Rock ‘n’ roll, self-reliance and democracy are three truly American ideals, and the band Clutch, which performs at the Newport tomorrow, is a vigilant guardian of all three.
Guitar screeching, hardcore riffs exemplify Clutch’s newest release, “Pure Rock Fury.”
The album carries on the American tradition of guitar driven rock ‘n’ roll with destructive guitar riffs. The album also reminds listeners why this country once had guitar heroes like Ace Frehley, Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix along with those sons of England like Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend, Keith Richards and Peter Frampton that were adopted as America’s own.
The riffs pumped out do a fine job in upholding tradition as Clutch guitarist Tim Sult develops his own guitar hero alter-ego.
Thoreauvian self-reliance guides the band’s mantra in creating rock music transcending all of the popular genres in music today.
“Bands have always been categorized for the sake of analyzation. Genres develop, become popular and get derivative. Bands then develop just to imitate the genre, and it just becomes a parody. We’re here for ourselves, not anyone else,” singer Neil Fallon said.
The band’s attitude against unwanted musical influence does not stop at pop-culture influence. Purists through and through, the attitude makes them feign any other instrument not originally designed for rock ‘n’ roll. Any instrument beyond Sult’s guitar, Jean Paul Gaster’s drum and Dan Maines’s bass is off-limits.
“Rock bands get comfortable with electronic influences.” Fallon said. “When you rely on a machine, it is not a performance. It is a presentation.
“The performance is about how the person manipulates the guitar, not press a button.”
Clutch’s search for purity is a bit unconventional if not extreme, but the clear imperative for the band is to have the freedom to create the music they want to create, free of outside influence.
The unconventional attitude has not allowed Clutch mainstream popularity during the past 10 years of its existence, but the band’s manna is its live performances. Touring and interacting with the people who listen to Clutch develops the support for the band. With multi-million dollar ad campaigns and overplayed singles, it’s a wonder anyone still creates a fan base through old-fashion hard work.
“I think we are wildly successful especially when you do what you love and get paid for it. Getting fans by word of mouth, as opposed to marketed singles, brings the people to shows years after year,” Fallon said.
Clutch makes music on its own terms, but the support of the people decides whether the band lives or dies. The people have kept Clutch in power, and the continued support guarantees extended domain over the rock world.
Clutch will play the Newport Music Hall tonight. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tree, Murphy’s Law and Division of Disorder will also play at the show.
