LIVE REVIEW: Clutch @ Roundhouse, London

Maryland’s CLUTCH return to London’s Roundhouse as part of an EU tour in support of 2018’s Book of Bad Decisions. Supported by KAMCHATKA and GRAVEYARD, CLUTCH‘s UK dates continue a pattern of almost-annual December visits between festival trips.

KAMCHATKA, a trio from Sweden, have the early slot for this tour, so the crowd for their set is fairly thin. A set of talented musicians, their lively blues is well received, though at times the more progressively-minded songs see the attention of the small crowd drift away. The band finish with Hobo Ride, a KING HOBO track that sees Jean Paul join on drums for a solid, upbeat finish.

Rating: 7/10

Fellow Swedish metallers GRAVEYARD produce a massive sound, a blending of 70s psych and hard rock. They’re well received in the Roundhouse, but their sound starts off muddled, the vocals almost completed lost in a haze bleeding through the room. This improves throughout the set, providing a better showcase of vocalist Joakam Nilsson‘s growls.

Rating: 7/10

CLUTCH‘s twelve albums provide the band with a wealth of material to choose from each night, and they are well known for making full use of this, with every show seeing a new setlist. Opener Burning Beard gives an excellent introduction to vocalist Neil Fallon‘s clear, powerful vocals as he swaggers across the stage, while guitarists Dan Maines and Jean-Paul Gaster are a vision of focus, their body language no reflection of their deafening output. Fallon continues to command the venue in front of the otherwise static band for The Dragonfly, all large movements and long strides.

A Good Fire gets the warmed up crowd moving with its bouncing bass line as the room is bathed in red and orange lights. The energy continues as CLUTCH storm through three songs from 2004’s Blast Tyrant (warming up for the NYE runthrough of the album in Philadelphia?). Cymbals introduce In Walks Barberella to a great crowd reaction, who are in fine voice as they join the cries of “Weaponised funk!”.

Per Wirberg (KAMCHATKA and KING HOBO) joins the band on keys for 10001110101 (turning down the tempo) and Struck Down (bringing it straight back up). A member of the crowd defies the ‘No Crowdsurfing’ policy to be pulled up to the top of the crowd, flip off the security and lean back to be carried towards the stage. Wiberg exits the stage and smoke is pumped out as the pace picks up for the explosive riffs of Sucker For The Witch, followed swiftly by Sucker Punch.

CLUTCH are re-joined onstage by Wiberg and also Thomas Anderson (also KAMCHATKA) for Ghost. The vocals roll through the Roundhouse, joining guitars and keys to fill the circular space with warmth. A highlight of the set, this performance gives extra weight to the question of why CLUTCH are yet to be seen headlining larger academies or taking higher spots on festival bills.

Audience interaction between songs is limited, hinting at a desire from the band to get the show wrapped up in good time. But Fallon won’t let the evening pass without a little humour, “can’t figure out why you call it the Roundhouse – must be that famous British sarcasm”. Noble Savage brings the tempo back up to a climax, while closer The Face brings the feeling of the SABBATH to close the set – chunky riffs and doom. FALLON addresses the audience again: “As usual you’ve been fantastic London…we’ll see you next summer”, a reminder of their recent announcement of a three-set appearance at Ramblin’ Man 2020.

The two-part encore is the fixed part of the setlist through this tour, with a duo of crowd-pleasers to finish. The stomping stoner blues of Electric Worry moves seamlessly into a belting cover of CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL‘s Fortunate Son. It’s a cracking CLUTCH Christmas party, with stomping, swinging heavy rock a welcome replacement for festive cheese. For many in the crowd this will be the last gig of the year, and there are few better ways to go out.

Rating: 8/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from Jordan Darby Photography here: