PHOTOS: JULIA LOFSTRAND | If there is one thing that Washington, DC Clutch fans have come to count on, it’s Clutch’s yearly show at the 9:30 Club during the last week in December, affectionately referred to as “Clutchmas.” Clutch are well-known as a touring machine that delivers the goods every single night, and if you ask anyone who has ever seen them, you will never hear anyone utter the words “Ehh, Clutch was off their game tonight.” There was a chill in the air outside, but the packed house inside warmed everyone up in a hurry.
The night started out with some heavy blues from Rockville, MD’s Mike Westcott. Joining Mike, to the pleasant surprise of many, was Clutch’s Jean-Paul Gaster on drums, and Chris Brooks from Lionize on keys. The songs were full of thick, bluesy grooves, and the combination of Westcott’s soulful voice and skillful guitar licks were the focal point of the set. For around a half an hour, the band tore through a great opening set that was the perfect way to start the night.
I’m not sure that many were quite prepared for what came next. Hailing from New Orleans, the Mike Dillon Band could best be described as taking a juicer, throwing in equal parts funk, rock, jazz, Fishbone, Primus, Mardi Gras, Chick Corea, and a healthy dose of crazy attitude, and getting one hell of a musical smoothie. Mike, on vibraphone, percussion, and vocals, leads the charge, yet works in tandem with the energetic Carly Meyers.
Carly handles trombone, percussion, xylophone, and vocals, and is one half musician and one half hype woman, dancing, jumping and cavorting her way through the set. Mike employed the use of the four-mallet technique with abandon and precision, and Patrick McDevitt and Adam Gertner held down a solid rhythm on bass and drums, respectively. The crowd reaction was mixed, with many embracing the wild musical fusion, and some not entirely sure what was happening.
The third opener of the night was the recently reunited Into Another. The ’90s alt-metal band with hardcore roots never achieved the commercial success of their contemporaries, but gained a modest but loyal following. Their set was heavy, precise, and spirited, led by animated lead singer Richie Birkenhead. The music itself was a bit of a departure from the eclectic evening, with the straightforward rock of 20 years ago not engaging the crowd as fully as the previous two acts. The audience responded warmly enough at the end of each song, but during the songs, it was more observation than participation.
After a brief respite from the heat of the crowd, the lights went down, and the familiar introductory tune of Chuck Brown’s “We Need Some Money” signaled the imminent return of Clutch. The band took the stage with little fanfare but came out swinging with high-energy numbers like “Book, Saddle and Go,” “Cyborg Bette,” and “Animal Farm.”
The songs came one after another like a flurry of punches, and singer Neil Fallon didn’t even pause to address the audience until five or six songs into the set. When he did, he jested that this was the “first night of this leg of a 22-year tour we’ve been doin’.” Maryland’s road warriors had returned home and lit the place up like they had nitrous in the tank.
The sound mix was a little bass-heavy, with Dan Maines’ rumbling rhythm potentially loosening a filling or two. Guitarist Tim Sult was on point, providing riff after familiar riff with ease and his usual cool, focused demeanor. On drums, Jean-Paul Gaster plays with an effortless, passionate fluidity that is always a sheer joy to behold. In the eye of the storm is Fallon, one part reverend and one part carny barker, truly one of the most engaging and electrifying frontmen in rock.
The musical assault continued, slowing down the tempo at times on songs like “Gone Cold” and the stoner rock anthem “Spacegrass,” and turning up the heat again with classics like “Burning Beard,” “Soapmakers,” and “Cypress Grove.” The set closed with “The Wolfman Kindly Requests…” from their latest album Earth Rocker, their most critically acclaimed yet, and one which translates extremely well live. (Nine of the 11 songs on the album were played on this night.)
A short break, and Clutch returned to the stage. Neil Fallon reflected on the loss of 9:30 Club manager and icon Josh Burdette, rousing an ovation from the crowd, and went into “D.C. Sound Attack.” They were joined onstage by Mike Dillon on percussion for the go-go infused tune. The energy throughout the crowd was palpable, and fits of spontaneous dancing broke out during the groovy go-go drum/cowbell jam late in the song.
The night ended with the crowd favorite sing-along “Electric Worry,” with the roaring chorus of “BANG BANG BANG BANG! VAMANOS VAMANOS!” potentially heard as far down as Constitution Avenue.
