get some mates to join.

strummers

BetterThanYou wrote:

suggestions, please.

Couldn't have put it better than The Vacant on the previous page.

Just pick up anything and put it on!

Oh and Yielded - get your arse down to Sheffield, it's only down the road!

dane

I just saw them on this years Roskilde Festival and it was kinda disapointing. Didn't become a fan 'till a few months ago, so I don't know all the songs yet. That helps at shows, but I expected them to have much more energy on stage than they did.
I ended up leaving after about an hour to go see Teitur (singer from the faroe islands). However that was so boring that I fell asleep! I'll stick with Clutch the next time

Anon

hmm, don't know what to say on that one. Neil Fallon has some of the best stage presence for a frontman that i've ever seen. the man is like a preacher! (check out the Burning Beard video). anyway, maybe it was the fest-setting. maybe try to see them in a club next time around.

BetterThanYou

strummers wrote:

Couldn't have put it better than The Vacant on the previous page.

oops, didn't see that. sorry, and thanks

strummers

2 Clutch gigs in 2 days this weekend! Can't wait!

indifferentman

WOW, awesome post Vacant! I'll have to start checking them out more soon. I've seen them open for System of a Down back in 2003 I think, and it was a great show. I've always liked them, just never bought any albums. Spacegrass is on my iPod workout mix though.

pjl44

Wow...The Vacant pretty much nailed it. Unbelievable post. I'm right there with ya for 90% of it, but...

After seeing 6 shows on the Beale St record, those songs haven't lost an ounce for me. Mr. Shiny Caddilackness live is fantastic. It's odd that their latest might be my favorite, but that's how it goes.

I really like Transnational Speedway League. Binge and Purge, Marcus, El Jefe, Monster Trucks. Very, very different than the rest of their stuff, but definitely hints at what's to come. Any of that mixes into a live set nicely!

And you couldn't possibly be more dead on about Pure Rock Fury...

strummers

Less than 24 hours

Anon

the new cd/dvd live combo Full Fathom Five is amazing! having not seen Clutch live in over a year, the live dvd really makes me miss these guys. Soapmakers into Burning Beard, The Dragonfly into Child Of The City amazes me each time. such an amazing band. only bummer is the Australian tracks already released on Heard It All Before: Live At The HiFi bar. whatever,.. Neil seems a tad stoned on these anyway.