Clutch’s JP Gaster Talks New Album, Wino – Win A WeatherMaker Shirt!
Posted by Bram Teitelman on Thu, May 28, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Clutch has been a force in the rock and metal world since their formation nearly 20 years ago. They’ve progressed from a punk/hardcore band to the all-encompassing sound of their latest album – and first Clutch album for their own WeatherMaker Music – Strange Cousins From the West (out on July 7). Drummer Jean-Paul Gaster spoke to Metal Insider about their progression as a band, their preferred touring situation, and the death of Wino bassist Jon Blank.
We’re giving a Metal Insider reader a chance to win an exclusive WeatherMaker Music shirt! To be entered to win, just leave a comment stating what your favorite Clutch song is. One winner will be picked at random on Friday, June 12. Double entries will be disqualified, open to US residents only.
On Strange Cousins From The West, it seems like the band went back to a more guitar-centric sound over the keyboards and harmonica that were on the last few records. Was this a conscious decision or more just the natural evolution of Clutch?
I think it’s the evolution. I think we’ve always been unafraid to change things up. We decided to bring the band back to a more basic format, and consequently, the tunes became more focused. I think there’s a lot more emphasis on the guitars this time around, which is a good thing. We’ll probably use those elements, keyboards and harmonicas and whatever else, in the future, it’s always fun to experiment. I think that each record is the response to the last thing we recorded, and it’s always unintentional. There’s no meeting where we say ‘we’re going to strip this one down and sound like AC/DC.’ More than anything, it’s just whatever music we’re listening to at the time, what everybody’s moods are, the bands we’ve been on tour with, and one way or another, all of those things go towards influencing what the next sound is going to be.
In addition to headlining quite a bit, you’ve also played festivals like Bonaroo and gone on the road opening for Coheed and Cambria. What’s the difference between doing your own thing and being a band on a festival or opening for people that aren’t necessarily there to see just you?
Since the beginning, we’ve always tried to play with bands that weren’t necessarily just like us. That goes back to the days of playing with Monster Magnet, Pantera, Sepultura, Prong. These are all bands that we’ve listened to at some point, but didn’t necessarily sound like. One of the best tours we did early on was the Marilyn Manson tour. We were convinced that your average Manson fan would have little or no use for Clutch. It was an interesting thing, it was long, three months and close to 80 dates. The next tour we did, we went out, and there were a whole bunch of Marilyn Manson shirts there. It goes to show. You play in front of 5 or 800 people a night, and of those people, maybe they’ll bring 12 friends next time, and that’s how it goes. It’s a slow build, but we’re not afraid to play in front of anyone. It’s a lot of fun to play a festival. Most of the time, you’re going to play in front of a band where most of the fans don’t know who you are. We look at it as a challenge. We just get out there and try to put on the best show that we can.
You’ve run the gamut from independent to major to independent to owning WeatherMaker Music. What are the advantages of being on your own label?
It’s easier to make records knowing that there’s not going to be any pushback from the label, whether it’s about the material you want to record, or when the record’s going to be released, or how much the record is going to cost. All of these variables go into making a record, and it can be really stressful. It’s very empowering to know we can record whatever we want to record and release it. We’re looking forward to being able to do different projects, different experiments and make different kinds of records. It’s going to be better for the label and the fans. Again, Clutch fans have a really diverse sense of music, and they’re very appreciative of different kinds of things.
Are there any plans to put out anything other than Clutch-related projects on WeatherMaker?
Not yet. We made an agreement that we would not even address something like that for two years, until the label was really up and running. On the one hand, it’s really exciting to think that we could put out our buddies’ bands. But the whole thing about being on a label and having to deal with the label execs, I don’t ever want to be in the position where I’m like ‘hey, it was really fun putting out your last record, but it didn’t sell anything, so we don’t want to do another one.’ I feel like the music that we make as Clutch and Bakerton and whatever may come from that core entity is going to keep us really busy. So while the idea of putting out someone else’s music is exciting, it opens up a whole can of worms, and that’s a part of the industry I really don’t want to deal with. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Are there any current drummers you really pay attention to?
In the rock or metal scene, there’s not a lot of super exciting guys out there. I always go back to Brann Dailor of Mastodon. He’s a phenomenal player with tons of chops. But still has a great feel for the drums. On the Sounds of the Underground tour, we had the opportunity to see Gene Hoglan play, and he’s a great example of what great metal drumming is. A lot of bands we play with these days rely on triggers and huge drum kits, but to me, that’s not really where it’s at. It’s about having more of a groove. As far as drummers that I really pay attention to outside of the metal scene, I really like Stanton Moore a lot, I like Johnny Vidakovich, who actually gave lessons to Stanton. I had the opportunity to study with him one afternoon, and that was really exciting. I like groove guys mostly.
After playing on the Wino album and doing some shows with him, his bassist Jon Blank died. Did you know him well?
We had a brief but really successful run in Europe. It was an amazing experience, and when we got back, John passed suddenly. That was shitty. Its one thing to rehearse and learn some songs with a guy and make a record, but it’s a completely different thing to actually go on tour, especially with a bass player. The way I play, I very much rely on having a solid bass player there, and believe in the concept of a rhythm section. Over the course those few weeks, I really got to know him and he got to know me, and we understood the way each other moved and what to listen from the other guy. When Jon passed, it was shitty, because we’d done a lot of work and really made some headway and better understood each other. That got taken away prematurely, and I’m really still pretty upset about that. It’s shocking, but this is rock and roll, and this is what happens. It’s not all awesome. Drugs are bad and stay away from them.
There are a lot of people that view Blast Tyrant as a turning point for the band. Do you agree, or just see it as a natural progression?
I think it’s been a natural progression, but I certainly can’t discount the influence of Machine, who produced the album. I think we learned a lot from that guy, in fact, more than we thought at the time. Up until then, it was really a struggle for us to put records together because we were constantly thinking about songs that might get the label excited about wanting to make a record. As time went on with these labels, it started to get more and more difficult, and we started to question ourselves as to how to put songs together. We learned by working with Machine that it’s really not that difficult. You’ve just got to think about a few good parts and really concentrate on what’s happening lyrically. I think there was also an evolution of my own playing around that time. I realized a drummer’s role could not only be a rhythmical one, but also you could also complement what the lead voice was doing, whether it’s vocals, a guitar solo, or marimba. Whatever the lead voice is saying, it’s up to me as a drummer to respond to that and better support that lead voice. That came from Machine, and I don’t know if he ever intended for that to be a lesson, but that’s something I walked away with from that session, and it’s very important.
Tags: Clutch, Jean-Paul Gaster, WeatherMaker
May 28th, 2009 at 11:20 PM
I would have said Big News I and II, but these days Burning Beard is wicked good…
May 29th, 2009 at 12:38 AM
Ghost
May 29th, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Sea Of Destruction
May 29th, 2009 at 9:33 AM
10001110101
May 29th, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Favorite Clutch song !?! Favorite Clutch Song ??! Crap. Uh, let’s see “A Shogun named Marcus” was the first I heard from them and it still kicks butt, but then there is “Spacegrass” and “Animal Farm”. “Electric Worry” is a damn good stomp though. Then there is “The Yeti” or “Mob Goes Wild”. Damn. Well, while pretty much every Clutch song kicks ass, I’ll go with “Careful With that Mic…” because it is a pretty unique song in the mighty Clutch arsenal.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:45 AM
10001110101 because it reminds me of my favorite rush song – The body electric!
May 29th, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Every time I hear Cypress Grove I can’t help but sing along. But then again trying to pick a favorite Clutch song is damn near impossible because there are so many Great songs!!
May 29th, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Animal Farm
May 29th, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Supergrass is the ONE
May 29th, 2009 at 12:46 PM
Regulator
May 29th, 2009 at 12:51 PM
I love a lot of Clutch songs so this is really tough to pick just one.
Right off the top of my head I’m going to say
Eight Time Over Miss October
May 29th, 2009 at 12:59 PM
The Devil & Me
May 29th, 2009 at 1:15 PM
Minotaur
May 29th, 2009 at 1:18 PM
Impossible to pick one, but if I had to (like, to win a t-shirt or something), I’d go with “Muchas Veces.” Or…”The Soapmakers.” Or…”White’s Ferry.” Or…”Spleen Merchant.”
All for different reasons.
MV: Such a great story, beautifully told
Soap: Conjures indelible images and sounds completely different vocally
WF: Love the slow build to an almost Maiden-esque section that kills
SM: Easily their most straightforward “metal” tune; makes me want to ride my motorcycle really, really fast.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:52 PM
La Curandera – Leaves visions
May 29th, 2009 at 2:02 PM
heads: Rising Son
tails: GoMA
standing on edge: Basket of Eggs
May 29th, 2009 at 2:31 PM
Army of Bono
May 29th, 2009 at 2:47 PM
FOUR LORDS
May 29th, 2009 at 2:59 PM
Easy Breeze
May 29th, 2009 at 3:00 PM
24 Earth Years.
May 29th, 2009 at 4:20 PM
Pick ONE favorite Clutch tune? HA!
Hmmmmmm.
If I have to pick ONE, I say “7 Jam”.
May 29th, 2009 at 5:01 PM
Cypress Grove… the long, winding jam-filled version no doubt.
May 29th, 2009 at 5:04 PM
I second “Sea of Destruction”. Covers a lot of what Clutch is in one song.
May 29th, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Basket of Eggs
May 29th, 2009 at 5:11 PM
Binge & Purge (will they ever play it live?)
May 29th, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Immortal
May 29th, 2009 at 6:13 PM
PURE ROCK FURY
May 29th, 2009 at 7:20 PM
Tight Like That
May 29th, 2009 at 8:54 PM
I think I’m going to have to go with Drink to the Dead.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Small Upsetters, at least for today.
May 29th, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Slow Hole to China
May 29th, 2009 at 10:38 PM
Hard to say… I guess I’ll go with The House That Peterbilt
May 30th, 2009 at 5:48 AM
“Sabbath Jam” its a pre-soapmaker tune they played back in the day back in the day.
May 30th, 2009 at 9:15 AM
only one song !! ah !
dragonfly
C!
May 30th, 2009 at 5:17 PM
Red Hot Mama, hands down!!!!!!
May 31st, 2009 at 12:39 AM
The incomparable mr. flannery
May 31st, 2009 at 1:55 AM
Easy Breeze
May 31st, 2009 at 8:20 AM
Burning Beard….damn that was tough
May 31st, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Rapture of Riddley Walker
May 31st, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Flannery!
May 31st, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Red Horse Rainbow!
May 31st, 2009 at 9:22 PM
oregon
May 31st, 2009 at 11:46 PM
there is no good way to tell what is what my favorite song, all time classic would be Tight Like That, current would be Feakonomics, but again that is a constantly changing opinion
June 1st, 2009 at 12:30 AM
Droid
June 1st, 2009 at 2:00 AM
Ship of Gold
June 1st, 2009 at 4:06 AM
“7 Jam”
June 1st, 2009 at 7:25 AM
Crackerjack
June 1st, 2009 at 6:12 PM
Subtle hustle
Blast Tyrant
bitch
June 1st, 2009 at 6:44 PM
She was born a…”Dragonfly”
June 1st, 2009 at 7:19 PM
wow.. uhm.. burning beard.. that low note he does as he levitates in the video is just the shit… i’m weird i guess..
June 1st, 2009 at 8:12 PM
DRagonFLy!!!!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:56 AM
Small Upsetters,or Pulaski Skyway !!!!
but all songs rocks !!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Gravel Road
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Elephant Riders!
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:46 AM
Regulator
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:02 AM
OREGON.
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 AM
Release the Kraken
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Easy Breeze
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:48 AM
Subtle Hustle….but seriously can anyone here choose only one?
Rising Son is sweet too…
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 AM
The last song I heard today.
BIG NEWS I
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:17 AM
La Curandera
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Pure Rock Fury. The name says it all.
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Worm Drink
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Big Fat Pig
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:08 AM
I’ll keep pulling on the towpath.
You keep floating on the river.
Yeah, until the day is done.
Keep on keeping on the low road,
Chesapeake and Ohio.
Because on the higher ground you will find
ELEPHANT RIDERS to the northwest bring news from father.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:25 AM
“Dodge Swinger 1973, top down, chassis low,
Panel dim, light drive, Jesus on the dashboard”
Spacegrass.
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:45 AM
SEA of DESTRUCTION — nothing gets me and my kids (3 and 6) wound up more than that song… Simply KILLER…
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:48 AM
“Ship of Gold”
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:02 PM
agreed w/ all, hard to pick one, but..Immortal
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Binge and Purge. No, wait…Red Horse Rainbow. No…Regulator, really. Willie Nelson. Final answer. Ah, who am I kidding. Who Wants to Rock!
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:21 PM
THE HOUSE THAT PETERBILT- finally heard it for the first time live… amazing
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Arcadia! That song’s hard!
June 2nd, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Dragonfly
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:11 PM
Please allow me to adjust my pants….elimination can be painful! For all the women in Cypress Grove, who never trust the white man driving the black van, the Regulator is definitely swinging my pendulum. It was tough, and though I feel like crying, I swear tonight, I’ll cry no more.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:11 PM
10,000 Witnesses
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Tight like that
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:16 PM
12 Ounce Epilogue
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:22 PM
child of the city, that groove is just too sick
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:28 PM
A Shogun named Marcus
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:32 PM
How would you like to dine a la Frankenstein?
The extended version of this song is fantastic. I’ve always wondered what Neil was referring to when they wrote this damn fine tune.
btw, they’re giving them away downtown.
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:35 PM
rising son
June 2nd, 2009 at 1:50 PM
Have to say Dragonfly and Slowhole to China both rock
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:09 PM
“Oregon”
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:12 PM
animal farm
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:34 PM
This is an impossible question. Clutch is my favorite band. If I was to be forced to pick just one it would have to be “Tight Like That”. It has a little bit of everything Clutch has to offer. Wait a minute, no… “…Mr. Flannery”. No, wait… my head is about to explode…GAHHHHH!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 2:45 PM
I would have to go with Far country…….and then we disapear
June 2nd, 2009 at 3:50 PM
This is a trick question.The answer is Bertha’s Big Backyard.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:11 PM
I am a huge Clutch fan. How could you pick just one. I love Basket of eggs but have really been digging Rapture of Riddley Walker lately
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:44 PM
cross eyed marys cool for a cover fav clutch song would be probally be ah…… all of em
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:02 PM
IT IS SOOOO HARD TO PICK JUST ONE… THERE ARE SO MANY! IF I HAD TO PICK MY FAV IT WOULD BE RAPTURE OF RIDLEY WALKER.
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:04 PM
Oh come on, asking us to pick a single favorite Clutch song? How about album? Even that would be nigh on impossible!
I’m gonna go with “The Rapture of Riddley Walker” – which inspired me to hunt down a copy of the Russell Hoban novel “Riddley Walker” – a MUST read!
C! Rocks, Rawks, and Rox!!!
June 2nd, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Red Horse Rainbow
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:41 PM
Soapmakers, Ship of Gold, Wicker…. Where to stop?
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:47 PM
BINGE AND PURGE
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Big Fat Pig – the live version from Live in Flint.
Today, that is. Ask me tomorrow and there’ll be a different answer.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:02 PM
didn’t realize what a hard choice this would be. Love the older tunes like “Mob goes wild”, “Oregon” (prob cos I’m miss OR), and “The Yeti”, but one of their more recent tunes is one that I just can’t seem to get enough of lately — “The Devil and Me” will have to be the one I choose–for now.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:18 PM
I would have to pick Willie Nelson
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:29 PM
Hale Bopp Blues
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Currently speaking I would call it a dead heat between
Big News I
or
Mice and Gods
and the dead heat will change tomorrow.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Ship of Gold
June 2nd, 2009 at 8:35 PM
Pure Rock Fury
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 PM
I’d have to go with “Immortal.”
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:05 PM
Escape From the prison Planet!
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Mice and Gods.
“Fire it up…Fire it up…Fire it up”! Clutch owns live!
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:29 AM
My name says it all!
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:43 AM
I remember the first time I heard “The Devil and me”, and I immediately realized it was my fav….but then I heard the 64 second sneak peak of Minotaur (from the new album) There may be a huge upset come July.
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:08 AM
shogun named marcus
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:01 AM
Hard to pick just one song but I’ll go with –
Impetus
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:35 AM
Tight Like That
Rock. Rapture. Rock.
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:19 AM
DRAGONFLY
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:03 AM
the soapmakers
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:17 AM
Too many to list… but usually what really gets me going is Shogun.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Muchas Veces ….”Went to the five and dime, bought myself a copy of time….”
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 AM
wishbone- truly hard to pick just one
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:14 AM
this is freaking tough…
but i’ll just go with the first song i heard from the almight C!
animal farm
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Good grief! Way too many to choose from. Narrow it down to just one!? I’d have to say “WYSIWYG.” It’s an excellent driving song! The riffs, melody, change-over. Pure genius… as all of their songs! Love the band! Always have, always will.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Big Fat Pig.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:14 PM
John Wilkes Booth!
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:53 PM
I am unable to narrow down the list to one single favorite. I guess I won’t win a shirt.
Child of the City
Juggernaut
Profits of Doom
Escape from the Prison Planet
Open up the Border
Red Horse Rainbow
Land of Pleasant Living
Sea of Destruction
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:02 PM
Guild of Mute Assassins
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:39 PM
Truly, no two snowflakes are alike.
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Mice and Gods
“…the flesh be damned”
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:08 PM
pure rock fury
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Raised by Horses
June 3rd, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Ship of Gold
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:11 PM
I Have the Body of John Wilkes
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:51 PM
ahhhhhh….tough one…..i can honestly say that every album has a favorite. to pick one would be impossible. gun to my head, i gotta say shogun !
hail C!
June 3rd, 2009 at 3:53 PM
clearly an impossible task.
Wishbone, PRF, Soapmakers, Caddylackness, Regulator, Promotor – simply impossible.
however the trilogy of Sinkemlow, Immortal, and Brazenhead is especially stunning today. The kaliedoscope program is functioning so beautifully.
Brazenhead for the shirt.
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Obviously this is damn near impossible but I wanna say Mice and Gods
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:46 PM
The Regulator
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:57 PM
10,000 Witnesses! The epitome of rock n’ roll!
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 PM
one of my all-time favorite Clutch songs has to be In The Great Shining Path Of Monster Trucks. a band I was in many years ago covered that song, and we had a great time with it.
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 PM
my favorite clutch song would have to be either Burning Beard, or Electric Worry was pretty epic…also i am liking the sounds of 50,000 Unstoppable Watts
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:44 PM
sink em low (jam room version)
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Without a doubt, from there great self title ablum, The House That Peterbilt just rocks.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:16 PM
How can I pick one? I don’t think I could pick one off of an album, much less the library. But it’s hard to go wrong with Pile Driver, 8x over, Whites Ferry, or Cypress Grove
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:20 PM
Tight Like That
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Devil and Me
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:47 PM
Eight Times Over Miss October
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:33 PM
“Green Buckets” Ill make you chicken cacciatore in five
June 3rd, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Oregon
June 4th, 2009 at 12:21 AM
The Incomparable Mr. Flannery
But I would pick so many more but that song kicks ass everyday!
June 4th, 2009 at 12:22 AM
After listening to Clutch for 14 years… I would have to say “Oregon”. This song has inspired me to name my first son “Draco”.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:27 AM
Pure Rock Fury, the solution is so clear!
June 4th, 2009 at 12:34 AM
I’d have to say Dragonfly (if forced to pick only one) because it was the first song I heard them play live.
June 4th, 2009 at 12:41 AM
escape from the prison planet
June 4th, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Brazenhead
June 4th, 2009 at 9:13 AM
WYSIWYG!
June 4th, 2009 at 10:36 AM
The Regulator
June 4th, 2009 at 11:48 AM
12 oz. Epilogue!
June 4th, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Promoter (of Earthbound causes)
June 4th, 2009 at 1:23 PM
as hard as it is to pick one. i’m gonna go with
Escape From The Prison Planet!
June 4th, 2009 at 1:45 PM
24 Earth Years! Come on, put it out!
June 4th, 2009 at 2:17 PM
The Regulator
June 4th, 2009 at 3:44 PM
HOW CAN THESE GUY’S EVEN PICK A FAVORITE,IN MY OPINION THEY ARE ALL NOTHING LESS THAN GREAT!
June 4th, 2009 at 3:45 PM
Promotor (of Earthbound causes)
“Cooled down my temper, tried to remember
What it was I wasn’t to lose
And I probably could were it not for
The beer and the broads and the broads and the booze.”
Doesn’t get any better than that!!!!
June 4th, 2009 at 4:00 PM
The Guild of Mute Assasins. The fucking jam…
June 4th, 2009 at 4:21 PM
Favorite clutch song is definitely tight like that. Don’t know how you can top that song.
June 4th, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Animal Farm!!!
June 4th, 2009 at 5:02 PM
gonna go with Subtle Hustle…too hard to actually pick but that’s what i’m thinking about right now….
June 4th, 2009 at 5:25 PM
spacegrass
June 4th, 2009 at 5:41 PM
Guild of Mute Assassins..The guitars give me chills up my spine everytime. Still my number one favorite even though all of Clutch’s songs kick ass!
June 4th, 2009 at 5:52 PM
Green Buckets
June 4th, 2009 at 5:52 PM
I’m going to have to go with Escape from the Prison Planet, though its really just to hard to narrow it down to one.
June 4th, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Army of Bono rocks it
June 4th, 2009 at 7:08 PM
Very tough to choose just one, but for today I will choose EL Jefe
June 4th, 2009 at 7:28 PM
Today it would be Child of the City
June 4th, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Raised by Horses
June 4th, 2009 at 9:00 PM
Favorite Clutch song? Impossible. My favorite changes just about every other day. After buying all their albums and seeing them over 20 times, it’s just not possible to pick a favorite. That’s like trying to pick your favorite Sabbath song. It can’t be done. Soapmakers, JWB, , you can go on and on.
Lately, my personal favorite would be the entire Robot Hive/Exodus album. They really had it all going on by that time. Not one bad track or filler on that one whatsoever.
June 4th, 2009 at 9:01 PM
the BEST clutch song is..
WHATEVER IS PLAYING RIGHT NOW!!
BUT…
lately im diggin the promoter of earthbound causes.
cant wait for SCFTW!!
June 4th, 2009 at 9:23 PM
mr. shiny cadillackness
June 4th, 2009 at 9:51 PM
Oregon
June 4th, 2009 at 11:46 PM
Escape From The Prison Planet
June 5th, 2009 at 12:04 AM
Pure Rock Fury
June 5th, 2009 at 12:06 AM
Spacegrass
June 5th, 2009 at 12:20 AM
Binge & Purge
June 5th, 2009 at 12:30 AM
“GUILD OF MUTE ASASSINS” is by far my favorite CLUTCH song. Followed closely by “MUCHAS VECES”!
June 5th, 2009 at 12:35 AM
The Dragonfly or I Have The Body of John Wilkes Booth.
June 5th, 2009 at 12:58 AM
Pile Driver fucts it up. But ya gotta go with some sweet Spacegrass.
June 5th, 2009 at 2:06 AM
Probably have to go with Big News I. 1st Clutch song I ever heard and I’ve been hooked ever since. But there’s something about seeing Cadilackness live that is almost unbelievably good.
June 5th, 2009 at 6:08 AM
Hmm… I think I’ll have to go with The Regulator. So badass…
June 5th, 2009 at 6:28 AM
easy breeze
June 5th, 2009 at 7:09 AM
there is not a Clutch song that I skip on my iPod, but when I need a dose of Clutch its TEXAS BOOK OF THE DEAD.
THANK YOU CLUTCH!!!! THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ROCK!!!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:20 AM
Red Horse Rainbow!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:24 AM
To pick one favorite is like picking your favorite child. It really can’t, or shouldn’t, be done. I do however enjoy Brazenhead. But wait, there’s always Rock N Roll Outlaw. Man, I feel like Sisyphus pushing the rock trying to do this. Gifted and Talented is sweet. Forget it. You can’t pick a favorite when they ALL kick ass.
June 5th, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Oregon
June 5th, 2009 at 1:05 PM
As hard as picking your favorite child. If a gun were to my head, I’d say that I’ve Got The Body Of John Wilkes Boothe, because it’s so bizarre and it’s unbelieveable to me how you could match such outlandish lyrics with such a kick-ass groove and tight song! It’s a perfect reflection on what is so cool about Clutch, and probably a good reason why they’re not “mainstream,” whatever that crap means.
June 5th, 2009 at 5:44 PM
The House that Peterbilt and In the Great Shining Path of Monster Trucks…
June 5th, 2009 at 6:01 PM
“Bottoms Up, Socrates”
C!
June 5th, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Hey Jp ! Tex needs you to repost your mom’s chimichurri recipe on pro-rock
June 5th, 2009 at 8:20 PM
Even with all the great tunes there’s always one that speaks to you most of all – Escape From The Prison Planet hits that spot.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:36 PM
Dragonfly.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:36 PM
(notes from the trial of) La Curandera
June 6th, 2009 at 8:36 AM
“Immortal.” It grips you from the jump and doesn’t let go.
June 6th, 2009 at 9:28 AM
05
June 6th, 2009 at 9:29 AM
It absolutely has to be Big News III.
June 6th, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Wishbone
June 6th, 2009 at 12:09 PM
The Devil and Me. I’m from Memphis Tn,. I was living in Michigan, cold and homesick, and ready to move back. I heard that song and said F this, quit my job and was back in Tennessee 3 weeks later.
June 6th, 2009 at 1:30 PM
I Have the Body of John Wilkes Booth!
June 6th, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Any Clutch song is the greatest song in the world when I’m listening to it, so I’ll have to choose the song that turned me on to Clutch—- Escape From The Prison Planet.
June 7th, 2009 at 1:41 AM
I never really paid attention to the song titles I’ve always listened to them as albums. But the snappy one for me right now is Electric Worry. I dig the Johnny Lee Hooker vibe…alot! I went to a recent show in Toledo, Ohio to see JP kick it out! I’ve been really studying his chops lately for my own influence. It was so packed that I never got to actually see the band. Now I realize that listening to the grove is where it’s at… seeing them is just the bonus!
June 7th, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Soapmakers!
June 8th, 2009 at 12:21 AM
Sorry guys, I can’t pick one. I’ve never been able to. There is not one song I don’t like. Clutch has been my favorite band since I first heard them. Best band ever invented.
Long live Clutch!… and The Bakerton group!
June 8th, 2009 at 11:50 AM
new stuff is great but what about songs like high calibur consicrator and imputus they are fantastic at its most basic level
June 8th, 2009 at 11:59 AM
Impetus!
June 8th, 2009 at 1:21 PM
Hands down: “Oregon”. That song is incredible and even more incredible live. La Curandera and 50,000 Watts as runners up…shyte! Usually I just listen to complete albums, but those are my picks.
June 8th, 2009 at 1:47 PM
Gullah.
June 8th, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Rock and Roll Outlaw
June 8th, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Sea of Destruction is one of their best rifts. In all honesty I can’t pick one.
June 8th, 2009 at 6:26 PM
Passive Restraints It just never gets old!!!!
June 9th, 2009 at 12:26 AM
Hmm, love em all, there’s not one bad C! song. But, if I have to pick, I’ll go with Big Fat Pig. Such a good story song with great lyrics as always.
June 9th, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Rock N Roll Outlaw
June 10th, 2009 at 7:07 AM
Rock n’ Roll outlaw
June 10th, 2009 at 10:33 AM
only RED HORSE RAINBOW save us.
June 10th, 2009 at 11:05 AM
Yikes, they’re ALL good….but I’ll say “I Have The Body Of John Wilkes Booth”, simply because I just heard it again, and still LOVE it.
This one I had, it stood right on up to me
tore out it’s hook and declared itself a prodigy
this one I had, it turned bright like the sun, whirled around three times
and departed with the dove
What cool lyrics and awesome music in 98% of their songs
June 10th, 2009 at 11:56 AM
I’ve been a Clutch fan since I saw them at The Back Room in Austin Texas in 1994. They have consistently turned out some of the best music in the history of rock since their conception. Picking a favorite song is a tough thing to do. I almost feel like I could line up the CD inserts and throw a dart at them to hit a favorite song. Clutch is a truly unique band with fantastic talents that continue to blow me away to this day. “Animal farm” has always been a favorite, not just because the song totally rips but that night at The Back Room, Neil bent down and shared the mic with my friend and I on that track – kick-ass! These days though, I’m gonna have to say that my favorite is a tie between “Opossum Minister” and “In The Wake Of The Swollen Goat” Although that”s probably sure to change with the release of the new album – I’m SO stoked!
June 10th, 2009 at 1:21 PM
It changes with mood and situations… but there is always one song I can go back to over and over and get excited about and that’s 7 Jam. When Neil busts out the lyric “So the I smash the palace like the son of Samson…” everything in the song comes together and makes me want to go nuts!
June 10th, 2009 at 4:04 PM
hmmm so many songs to choose from, especially for a 15 year fan of the band. right now im just gonna say “Oregon” from the slow hole to china album of b-sides. i just love the “story” that Neil tells in this one… and of course i dig the music itself. just another great song from a great band!
oh yeah.. my band Gods Green Earth has been called “the perverted clutch!” lol
check us out at myspace.com/godsgreenearthnyc
thanks!
June 10th, 2009 at 4:22 PM
One night along time ago, me and my friends were having our (Bubba and mine) birthday party. Thats when I heard my first clutch song that is still as great as the first day I heard it. “JESUS ON THE DASHBOARD” Spacegrass. The day after the party my friend made me a copy of the self tiled album CLUTCH. That car ride home From Jacksonville IL to Granite City IL change my life. I went straight to Vintage Vinyl and bought all the CD’s I could and that day Elephant Riders was released. I bought Impetus, Transnational Speedway League: Anthems, Anecdotes, and Undeniable Truths, Clutch, Elephant Riders and placed a order for Pitchfork. Thank you Bubba and Chris for showing me the way. I seen all the shows I could and can’t wait until July 12, 2009 Pop’s Sauget IL thats were I’m taking both my daugthers (Becky 12 years ols and Brandy 10 years old) to see their first concert. Becky loves Electric Worry and Brandy loves Cypress Grove, but know alot of others. They can’t wait, Thanks Pop’s and Clutch for an all age show. Their first concert it may as well be the best band in the world LONG LIVE CLUTCH!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S. thank Clutch for all the years of rocking.
June 10th, 2009 at 7:19 PM
we’ll i’d hate to admit it but i just got done spinning the new Clutch album AGAIN!!!!!i know… shame on me but it’ fell from sky into my stereo!!!!how can anyone resist
i will be buying 2 copies of it when it comes out …it’s that good my friends!!!
it’s what you all want … it’s a CLUTCH record…. seriously these guys can do no wrong !!! simply amazing!!
June 11th, 2009 at 3:36 AM
Gnomes Enthusiast
June 11th, 2009 at 4:01 PM
has anybody said American Sleep? (does anybody remember Molt?)
June 11th, 2009 at 4:21 PM
immortal
June 11th, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Fav song mobgoes wild
June 11th, 2009 at 4:41 PM
when vegans attack
June 11th, 2009 at 4:42 PM
Me Shiny Cadilackness
June 11th, 2009 at 4:44 PM
The soapmakers
June 11th, 2009 at 4:45 PM
Texan book of the dead
June 11th, 2009 at 7:02 PM
David Rose
June 11th, 2009 at 9:17 PM
In the wake of the swollan goat
June 12th, 2009 at 2:43 AM
One favorite Clutch song? I cannot even pick one album I prefer over the others. Why not ask which position I prefer to have sex?? The great redheaded one has asked me that for years, the answer he gets it “all of them!!” How about a fav from each album?? I apologize for wasting your time, but I cannot possibly lie to you and all the gearheads by picking 1 song.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Gotta go with Oregon. That is one dope track that never gets old!
June 12th, 2009 at 1:43 PM
Favorite Clutch song is probably The Soapmakers…just because it gets stuck in my head and I can’t get it out…that and I love the lyrics and melody. Plus it doesn’t hurt that it’s the only Clutch song my girlfriend really likes.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:13 PM
(In the wake of) The Swollen Goat! I went to see them on my birthday last year and they actually played it. Coolest present ever.
June 12th, 2009 at 10:52 PM
The first Clutch song I heard was Binge and Purge on an old radio show played after midnight on Saturdays, The Powerzone W/Dr.Death. I was in 7th grade at the time. I saw Clutch live for the first time with Limp Bizkit and Sevendust at the Beaumont Club in Kansas City (I still swear thats me yelling Space Grass just before they play Brazenhead on Pure Rock Fury) a disco ball blew up over JP’s head, the stage was smoking, folks were in awe, and they just kept playing. It is hard to narrow a song down to just one when it seems Clutch has been with me my whole life. I’ve had a lot of great adventures listening to Brazenhead, Ship of Gold, Big News 1 and Escape From the Prison Planet. Sigh, but Oregon takes me places where I always seem to be eh, happy, victorious I dunno. For now I’d say Oregon
June 14th, 2009 at 7:42 AM
“Open Up the Border” Always puts me in a good mood!
June 15th, 2009 at 11:17 AM
Spacegrass.
June 15th, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Rapture of Ridley Walker….Killer Groove!
June 16th, 2009 at 9:36 AM
Depends on the mood I’m in, but “Big Fat Pig” always gives me a smile…
June 16th, 2009 at 12:46 PM
animal farmmmmmm
June 18th, 2009 at 1:16 AM
7 jam…….kinda liking the new one “minotaur” though, got a killa bass grove i can’t get outta my head
June 18th, 2009 at 10:41 AM
(too little too late?)
HIGH CALIBER CONSECRATOR!!!!
June 18th, 2009 at 5:47 PM
The only thing better than a Clutch show is a Clutch show where the band opens with “Who Wants to Rock?”. So that’s gonna have to be my pick.
Who Wants to Rock?
June 19th, 2009 at 4:33 AM
To pick only one song and label it as my favorite would be like picking out one of my children as my favorite over the other two. Nothing good can happen out of this. As many of my fellow gear heads have spoken, my favorite song varies almost daily. That also holds true for my kids. However, if I must choose, commodore 64 represents the groove that is Clutch. Its one of the 3 or 4 different hidden tracks on Elephant Riders.
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:38 PM
soapmakers
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 PM
the drifter
June 30th, 2009 at 1:17 PM
Trying to pick a favorite Clutch song is like deciding which limb I like best. No real way I can do it. There is Clutch for every mood and situation.
Most Listened to song: Red Horse Rainbow
First Song: Space Grass
Favorite Song Live to date: When I saw What would a Wookie do (Tiny bar in Canada and had never heard that song before)
Favorite show in general: !2-31-2005,12-31-2008 my 19th and 22nd birthdays
Song I have never heard live and wish I had Binge and Purge
And my favorite song (which i have never heard live either) The secret track on The Dragonfly
Of all the times I have tried to answer who is my favorite band it is always you at the top. Can’t wait till July 10th
July 1st, 2009 at 1:10 PM
“(Notes From the Trial of) La Curandera”
Blast Tyrant is probably my favorite Clutch album, and that song just kills.
January 13th, 2010 at 6:20 PM
05
January 13th, 2010 at 6:21 PM
The Elephant Riders
June 2nd, 2010 at 9:36 PM
hi,great pants in your post,I love that great pants,I need to find one for me,bill