Just as The Chieftains popularized Celtic Folk, Clutch has been one of the primary groups to bring Stoner Rock and Alt Metal to a broader audience. Over the course of Clutch’s 23-year history, the quartet has recorded 10 studio albums — their latest, Earth Rocker, is slated for a March 19 release — as well as a handful of live and B-sides/rarities collections, and seen its songs used in a variety of typical and unusual applications, including film (Escape From New York, Haggard), television (Fox NFL and NASCAR presentations, Moonshiners, Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead), radio (bumpers for Alex Jones and Nights with Alice Cooper) and video games (Need for Speed Pro Street, Left 4 Dead 2, Prey, Hitman: Contracts).
From nearly the beginning, Clutch has consisted of vocalist/guitarist Neil Fallon, lead guitarist/vocalist Tim Sult, bassist/vocalist Dan Maines and drummer Jean-Paul Gaster. The band started in 1990 as Glut Trip with frontman Roger Smalls, but he soon departed and was replaced by Fallon, who changed the band’s name and musical direction. The switch to a sludgier Stoner Rock/Groove Metal/Southern Rock vibe proved to be a wise choice, as Clutch’s audience grew in size and loyalty through constant touring and label affiliations both indie and major.
Five years ago, after a string of unsatisfactory experiences, Clutch formed Weathermaker Music, its own label, and has been releasing its own albums since that time (the only other acts on Weathermaker are the two Clutch side projects, The Company Men and The Bakerton Group).
With hair-raising volume and a low end that alters heartbeats and brain waves, Clutch is the soundtrack for your hot sludge sundae.
CLUTCH performs Friday, March 8 at Bogart's in Corryville with guests Orange Goblin, Lionize and Scorpion Child. Buy tickets, check out performance times and get venue details here.
