Clutch at Terminal 5

Clutch is a hard rock band from Germantown, Maryland, that since its formation in 1990 has released 10 studio albums plus rarities and live compilations. The band’s growth in popularity consistently made small but incremental gains, such that the group began playing tiny New York clubs like Coney Island High and tonight played the city’s largest club, Terminal 5. In March, the band’s Earth Rocker album entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at #15, achieving the band's highest chart position to date. Almost since the beginning, the band has included Neil Fallon (vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards), Tim Sult (lead guitar, backing vocals), Dan Maines (bass, backing vocals) and Jean-Paul Gaster (drums and percussion).

At Terminal 5, Clutch demonstrated why the four-man band continues to cultivate a loyal fan base. Clutch is a rarity in that even after more than 20 years on stage and in the studio, it remains a trailblazing band. The music sounds familiar but really does not sound like any other band. Think of a blues-inspired high-decibel classic rock band like ZZ Top or AC/DC and we are closer than we will ever be. Fallon, one foot planted three feet in front of the other, crouching toward the audience, sang from the gut not with impressive range or dynamics, but with intensity and passion, almost like he was scolding in a fit of anger. The band played stomping, gritty and grooving melodies behind him. The band had no hip rock and roll appearance and almost no dialogue with the audience, but cranked out nearly 20 shout-along songs in about 90 minutes. Tonight’s concert proved Clutch is a refreshing return to pure no-frills well-crafted hard rock music.