RECAP: Clutch and C of C Rock Piere's in Fort Wayne

CLUTCH, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, VALKYRIE, HELL CAME HOME

Piere's 

Hub Entertainment Center

Fort Wayne, IN 6/10/16

Check out our full set of Clutch shots here:

More favorites are embedded below

By the time they hit the 25 year mark, it's rare bands are still together, with all the original members alive and still on speaking terms. And of those bands, most are nostalgia tours, only regurgitating hits from decades ago. Few are still producing new material prolifically and fewer still are improving with age like wine and cheese... and Clutch. 

Back in the mid 90's when we were first dating, my future husband and I hit a number of live Clutch shows, and their music, along with other 90's metal, punk and grunge bands, was a soundtrack for some of the best times we ever had with friends. So it was fitting that this year Dug & I spent our actual 16th anniversary on a Clutch/ Corrosion Of Conformity road trip. Traditional anniversary gift guides say hollow silver like tea pots and vases, is the suggested gift for the 16th anniversary, but I'd take live metal over hollow silver any day, especially if it's Clutch! Best. Anniversary. Ever. 

We hopped on the band wagon with their first release and never jumped off. Their sound has varied a bit over the years, but we always adored them for their steadfast refusal to sell out. They continued to fly under the radar, playing what they love and loving what they played, for decades, not changing their sound or their look. And we continued to see them live every chance we got.

My children who are now teens were raised on Clutch and were thrilled to finally see them live, back in 2008 at Summer Camp Music Festival. My kids ran around the on site camp grounds happily belting out Shogun Named Marcus, Rats, and other favorites. Clutch's early releases are still in heavy rotation on our iPods.

Clutch Fans, the next generation 

My kids, Dugan (7) & Sage (5) w/ the guitar Dugan won at Kidzapalooza. ©Kenaz-Mara 2008

Then came Earth Rocker and Psychic Warfare and the world discovered our little secret. Clutch is an insanely good band with killer riffs, literate lyrics and a powerful sound that will seep into your brain cell and never let go. We've featured the band over 25 times and hope they don't stop doing their thing any time in the near future. 

Check out loads of our past Clutch photo and video features right here. Click and scroll down (25+ trips through the way back machine).

More Clutch Favorites From Piere's 

Fort Wayne, IN 6/10/16:

 Clutch has the best fans ever. 

Piere's even had a great ADA section to the side of the stage with decent sight lines for those on crutches and wheelchair bound.

Maryland boy, Neil bringing a bit of home town on the road with a Washington DC's 9:30 Club Tee. DC Sound Attack indeed.

Photo Recap: CLUTCH NYE 2016 at Bogart's

2016 came in with a roar and a cowbell. CLUTCH killed it at Bogart's, an intimate and infamous venue that's been a staple of the Cincinnati scene since the mid 70's as a concert hot spot and as early as 1905 as vaudeville venue. We were super stoked to be there shooting for ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama.

You've heard of "The Hottest Band in the Land... KISS" 

and "The Only Band That Matters... The Clash." 

Now meet "The Best Metal Band With Cow Bell... CLUTCH!!"



D.C. Sound Attack indeed!! What a welcome for 2016.

Click the image below for our 
full Clutch NYE slide show. 

More photo favs are embedded at the bottom of this feature as well. Photo credit: Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

One thing we dig about Clutch is the band members take turns writing the set lists. I don't know who planned the NYE show, but it was a stellar mix of old school and new tunes and the pre-show music was a big ol' Lemmy fest.

*Pure Rock Fury was played instead of Son of Virginia.

We've been fans of Clutch's unique rock stylings since they began in the early 90's and we're happy to see them finally getting the critical acclaim and wider audience they deserve. Clutch fans are some of the friendliest, most unpretentious people out there and it's always a great vibe at shows. 





One thing we love about Bogart's is their all ages shows truly are. We're not talking just 18+ under agers. Kids were welcome at the Clutch NYE show and some of the next gen rail riders even left with drum sticks and guitar picks!

NYE can be a time of reflection and of celebrating the old and new. Speaking of old, I was there with my husband of 15 years, a guy I've been catching Clutch with since the early 90's. And we made a whole slew of new friends at the show and met others in person that we've known on line from the Clutch facebook group!

One of our new friends confessed to discovering the first Clutch album when she worked at a college radio station. It wasn't getting much air play, and she loved it so much she stole it. She admitted to feeling a twinge guilty in later years, but she's made amends by spreading the Clutch love since then. In fact, she was there with her boyfriend who was a live Clutch virgin till the Cleveland show the night before. By NYE he was an enthusiastic full convert! 

Our Clutch initiation was less dramatic. We were turned on to their first album by mutual friends, and have caught them every chance we get for the past 20+ years. 





I've been shooting and reviewing their shows for about the past 5 years and it was truly a treat to catch Neil for a video interview right before Earth Rocker came out a few years back.

Click here for more of our past CLUTCH coverage.

Happy new year all. Hope 2016 is filled with music, creativity, laughter, friends, family and fun. We'll see you out there.

Remember to check back with ChiIL Live Shows for arts & entertainment news, reviews, interviews and giveaways for Chi, IL and beyond.

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Fan Shot Favs Clutch NYE:

Favorite Show Shots Clutch NYE: 

Just another brick in the wall.... Had to include this. Security was standing on cinder blocks in the photo pit so they'd have better sight lines on the crowd. Never seen anything like it!