There are sure to be a few entries in this project that might surprise anyone who really knows me and CLUTCH is sure to be at the top of that list. The fact that I am a fan surprises me too. At face value they are the opposite of what I normally listen to. They like to jam, write some nonsense lyrics and drew a few bros to shows at times. The thing is I can pinpoint the moment I became a fan and that was my very first exposure to them. I was living in Richmond at the time (around 2000) and my pal loved 3 things; his Doberman, his weed and Clutch. I wasn’t too into weed but I thought his dog was great, so much so that I got a pup when she had a litter (his name was Wedge) and I figured I might as well give his favorite band a shot. He had an extra ticket to see them at the 9:30 Club in D.C. Again, I had never even heard a song by them and had no idea what I was getting myself into.
I don’t remember much of the show but the following things stand out: a giant flag of Maryland hanging behind the band, lots of large dudes in wifebeaters moshing, a haze of pot smoke and a band that sounded amazing with a front man who stalked with stage with a manic passion.
I owe my pal for 2 things, my great dog Wedge and for opening my eyes to this band.
Spacegrass – Looking at my typical tastes it makes no sense for me to like this song. It is a six-and-a-half minute long, jam band nonsensical builder. But man, does it build. Maybe it is because you are reassured throughout the song “Don’t worry, it’s coming” and does it ever. Try not to yell along once they hit “Jesus on the dashboard!”
Pure Rock Fury – This disc dropped in 2001, shortly after I got into the band. I was torn between this track and “The Mob Goes Wild” off of Blast Tyrant but had to go with PRF because I was still in college when it came out and I think it rocks out just a tad more. And it has the line “pooped your pants” in it.
Binge And Purge – This was as no-brainer. While “El Jefe Speaks” was in early contention I had to include this song for 2 reasons.
1. They performed it when I saw them in 2000 and I thought I was going to die. The crowd went nuts and I took about 10 steps back in an act of self-preservation.
2. Wedge and I used to have our own little mosh pits at home when this song came on.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ed Oliveira, The_Empire. The_Empire said: I continue my A-Z, 1-2-3 blogs with the letter C. http://theempireradio.com/?p=477 -ed […]