Clutch held court and Church Friday night on the day that doesn't normally exist. The band took the stage promptly tearing through the 1st 3 songs on their new album "From Beale St. To Oblivion" ("You Can't Stop Progress," "Power Player," & "The Devil & Me"). When lead singer Neil Fallon takes the stage his eyes of fire glare over the congregation as he holds his hands into the air before even speaking a word. When his sermon does begin, it is delivered with the fire and brimstone of any southern revivalist working from their holy ghost. Clutch have been called "stoner rock funk metal" but none of the tags do them justice. The band will tackle mythology, politics, rage, love, and southern rooted blues, sometimes all in one song, in route to a multi-minute jam session of brilliant instrumental work with yes, oh yes, even cowbell.
The congregation is not shy about answering back to their cleric singing/shouting along all the words even to the few songs that have gotten radio play or notoriety. No, the assembly have read their Clutch scripture and devoted it to their black little hearts.
In the hallowed halls of a smoke filled dive bar for at least one evening, languor is eliminated at mass with the gospel of Clutch bringing salvation to the sinners and saints. Clutch do ya heart good and mighty fine a fiddle playin. Never enough time to play all their great songs (missed ones include "Mr. Shiny Cadillackness," "Jesus On The Dashboard," "Mice & Gods," "The Mob Goes Wild") but they tore apart and re-assembled feature tracks like "Cypress Grove," "Nero's Fiddle," "The Regulator," "Profits Of Doom," & "Electric Worry" to close the show (why no encore though?).
Sweat pouring the fold exited the now ringing halls of the tabernacle and returned to the shadows of safety with a simple Amen.
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