CLUTCH/AMIGO THE DEVIL – LIVE @ THE WEBSTER
On May 16th, Clutch played an engaging set to a packed house at the Webster Theater with Amigo The Devil and Nate Bergman for support. For a Tuesday night, the Webster Theater was practically sold out which affirms the draw of all three bands on the bill.
Nate Bergman opened the night with a 9 song set that mostly encompassed tracks from his imposing 2022 release entitled Metaphysical Change via Velocity Records. Bergman’s sound embraces a wide variety of genres and styles. A little rock&roll, a little country, a little soul, all mesh in a cauldron of intense music that is both captivating and emotive.
Bergman started with “There’s A Reward”, an acapella intro which showcased his dynamic vocal range. The man can sing. “War On The Working Class” came next and brought out his stirring band comprised of Dario Nikzad (Bass/Lap Guitar/Backing Vocals) and Tobbe Strandvik (Drums). Several songs resonated well with audience. “Just Like Dylan Said” had a riveting beat with a social conscious message. “Highway Friend” delivered an incredible bluesy feel with Bergman’s guitar wailing like an unswerving beast. “Livin’ On The Line” was a slow ballad that carried a punch.
Another strong point was when Bergman played “Thessalonki”. He brought out Amigo The Devil’s keyboardist, Katacombs which garnished applause from the crowd. He ended with a strong “Into My Arms”. I really believed Bergman converted a good portion of the crowd including myself.
Up next was Amigo The Devil whom we have featured several time. Amigo The Devil is the alter ego of singer/songwriter Danny Kiranos. His music is downright eerie with lyrics that shadow the ghoulish. His lyrics expose the darker side of human nature with a folkish/Americana flare. I became fascinated with his morbid personality quite a few years back and he continues to fascinate my imagination.
The last time I saw ATD, he played College Street Music Hall with Gogol Bordello. It truly was an spectacular affair. Danny came out this evening with an even larger band than he had at College Street. I must say I like the vibrancy of his songs when they are played with a big ensemble but I do miss the intimacy when it’s just him and the mike. You tend to lose some of the exuberant grisly lyrics in the mix. But the energy the band pushes out makes up for it.
Amigo The Devil started with his spectacular “Dahmer Does Hollywood” which set the tone for his set. It was vibrant and brassy. Up next was “If I’m Crazy” and at that point I realized how many fans Danny had in the room. He is definitely becoming extremely popular. “Drop for Every Hour” and a rousing “Different Anymore” followed. A good amount of people sang along to both songs.
A highlight of the night was when Danny sang “I Hope Your Husband Dies” solo. You could hear the songs lush textures and grim lyrics. The Webster ate it up. Amigo The Devil closed out with two of his bigger hits. “Murder at the Bingo Hall” and the stupendous “Hell and You” received well deserved wild ovations. Kiranos is a fierce talent that is ready to explode.
Finally the headliner hit the stage. Clutch is a band that has been around for over 30 years, and they have a reputation for putting on muscular live shows. This was my first opportunity catching them and boy, they didn’t disappoint. The band came out and immediately launched into a high-energy set that had the crowd moving right from the start. Lead singer Neil Fallon has a commanding presence, and he was able to connect with audience on a personal level. Tim Sult on lead guitar was unbelievable. His riffs were voracious. Dan Maines’ bass was merciless and Jean-Paul Gaster on drums was flawless.
Clutch‘s music is a mix of metal, rock and blues, and they have an unique sound that is exclusively theirs. They started their 19 song set with “Subtle Hustle” which really enlivened the room. Fists were raise and the venue was abuzz. They followed with “Rats” “The Mob Goes Wild” and “Earth Rocker”. Everyone was feeling the heat. “D.C. Sound Attack”, “Slaughter Beach” and “Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone)” raised the bar. Throughout, I felt like Fallon was the mad conductor leading his orchestra into a frenzy. He was totally intoxicating.
The band played selections from a multitude of their 13 studio albums including Clutch (1995), Blast Tyrant (2004), Earth Rocker (2013) and their latest, Sunrise on Slaughter Beach (2022). Other fan favorites were “The Regulator”, “Electric Worry” and “The Wolf Man Kindly Requests” which finished their main set. Clutch encored with “Big News I”, “Big News II” and their monster track “Supergrass”.
It was a remarkable evening for all.
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