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Clutch rocks to sold out Montage

Very rare now a days that a metal act sells out a show weeks in advanced; however, it should come to no surprise that Clutch sold out Rochester’s Montage Hall on the 29th.

Clutch may not have always been as big as acts like Metallica or Sabbath, but they have been just as consistent as acts of that stature. Clutch, during their 20-plus year career, has been playing in front of big crowds and constantly been releasing great material.

With their latest release Earth Rocker (which as praised by the UK’s Metal Hammer magazine as best album of 2013) Clutch will be spending the next year-and-a-half promoting this album, and with the first full leg of the tour in full swing, upstate New York was blessed to have Clutch rock the Montage, along with reunited veterans Into Another and Lionize.

One hour after the doors opened, the stage was graced by Lionize, a young four piece band out of Maryland. They have a Hard Rock/Alternative vibe from them. It was something different than what I am normally used to, but appropriate opener for a band like Clutch. What made them stand out is that they have a keyboardist. It’s really hard to compare them to other acts as they’re an entirely different breed. The crowd responded well to their 30-minute set. Lionize’s newest album, Jet Pack Soundtrack, will be coming out February 18^th, as you will be looking for something new to add to your collection. I would expect Lionize to make more noise in upstate New York in the coming future.

By 8:45 Into Another started their 45-minute set. Into Another recently reunited after splitting in the late ’90s. I don’t know a whole lot about them other than they toured with White Zombie during their prime. Also they went into their set without one of their guitar players due to some kind of illness or accident. Very admirable they still chose to go on stage without one of their key members. I thought they were awesome. This was my first exposure to Into Another. And I think it’s safe to say it was the same for the rest of the crowd. They’re definitely more in the metal category. I would even go as far as they were more Acid Metal due to their use of a more distorted sound approach. Some of their tunes even had a nerdcore sound to them due to some inspiration of Star Wars and other sci fi movies. The crowd was receptive to them. Into Another is a veteran band that’s getting used to the road again. It will be interesting to see what they have planned after their cycle with Clutch finishes up.

Clutch took the stage at 10 pm with a stellar 16 song set. They opened their set with 2 songs off Earth Rocker, the title track and “Mr. Freedom.” Neil Fallon looked great on stage with his beard still epic as ever. Also Fallon is just coming of spinal surgery this past fall. So it was great to see him rocking the stage with such high energy. Half way into the set, Clutch played fan favorite “Cypress Grove” and the crowd ERUPTED. (and lit up) Then Fallon picked up the guitar for the mellower tune “The Regulator.” The remainder of the set consisted of more tunes off “Earth Rocker” and one tune from “Strange Cousins From The West.” After their set was finished, Clutch came out for an epic encore performance of the songs “Electric Worry” and “One Eye Dollar.” I guess the biggest surprise is they didn’t play “Spacegrass.” But it doesn’t matter. Clutch is out there doing what they do best. The band still sounds as tight as they ever had, never missing a beat, and keeping the energy at a high level. On a final note, this was personally my third time at the Montage. The sound of that place has never sounded better. I look forward to more shows there, and I look forward to the next time Clutch comes to upstate New York.

January 5, 2014
Distances and Threads Move Us Emotionally

Distances and Threads headlined a stacked deck at Albany’s Bogies, Saturday, Dec. 28.

Other performers included Echoes, Before the Betrayer, and Dust and Ashes. The night before also saw a pregame performance from Dark Matter, Eden’s Lost Misfits, and Teenage Shred.

The nature of the show brought up a widely debated topic in metal: Among listeners of metal, one complaint is that bands are often emotionless; that bands produce their songs to be brash, angry, violent, or just to incite a fight.

However, anyone who has seen that famous video of Nergal tearing pages out of a Bible on stage — a crime punishable by jail time in Poland, where the performance took place — knows that a singer willing to risk freedom is clearly emotionally involved in the music.

When it comes to bands like Distances and Threads, who both performed in front of crowds of twenty people or less at Bogies a few days ago, emotions ran high. It is clear that every note played, every word spoken, or every beat struck, the bands meant what they played.

Threads, whose set was first following a number of local acts, such as Before the Betrayer and Echoes, delivered a full set of songs about loss, love, relationships, and life. While it may have been easy to dismiss their lyrics as teenaged angst, a few moments with the band — who sound like a hybrid of early Underoath, Being as an Ocean, and Vessels — show a depth that few others have accomplished.

Performance wise, the band was on point in every way. Since their guitar style – riffs courtesy of Levi Miller — calls from fast changes between plucked acoustics to fast, distorted riffs, the band has little room for error. Their musical feel perfectly encases the raw powerhouse that is vocalist Tyler Priola. In fact, in one moment, Priola knelt on the ground — this was not theatrics, it was simply the most honest expression of the song.

Distances, too, held the small audience’s gaze. Their music is faster and heavier by brand. It sounds something like a melodic version — a bit like the night’s opening band, echoes. The singer, Adam Meadors, bares an uncanny resemblance to Falling Up’s Jessy Ribordy.

What should have been midway through the set, drummer Matt Full’s bass pedal broke, nearly causing the band to have to end their set, but thanks to help from another drummer, they played on. But with songs like “Guilt” in the mix, this might just be inevitable.

The crowd’s reaction – less than twenty people, mostly not part of any of the opening bands — however, was less than exciting.

Distances singer Meadors addressed the issue. “(In the end), we’re just here to play music. That’s all we want to do. It doesn’t matter how many people show up.”

In conclusion, the show was stacked. Both bands showed that they cared about each word they said. Threads’ and Distances’ EPs are both available online.

January 5, 2014
Jordison v. Slipknot?

To my fans, friends, and associates…
I would like to start the New Year by addressing the recent rumors and speculation regarding my departure from Slipknot. I want to make it very clear that I DID NOT QUIT SLIPKNOT. This band has been my life for the last 18 years, and I would never abandon it, or my fans. This news has shocked and blindsided me as much as it has all of you. While there is much I would like to say, I must remain silent to further details at this time. I would like to thank you all for your unwavering love and support, and wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year.
-Joey (Jordison)

Joey Jordison broke his silence last night to shed a little more light on the details surrounding his departure from Slipknot: In summation, he says. it’s not his fault.

Very little has been shared by both parties since Slipknot released a statement several weeks ago that Jordison was no longer a member of the team. Speculation over the band calling it quits coaxed Corey Taylor, the band’s lead singer, to break his silence earlier this week. Yesterday, it appears, Jordison was also responding to rumors. Only the rumors he wished to address were that he voluntarily left the band, to which he seems to be emphatically denying.

Jordison, Taylor, and the rest of Slipknot appear to be showing some form of self-restraint; being very careful and selective by what they say and how they say it, which only suggests each party has been advised by a lawyer. Jordison wrote the songs for Slipknot, and recent reports have already stated his songs will not be released by the band. But, with the controlled language being shared between the two, it would not be surprising if we’re to hear that litigation has been set in motion.

Last December, Taylor announced to Slipknot fans that the band was still working on material to release something this year. If the band is going to be wrapped up in a possible lawsuit, don’t expect anything from them anytime soon.

Slipknot has not released an album since 2008. Since that time, Jordison has been working on a side project called Scar the Martyr.

January 2, 2014