Concert Review - Clutch @ the Chameleon Club - Lancaster, PA

Neil Fallon - vocals, rhythm guitar CLUTCH

A year ago, I started this blog to find an outlet.  I needed a voice, I needed a hobby, and I needed to leave my wife alone while she wrapped up some important research.  Since then, I have had a great time writing about bands, writing about memories, meeting folks, and overall just enjoying the music along the way.  Every once and a while, all the stars align and everything comes together.

About a month ago, when I saw the lineup for Forecastle Festival in Louisville, it finally started coming full circle.   Many of my favorites were there, but not just from the indie/folk genres.  Most excitedly, Clutch was going to be there!

I wasn't going to pull off the festival, but why couldn't I review Clutch locally?  Who cares if they aren't the folksy/indie stuff I've been listening to for the last few years?  Who cares if I haven't been to a metal show in years?  I love Clutch; most of my friends already know it, why not tell everyone else!

Well it happened, I was hooked up with a press/photo pass for a local show and all the wonderful memories started flooding back.  Watching 'Shogun Named Marcus' for the first time, back in high school.   Going to my first Clutch show only to be surprised that half of my high school football team seemed to be there, mainly because one of my all time great friends had taken the disc I gave him to the gym with him to my surprise!   How about hearing 'Spacegrass' live for the first time.  I had never really soaked in that song like I did that day.  Lights out, bass up, crowd pumped singing it word for word, for a drawn out incredible version.  Or, the last tour I saw them over a decade ago, for Pure Rock Fury when they co-headlined with Corrosion of Conformity.  They came through twice on that tour.  The first time, it they headlined and put on a hell of a show.  The second time, they squeezed that full of energy set into an opener spot.  WOW!

Clutch 'Shogun Named Marcus' from Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes & Undeniable Truths


Nearly 20 years from when I first heard Clutch, the foursome from Germantown, Maryland, set forth on yet another tour!   Touring in support of the re-release of their mythology themed epic album, Blast Tyrant, on vinyl for the first time, Clutch hit Lancaster, PA!

Kingsnake from Philadelphia

Three bands graced the stage before Clutch went on late in the evening!  The openers hailed from LA, Atlanta & Philadelphia.   Fortunately for me, between, MonstrO, Kyng, and Kingsnake; I liked Philly based Kingsnake the best with their bluesy Clutch influenced sound.

Finally, the moment life got in the way of for the last decade.  CLUTCH @ The Chameleon!  Ironically, as if to remind me that this great band wasn't going anywhere, they started off with 'Immortal'.  The irony continued to follow the set, as two lines into the beginning of the scream along 'The Mob Goes Wild', they had to stop to allow security to escort some fighting fans out of the venue.  

With no time for such shenanigans, the band showed why they have such lasting power.  Through 'Profits of Doom' and Escape From the Prison Planet' they just seemed so relaxed, yet they rocked so hard.   I had to wonder just how many times they played 'Prison Planet', as they weren't stale at all.  Whammy pedal, lengthy guitar riffs and all, it was as fresh as when I heard it the first time.  The epic 'Spacegrass' with its signature bass line was slightly up-tempo, but the crowd liked it all the same.  

Tim Sult - CLUTCH

The band intricately weaved through a great set list.  They ranged from mosh worthy to slow bobbers.   They mixed in some less common tracks, such as 'King of Arizona' only from the 2009 version of Slow Hole to China: Rare and Unreleased, might have been less familiar to the whole crowd, but allowed more time to soak in the incredible guitar n bass.  And, they added in new track 'Crucial' to practice what they've been writing the last 2 months.

Bassist, Dan Maines was totally energized on 'Crucial's speedy bass lines.  I'm assuming it's a keeper, as singer Neil Fallon judged "that went very well""

Jean-Paul Gaste

The set included songs from seven of their albums.  Often songs blended from one to the other.  'Soapmakers' had a drawn out rockin' instrumental bridge and drum solo right into 'Burning Beard.  The bluesy Electric Worry melted right into 'One Eyed Dollar'

Finally the original set was complete and the band went back stage to pick their encore songs.  The wait was torturous as the light man toyed with the crowd.  The crowd agreed when Neil asked "how 'bout a few more ... geographically appropriate tunes", treating Lancaster to ''I Have The Body John Wilkes Booth' & third album lead title track 'Elephant Riders'

SET LIST - Clutch

The Chameleon, Lancaster, PA April 11th, 2012

Dan Maines

1.   'Immortal'                                              Pure Rock Fury
2.   'Child Of The City'                                From Beale St. To Oblivion
3.   'Soapmakers'                                        The Elephant Riders
4.   'Burning Beard                                      Robot Hive: Exodus
5.   'House That Peterbilt'                            Clutch
6.   'Mob Goes Wild'                                  Blast Tyrant
7.   'Profits Of Doom'                                  Blast Tyrant
8.   'Spleen.Merchant'                                 Blast Tyrant
9.   'Escape From The Prison Planet'           Clutch
10.  'Spacegrass'                                         Clutch
11.  'Crucial'                                               Unreleased
12.  'Animal Farm'                                       Clutch
13.  ' Texan Book Of The Dead'                  Clutch
14.  'King Of Arizona' Slow Hole to China: Rare and Unreleased('09)

15.  'Electric Worry'/'One Eyed Dollar'    From Beale St. To Oblivion
Encore
17.  'I Have The Body John Wilkes Booth"  Clutch
18.  'The Elephant Riders'                            The Elephant Riders

 If you haven't witnessed Clutch yet, find them on tour while you still can.  Though immortal in my mind, nothing lasts forever!


Clutch - "Burning Beard" from Robot Hive: Exodus