Clutch + Taint
It must have been the hottest day in weeks but still the Carling Academy Islington was swarming with sweaty metal types looking for a night of stoner groove’s and metallic riffs.
First to test the water were Brit rockers Taint, who threw the crowd off with their surprising early start. As a result many missed the short set, including myself who arrived promptly to hear their final two songs, but not to worry as from what I could tell they sure warmed the crowd up with just the right kind of groove-laden, hard rock that would be the recurring theme for the night. Playing tracks from their blinding "Secrets and Lies" album, Taint never fail to inspire. Loosely fitting into the stoner rock genre but without the slow pace and lack of imagination that can occur in lesser bands of the same ilk. Their energy is awesome and frankly a longer set or the presence of a pre-support band would have done Taint far more justice.
A few beers later and it was time for the band that had one packed Islington Academy drooling into their pints. Clutch, headliners and only second band of the night are hotly anticipated judging by the immense reaction as they came on stage. Its only 8pm, surely not a 2 hour set? Mouths clearly drool at the prospect. The Maryland, USA natives have been going since 1991 and have successfully been a mainstay, teetering over the underground and have seen subgenres and trends rise and fall in their wake. A Clutch gig is never empty, never boring and never timid and tonight was no exception.
The crowd are as you’d expect. No nonsense metal fans at their baldest and hairiest in equal measure.
Clutch are of course balls to the wall stoner rock at its best. Singer Neil Fallon strides around stage like a slightly better kept hobo ranting dementedly while guitarist Tim Sult hunches over his effects board banging out monstrous riff after riff. They groove uncontrollably and defy anyone in the crowd not to at least nod their head along with it.
Highlights included “Power Player”, “Mice and Gods”, “Electric Worry” and “Burning Beard”. Taint vocalist, Jim Bob joined in for a rampant run-through of “Animal Farm” and surprise rarity "Basket of Eggs".
The crowd began to panic as Clutch made their final exit off stage and didn’t return for what felt like 10 whole minutes, but of course they did and completed the night with groove-laden "Big News" and "Mr. Shiny Cadilackness" to send everyone into the night with a healthy dose of Clutch in their loins.
Once again the mighty Clutch have succeeded in remaining quite simply cool as f***.