Clutch // 1000Mods // Bokassa // Live Review // The O2 Institute // Birmingham
On a cold winter’s day, just over a week before Christmas, most people would be staying in the warm or shopping for presents. In Birmingham, however, we had something much more exciting than Santa Claus coming to town. Clutch, the Maryland Rock titans, hit the O2 Academy Birmingham as part of their Fortune Tellers Make a Killing Nowadays European tour, celebrating 30 years since their self-titled album was released worldwide.
Alongside Clutch were Greek stoner-infused Hard-Rockers 1000Mods and Norwegian heavy Rock 3-piece Bokassa.
As the room filled, Bokassa hit the stage with a groove-infused set of riffs that helped warm up the freezing room. Fabulous stage presence and a tight performance created an excellent opening for the night, and as the room filled up throughout their set, the energy just got better, too. Despite not being the most energetic of bands to watch, the band’s overall crushing sound, the crowd working between tracks, and the apparent love of performing made the crowd fans with ease, and, as someone hearing the band for the first time, their set was an excellent warm-up for the night to come. My personal highlights were Vultures and No Control, and they’re definitely a band to check out.
Photography: Dan Stapleton @ Pulse Media Visuals
Up next were 1000mods. The Greek stoner-infused Rock group came out to an uproar of cheers and blasted through a groove-filled set that made heads bang effortlessly. Psychedelic rock riffs with pounding drums, groove-filled bass, and mildly distorted vocals created an excellent experience for fans and those seeing the band for the first time. 1000mods perfectly encapsulate the new-wave of desert-rock, and when I was in the smoking area after their set, I heard nothing but love for the performance.
Road to Burn and Overthrown were my personal favourite songs of the set, but there wasn’t a moment that was anything but a pleasure to watch and hear. One of the best newer bands in the genre at this point, and one I am grateful to get to see live finally; here’s hoping for a headline tour soon.
Photography: Dan Stapleton @ Pulse Media Visuals
After the final changeover, it was time for the night’s main event, Clutch. With a simple stage set-up consisting of good lighting, their amps and their pedal boards, it immediately let me know what I was in for. Clutch’s set was about one thing, and one thing alone: playing a damn good set that lets the music speak for itself. Neil Fallon galloped around the stage, working the crowd and putting out one of my favourite vocal performances I’ve experienced in a long time at a show. At the same time, Tim Sult (guitar), Dan Maines (bass) and Jean-Paul Gaster (drums) were set up towards the back of the stage, simply playing their hearts out. Clutch operates as a musical unit, with their sound and artwork being the most critical aspects, something I feel is often missing at larger shows these days, and it was a refreshing experience to lose myself in the band’s simple sound while watching the set. The crowd spent the entire time headbanging along to the band’s ridiculously great setlist, covering a large chunk of their catalogue
from fan favourites such as Spacegrass, Burning Beards and Walking in The Great Shining Path of Monster Trucks, to some of my personal favourites, Slaughter Beach and Nosferatu Madre.
A band doesn’t make it 34 years into their career without being something special, and Clutch truly are. I cannot urge everyone enough to go and see them live as soon as you get a chance.
This show really encapsulated everything I love about live music. Great performances, damn good sound, and just sharing in a moment with a room of strangers, all in the same place due to a shared love of music. A great night, and one I will be remembering for a long time to come.
Photography: Dan Stapleton @ Pulse Media Visuals
Ireland 2026
Mon 25th May – Dublin, The Academy
Tues 26th May – Dublin, The Academy
Wed 27th May – Belfast, The Limelight
Thur 28th May – Limerick, Dolan’s Warehouse
Tickets for all headline dates are on sale now from ClutchMerch.com.
|
|
