I'm an earth rocker!

Everybody get the message?

Yes, you can easily say on their 10th record Earth Rocker CLUTCH did everything right. The album was and still is highly acclaimed, raving reviews everywhere, high album chart positions and now also bigger halls for their European tour. Last year CLUTCH played the Luxor, this year it’s already the • Essigfabrik • in Cologne. To get to the venue (as to the city itself) is – as always – a hard job, a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea (regarding the highways and traffic jams to choose).

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However, I luckily chose the faster dissolving jam and at least arrived on time. Supporting Clutch on this part of the tour are my Norwegian heroes :: SAHG :: who truly released a masterpiece with Delusions Of Grandeur. And finally I have the honor to enjoy the new tracks live. Although tonight’s show is (almost) sold out, it’s quite empty in the front row. Most people seem to enjoy their time outside the club having a beer or decided to join in sometime later. Too bad for them, because they missed a great show, if you ask me. Ok, I admit I was hoping for more new songs, as the new material is much more rocking and so better suiting to the main act. SAHG only played two new songs to open their show with, followed by more doomy classics from the previous records. Main guitarist Thomas Tofthagen could actually not partake in the tour (I guess he is still in the studio with Audrey Horne, his other band) and got replaced by Mr. Ole Walaunet, who really did a good job here, but I missed the energetic posing of Thomas ;)
Setlist: Slip Off The Edge Of The Universe, Firechild, Godless Faith, Ether, The Executioner Undead, Pyromancer, Echoes Ring Forever

Busy people roaming the stage, quick changeover. When the lights went out and the intro started thundering out of the speakers the Essigfabrik got really, really packed and crowded. And extremely hot. I never saw :: CLUTCH :: playing live before, heard a lot about their highly energetic shows, but wasn’t really sure what to expect. CLUTCH opened with the title track of their new album Earth Rocker… and set the crowd on fire. Immediately. Even crowd surfer tried their luck at The Mob Goes Wild (sic!), much to the displeasure of the security, who had to keep the photo pit clean for the cameras. Both shows tonight got recorded for WDR Rockpalast, which will be broadcasted on July 7. However, I’m now part a breathtaking spectacle. The band itself is actually not that much in action on stage, except for singer Neil Fallon, but he does not jump and run either. He has a more his idiosyncratic, almost grumpy way to perform. But the entire band is truly lovely :) It is the music that makes the audience freaking out, and most likely their down-to-earth-attitude as well. The music is pure energy! People rock the hell out, sing along almost every song and got the house burning, so to say. An atmosphere to get addicted to. Of course, CLUTCH focus on their new album, leave the predecessor completely aside and intersperse newer classics. There is not much breathing time in between. The Regulator is the slowest song in the set. What a show, what an evening! All I can say, if you get the chance, don’t miss a CLUTCH show!
Setlist: Earth Rocker, Power Player, Unto The Breach, Crucial Velocity, Book, Saddle, & Go, The Mob Goes Wild, Mice And Gods, The Regulator, Cypress Grove, Spacegrass, Gone Cold, The Face, Mad Sidewinder, Burning Beard, Cyborg Bette, Gravel Road // D.C. Sound Attack!, Electric Worry, One Eye Dollar

story & pics © Dajana & Dajana Winkel • Photography