Lineup:
Clearlight
Spirit Caravan
Corrosion Of Conformity
Clutch
CLUTCHS' SET LIST
The House That Peterbuilt
12 oz. Epilouge
Smoke Banshee (From Forthcoming 'Pure Rock Fure' Album)
8 Times Over Ms. October
A Shogun Named Marcus
Soap Makers
Immortal (From Forthcoming 'Pure Rock Fury' Album)
Rock n' Roll Outlaw
Raised By Horses
Big News I
Big News II
Pure Rock Fury (title track from forthcoming album)
Passive Restraits
Spacegrass/Insturmental Jam
It seems that everytime I get the chance to see Clutch something insane happens. First time I ever saw them, I only got to see them because I was given a free pass by the promoter the night before, then, I almost didn't get to make it to the show because I was broke and didn't have the gas. Second time I saw them, I almost got into a fight at a party I ended up at after the show. Of course, this time was no different. After a healthy 3 hour drive to Huntington from Athens W.V. (where I go to school), I still almost didn't make it in, because I found myself bumming money at the door to make up for the fact I was five bucks short of covering the door cost. But, after all the b.s., I made it in. Thank God!
To be honest, the first two bands didn't impress me. They were exactly what you come to expect from supporting acts for Clutch, a sort of tripped out Drug Metal. Hell, the second band actually had a couple of songs that were blatant Clutch rip offs. But..oh well..I wasn't there to see either of them.
Around 10 oclock, Corrosion Of Conformity hit the stage. Now, COCs latest album is a little different sound for them, but, still a tight album. Now, I'm not a big 'fan' of COC, I can listen to them, but, I don't do back flips for them. None the less, they still but a good show on, they're stage presence and energy really does play well to a small, club setting. But, again, I wasn't there for them...I was there for Clutch.
Now, for those of you that don't know, West Virginia is Clutch Country. And, when they play a show in the 304, it brings out quite the diverse crowd. A healthy mix of rednecks, pot heads, drunk skinheads who just wanna kick peoples asses in the pit, preppy kids, metal heads and all forms of diversity in between. This can lead to an explosive atmosphere, but, who cares, IT'S CLUTCH DAMN IT!!! One can deal with such bullshit when one want's to see Clutch.
The biggest problem I had with the show is that the promoter seems to have oversold for the show. WAY to many people to be packed into such a small area. Anyway, Clutch busts onto stage with there typical fury. Tim Sult delivering his six string metal/jam/funk/straight rock riffs, Dan Maines hittin with the low end, Jean Paul Gaster (the best damn drummer most of you have never heard off) and, of course, Neil Fallon stalking the stage like a lion looking for prey, with the entire crowd in the palm of his hand. It's truely a site to see.
I gotta say, this was BY FAR the best Clutch show i've ever seen, and, one of the best shows i've ever seen period. The crowd fed off the band, and the band fed off the crowd. In a word; unbelivable.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
First and foremost, the diversity of the set list. The band played at least one song from all they're albums. For me, I was quite happy (to say the least) when the band busted out '12 Oz. Epilogue' and '8 times over Ms. October' (my two personal favorites).
Another highlight was the 'taste' we got of the new album, "Pure Rock Fury".(In stores March 13). If the three songs we got are any indication, this album is gonna be what Clutch does best, straight ahead, in your face, balls to the wall rock and fuckin roll!
All in all, like I said, a GREAT show. One downside though, yet again I was disappointed by the lack of "Binge and Purge" on the set list. I've been told (don't take this as the 'truth', it's just what i've been told) that the band doesn't do the song live too often because people end up in the hospital. Sounds like b.s. to me, but, who knows. Who cares. The show still kicked ass and it was definatly worth all the hassles. I'll close with this, if Clutch comes to your town (or anywhere near your town) go and see them, go at all costs, sell blood, sell your children..shit..sell your damn soul if you have to, just go and see them. I promise you will NOT be disappointed.
