Tag: Clutch

Top 15 live shows of 2021: #’s 5 – 1

These are my top five shows of 2021. I hope to see more than 30 bands in 2022, but the future is now – so let’s get to it.

#5: Ty Segall – Psycho Music Festival – August 20th

Playing on a stage atop a wave pool, Ty Segall and his band put on one of the loudest, fiercest sets of the 2021 Psycho Music Festival. The power coming across the water was stunning.

#4: Clutch – Ft. Wayne’s Piere’s – September 29th

Clutch are always a top tier live band, and this show kept their reputation intact. They played a few new cuts and a lot of stuff from early in their catalogue they hadn’t played in a long while.

#3: Devo – Riot Fest – September 19th

I’m not sure I saw a more delighted crowd at any show in 2021. Everyone stopped caring about the heat and humidity, the overpriced food, and the terrible screamo bands on the lineup and started cheering, dancing, and singing.

#2: Frankie and the Witch Fingers – Psycho Music Festival – August 22nd

This set stunned everyone at the Mandalay House of Blues. It was my first time seeing FATW live, and the first time many in the crowd had heard them. It was their first gig in two years, and they came out gunning. I heard someone in another crowd later raving about them and telling everyone he could to listen to them. I can’t put it better than that.

#1: Osees – Psycho Music Festival – August 22nd

Holy crap. Osees closed the 2021 Psycho Music Festival’s outdoor stage on the last night of the four-night festival. They went bonkers. Yes, I know every Osees show is bonkers, but you could tell they had a lot of pent-up energy from not being able to play in front of a crowd for two years. People were charging through the wading pool in front of the stage, throwing beer buckets full of water on each other, or stumbling backwards on the beach as the wall of sound hit us like a bulldozer.

Everyone stay healthy in 2022 so we can see more shows.

Keep your mind open.

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Live: Clutch, Stöner, King Buffalo – Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN – September 29, 2021

It’s always good to see Clutch. They never disappoint and always sound great live, so seeing them at a small venue just over an hour’s drive from my house was an easy decision. They’re on their thirtieth year as a band, which is quite impressive.

Opening for them were two other bands I was keen on catching, and the first was King Buffalo, who opened the night with a fine set of space / psych doom rock that was just what I needed after a weird day at work. There weren’t many in the crowd who’d heard of them before, but their merch table was packed immediately after their set. They won over a lot of fans. It would be great to see them on their own.

King Buffalo wowing the crowd.

Up next were desert / stoner rock power trio Stöner, who were equally impressive with heavy bass, garage-psych drums, and cosmic fuzz guitar work. My wife was happy to hear them and understand their lyrics (topics ranging from ghosts to Evel Knievel). They also won over many fans in Ft. Wayne.

Stöner pummeling the crowd with heavy rock.

Clutch came out to a crowd that was, by now, fired up from seeing two bands that were alone worth the price of admission. They launched into a wild set, showing no rust at thirty years of age as a band. Among the highlights of the set were them playing “Far Country” from their first 7″ single back in 1991 and “Passive Restraints” (another early track). Another treat was a new single, the name of which I still can’t find, that has lyrics involving witchcraft, the Mayflower, and Nosferatu.

Clutch hitting it hard after almost two years off.

We overheard a guy on the way out telling his friend that he’d seen Clutch “twenty times” and “that’s probably in the top five” of shows he’d seen. It was a good one. All three bands were hungry for the stage and the energy gained from a live crowd. I certainly needed it, and I got it in spades.

Keep your mind open.

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Clutch announces winter tour with Stöner and The Native Howl.

Clutch has just announced a string of Winter 2021 headline tour dates celebrating 30 years of rock and roll starting on December 27th in Baltimore, MD. Supporting the tour will be STONER, the brand new band featuring Brant Bjork (Kyuss) and Nick Oliveri (Queens Of The Stone Age, Kyuss). 

The run will also include Detroit natives and “thrash grass” pioneers, The Native Howl.  

“We are incredibly excited to hit the road again” states Clutch. “We’ve missed the shows, the fans, the venues and the opportunity to watch the other bands we share the stage with. It’s going to feel like our first show all over again and we can’t wait! Come out and let’s make some Rock and Roll!.” 

Tickets will go on sale to the general public Friday, May 21st at 10:00 am at www.ClutchOnTour.com.

CLUTCH Celebrating 30 Years of Rock N Roll Winter Tour Dates: Dec. 27 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Dec. 28 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom Dec. 29 – Cleveland, OH – Agoura Theatre Dec. 30 –  Detroit, MI – Filmore Theatre Dec. 31 – Cincinnati, OH – The Icon 

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Doug at New Ocean Media.]

Clutch to release collector’s edition of “Blast Tyrant.”

CLUTCH announces the Clutch Collector’s Series, limited-edition vinyl reissues of initially four catalog albums on their own label Weathermaker Music.  

Blast Tyrant is the first release in the series and is curated by drummer Jean-Paul Gaster. “I worked with the album’s original artist Chon Hernandez to create a new look and feel for the Clutch Collector’s Series release of Blast Tyrant. Chon did an amazing job drawing the Blast Tyrant to look 20 years older and wiser. We selected new colors for the jacket, sleeves, and vinyl to make a completely new package.  

“The album has been remastered and is manufactured on 180-gram colored vinyl. The gatefold jacket is printed on metalized polyester paper and embossed with the official Clutch Collector’s Series seal. The double-disc set is sleeved in extra heavy stock paper and includes a numbered insert autographed by the band. The Clutch Collector’s Series release of Blast Tyrant is limited to 5,000 units worldwide.” 

Blast Tyrant is scheduled to be released in June. The initial presale on clutchmerch.com took place on March 23rd and sold out within 3 hours.  

The limited-edition can be ordered through Indie retailers. Use this search engine to find a store near you: https://bit.ly/2O4FH7C 

The album is also available for pre-order on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3dn7Uiu

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Doug at New Ocean Media.]

Clutch release new version of “Passive Restraints” with guest co-vocals from Lamb of God’s Randy Blythe.

Clutch has released its new single “Passive Restraints” today. “Passive Restraints” originally appeared as the title track to the bands 2nd EP released in 1992. This newly recorded version is part of the Weathermaker Vault Series and features guest vocals by Randy Blythe from Lamb of God. Clutch and Blythe have collaborated on this track live for several years now, the last time at European festival appearances in the summer of 2019. The song can be streamed on Spotify at this location: https://orcd.co/passiverestraints and on the band’s official YouTube Channel: https://tinyurl.com/yy2575t7 

The official video for the song was directed by David Brodsky (The Black Dahlia Murder, Papa Roach). 

“Passive Restraints’ was one of the first Clutch songs I wrote lyrics to,” states frontman Neil Fallon. “It was a staple of Clutch sets for years but fell by the wayside as we wrote more and more songs over the years. When we toured with Lamb of God a few years back, Randy would often ask us to bring it back into rotation. We dragged our feet, and finally, we caved. And we were glad we did. The last time Clutch played Copenhell, Randy joined us on stage to perform the song. We decided to re-record it for the WM Vault Series and thought it was only fitting to have Randy join us.” 

“When Clutch asked if I wanted to sing an older song with them during our 2016 tour together, I knew immediately which one I wanted to do- ‘Passive Restraints‘ adds Blythe. “We performed it in Milwaukee, then again a few years later at Copenhell Fest in Denmark, and I had a blast both times. I think they were a bit surprised I chose a song released in 1992, but I’ve been a fan for a long time. I’ve followed their development as a band since the early days and have enjoyed every album, but as a musician, I know sometimes it’s fun to dust off something you haven’t played in many years and see how it sounds. The song holds up to this day, and I was honored to sing on its re-release.”   

The single “Passive Restraints” comes from the upcoming album “WeatherMaker Vault Series Vol. I” out on Friday November 27th. 

CLUTCH:Neil Fallon – Vocals/Guitar / Tim Sult – Guitar / Dan Maines – Bass/ Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums/Percussion   

For more information, check out the band’s website:www.pro-rock.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/clutchband

Instagram: www.instagram.com/clutchofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/clutchofficial

Official: www.pro-rock.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/officialclutch

Keep your mind open.

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[Thanks to Doug at New Ocean Media.]

Clutch to perform “Live from the Doom Saloon Volume II” online and will play one lucky fan’s chosen set list.

CLUTCH has invited their fans to choose the setlist for the band’s next live stream concert.  

Tickets are on sale now at ClutchMerch.com for what the group has dubbed Live from the Doom Saloon – Volume II. Fans are encouraged to construct their dream 14 song setlist via ClutchSetList.com. Neil Fallon, Tim Sult, Dan Maines, and Jean-Paul Gaster will choose their favorite of the submissions and perform that set on August 7th at 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST. ClutchMerch.com also offers ticket bundles with exclusive merchandise and a limited-edition vinyl pressing of the entire performance.  

Says Clutch: The thing that makes this stream unique is that Clutch fans will have the opportunity to create their dream setlist from our entire catalog. This means fans can pick from every release starting from our 1991 Pitchfork 7” all the way thru Book of Bad Decisions and the songs from our Vault Series.   

The fan whose setlist is chosen will receive a massive prize pack, which includes TremLord 30 combo amplifier from Orange Amps, a stompbox from Creepy Fingers (designed by Fu Manchu’s Brad Davis), a Jim Dunlop Crybaby wah-pedal, a case of Liquid Death mountain water, and Clutch merchandise.  

Anyone who misses Live from the Doom Saloon – Volume II concert will be able to stream it on-demand through the weekend, right up till 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, August 9th. The setlist contest winner will be announced during the live stream itself. Show donations will benefit the Innocent Lives Foundation, a charitable organization that combats the trafficking and exploitation of children, of which Fallon is a board member.  Live from the Doom Saloon – Volume I took place in May 2020, with support from Crowbar, Blacktop Mojo, and Saul, with proceeds benefitting MusiCares and Angel Flight West.  Clutch released their twelfth studio album, Book of Bad Decisions, through their own Weathermaker Music in 2018. Rolling Stone described the album as “bathed in the grit and liberal fuzz tone that has made their live shows legendary.” The band embarked on a successful co-headlining tour with Dropkick Murphys in 2019, with support from Hatebreed, Amigo The Devil, and Russ Rankin of Good Riddance. Two of the band’s most recent albums, Earth Rocker (2013) and Psychic Warfare (2015), were included in Classic Rock Magazine’s 50 Best Rock Albums of the 2010s.  

Tickets: ClutchMerch.com 

Contest: ClutchSetList.com 

Charity info: InnocentLivesFoundation.org 

Band website: Pro-Rock.com

Keep your mind open.

[Thanks to Doug Weber at New Ocean Media.]

Clutch to perform virtual concert for charity with three opening acts on May 27th.

Clutch will perform a streamed concert titled “Live From The Doom Saloon Volume 1” on May 27th. They will be supported remotely by Crowbar, Blacktop Mojo, and Saul. This unique online concert format has been produced in conjunction with Sound Talent Group (STG), and LiveFrom Events and will use cutting-edge streaming technology to close the distance between the bands and the fans for an amazing virtual concert experience. 

Tickets are on sale now at this location: www.livefrom.events/DoomSaloon 

The show will be available for On Demand Viewing starting at 4PM EST on Thursday May 28th and will be available for 48 hours into Saturday, May 30th. The ticket price will remain the same for those viewers that were not able to join the live broadcast. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Angel Flight and Musicares.

Through a network of more than 1,800 volunteer pilots, Angel FlightWest provides free air transportation for people who need to travel long distances to access medical care and other essential services across the 12 Western states.  In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AFW pilots have flown 150 missions to deliver more than six tons of PPE and other crucial supplies to the Navajo and Hopi Nations and other rural clinics, while also arranging commercial flights for medical personnel who are traveling to serve on the front lines, with tickets donated by Alaska Airlines. 

For more information, visit https://www.angelflightwest.org/ 

Doors – @ 3:50PM EST Saul – 4PM EST (9PM UK time) Blacktop Mojo – 4:30PM EST (9:30PM UK time)Crowbar – 5:05PM EST (10:05PM UK time)Clutch – 5:50PM (10:50PM UK time)

For more information, check out the band’s website: www.pro-rock.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/clutchband

Instagram: www.instagram.com/clutchofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/clutchofficial

Official: www.pro-rock.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/officialclutch

Keep your mind open.

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Clutch re-records and re-releases “Willie Nelson.”

Clutch announce the release of the new studio recording of the track “Willie Nelson.” The single is the sixth in a series of new studio recordings that comprise the Weathermaker Vault Series.  

“Willie Nelson is a song we wrote close to 20 years ago,” says Neil Fallon. “It started making appearances in our sets recently, so we figured now was a good time to re-record it. This time around Shawna Potter (War On Women) added back up vocals and is in the video as well. And for what it’s worth, ‘Red Headed Stranger’ gets regular play on our tour bus.” The single was recently re-recorded and remixed by J. Robbins (Jawbox, Jawbreaker, The Sword, Against Me!), and the track comes in at 3:21. “Willie Nelson” was originally released in 2003 on Clutch’s album Slow Hole To China: Rare and Unreleased “Willie Nelson.” 

Available on all digital outlets here: https://orcd.co/x0y2pbw. 

CLUTCH:Neil Fallon – Vocals/Guitar Tim Sult – Guitar Dan Maines – Bass Jean-Paul Gaster – Drums/Percussion   

For more information, check out the band’s website:www.pro-rock.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/clutchband

Instagram: www.instagram.com/clutchofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/clutchofficial

Official: www.pro-rock.com

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/officialclutch

Keep your mind open.

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Clutch releases sharp cover of CCR’s “Fortunate Son.”

Clutch‘s release of Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s “Fortunate Son” is the fourth in a series of new studio recordings that comprise the newly launched  Weathermaker Vault Series. Available on all digital outlets here: https://orcd.co/dlrxa4p. 

“Growing up it was hard not to hear CCR’s ”Fortunate Son’ on the radio, on TV or even at the county fair. The groovy backbeat and sloshy hi hats that introduces John Fogerty’s timeless lyrics written so many years ago could be found everywhere. While it may be true to say that ‘Fortunate Son’ could be seen as a political song we think it’s bigger than that. For us ‘Fortunate Son’ is an inspirational song. For that reason we’d like to dedicate the song to the most inspirational person we’ve ever had in our lives, our late manager Jack Flanagan. Jack Flanagan was no fortunate son. He worked tirelessly and passionately all the while keeping a razor sharp sense of humor until his last days. Thank you Jack for making us better than we ever thought we could be.”  Jean-Paul Gaster 

“Fortunate Son” was mixed by 6X Grammy Award winner and Clutch collaborator, Vance Powell (Wolfmother, The Raconteurs, Arctic Monkeys).  In the video that accompanies this release Tim Sult pays homage to Jack Flanagan by playing Jack’s beloved 90’s Les Paul. The video was shot at J Robbins’ Magpie Cage Recording Studio in Baltimore, MD. J Robbins produced the Clutch albums Robot Hive/Exodus and Strange Cousins from the West and he recorded all of the WM Vault Series singles. The video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/F1DJFNSideQ. 

Clutch has curated their own Spotify playlist “Clutch’s Heavy Rotation” at this location: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3NlZsjNNOoCvwjCv58mcNR 

On Monday, December 2nd, Clutch will embark on a European headline tour with Graveyard and Kamchatka as support.  Tickets available here. 

2 Dec (Mon) – Wiesbaden, GER @ Kulturzentrum Schlachthof 3 Dec (Tue) – Oberhausen, GER @ Turbinenhalle 5 Dec (Thu) – Bremen, GER @ Aladin Music Hall 6 Dec (Fri) – Nuremberg, GER @ Löwensaal* 7 Dec (Sat) – Strasbourg, FRA @ La Laiterie 8 Dec (Sun) – Villeurbanne, FRA @ Transbordeur 10 Dec (Tue) – Barcelona, ESP @ Sala Apolo* 11 Dec (Wed) – Madrid, ESP @ Sala But 13 Dec (Fri) – Madrid, ESP @ Sala But 14 Dec (Sat) – Bilbao, ESP @ Santana 27 15 Dec (Sun) – Bordeaux, FRA @ Le Rocher de Palmer 17 Dec (Tue) – Southampton, GBR @ O2 Guildhall 18 Dec (Wed) – London, GBR @ Roundhouse 19 Dec (Thu) – Leeds, GBR @ O2 Academy* 20 Dec (Fri) – Nottingham, GBR @ Rock City  *Sold out

Then, right after the Christmas holidays Clutch will head out one last time in 2019 for the annual run of dates between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. They are supported at each show by The Steel Woods and Damon Johnson. The only exception will be at the Ashville, NC show where Tyler Bryant will have the opening slot instead of Damon Johnson. Tickets available here. 

27 Dec (Fri) – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s* 28 Dec (Sat) – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel 29 Dec (Sun) – Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club 30 Dec (Mon) – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom 31 Dec (Tue) – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer  *Sold out

Keep your mind open.

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Clutch releases new studio version of their hit single “Electric Worry.”

Clutch announce the release of “Electric Worry.” The single is the third in a series of new studio recordings that comprise the newly launched Weathermaker Vault Series and the first new official music Clutch is making available since the release of their critically acclaimed album, Book Of Bad Decisions.

The new live video uses footage from various 2019 European Summer festivals and can be seen at https://youtu.be/mtuVGOnX868

When “Electric Worry” was released in 2007 on the album From Beale Street to Oblivion nobody knew that this track would turn into one of Clutch’s most recognizable songs. It is a fan favorite and a staple at live shows. Over the course of time, the song went through changes. What you are listening to here is a brand new studio recording of the 2019 live version of the song without the keyboards and harmonica that are on the 2007 rendition. This is “Electric Worry” in its purest form.

“Electric Worry” was mixed by 6X Grammy Award winner and Clutch collaborator, Vance Powell (Wolfmother, The Raconteurs, Arctic Monkeys).

“All in all it’s just a leaner, meaner song” states vocalist Neil Fallon. “We wanted to put something out there that was representative of what we do these days since it happens to be one of our most popular songs.”

Clutch has curated their own Spotify playlist “Clutch’s Heavy Rotation”: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3NlZsjNNOoCvwjCv58mcNR

On Friday, September 20th, Clutch will embark on a Fall tour of the US with Dropkick Murphys along with metalcore veterans Hatebreed as direct support.

Clutch Fall Tour with Dropkick Murphys: Tickets available here. (headline** and festival* dates) = no Dropkick Murphys Fri/Sep-20 Springfield, MA MassMutual @ Center Arena Sat/Sep-21 Erie, PA Erie @ Insurance Arena **Sun/Sep-22 Wilmington, DE @ The Queen (support: Lionize, Kingsnake) Tue/Sep-24 Raleigh, NC @ Red Hat Amphitheatre Wed/Sep-25 Charlotte, NC Charlotte @ Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre Thu/Sep-26 Birmingham, AL @ Avondale Brewery **Fri/Sep-27 Clarksville, TN O’Connors Outdoor Stage (support: Hatebreed, Cane Hill) Sun/Sep-29 Detroit, MI @ Masonic Temple Theatre Mon/Sep-30 Chicago, IL @ Aragon Tue/Oct-01 Minneapolis, MN @ The Myth Thu/Oct-03 Moorhead, MN @ Bluestem Center For The Arts Fri/Oct-04 Council Bluffs, IA @ Westfair Amphitheatre Sat/Oct-05 Broomfield, CO @ FirstBank Center Sun/Oct-06 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Union Tue/Oct-08 Los Angeles, CA @ The Palladium Wed/Oct-09 San Diego, CA @ Park at the Park *Fri/Oct-11 Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival **Sat/Oct-12 Bend, OR @ Midtown Theater (support: Red Fang, Mos Generator) **Sun/Oct-13 Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theater (support: Red Fang, Mos Generator) Mon/Oct-14 Boise, ID @ Outlaw Field at Idaho Botanic Gardens Tue/Oct-15 Seattle, WA @ WAMU Theatre ** = HEADLINE SHOW * = FESTIVAL

Clutch online: www.pro-rock.com

www.facebook.com/clutchband Instagram: www.instagram.com/clutchofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/clutchofficial YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/officialclutch

Keep your mind open.

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