That is part of what makes a Clutch show great. As soon as the fans hear the opening chords of any tune, they are ready to sing along. And they do. There is such great energy at a Clutch show, from the band (Neil never fails to work up a good sweat) and the fans who jump and sing and shout all the way through the show.

Clutch is also incredible at mixing up their songs. Even when promoting a new album, they throw in a good blend of songs from previous albums. And they're always good for an extended jam or two. This show featured an incredible drum solo during "Big News."

This show had a little different flavor than the last time I saw Clutch. Eric Oblander of Five Horse Johnson (harmonica) was on stage with the band for a good part of the show. Toward the end of the set, another guitarist (whose name I didn't catch) played a song or two also. Oh, and during "The Devil & Me" a woman jumped on the stage, removed her shirt and danced for a few moments until she was asked to get down. How's that for flavor? So, yeah. Clutch is king because they are road warriors and they never fail to give an energy-laden performance with all the good stuff fans want to hear.

Immediately preceding Clutch was a hard-rockin' trio called Year Long Disaster. These guys were excellent. Technically, they are great musicians (my cohort mentioned to me that they seem like the kind of guys who really study music) and they absolutely rock. The drummer doesn't so much play his kit as much as he beats it into submission. The singer plays a smokin' guitar and his vocals remind a bit of Phil McCormack of Molly Hatchet.

Before Year Long Disaster was a band from Bloomington, Illinois, called Backyard Tire Fire. I was pretty impressed with these guys. They have a gritty Midwestern sound that is equal parts rock, roots, and blues. The guitarist plays a pretty mean slide guitar and the rhythm section (including a five-string bass) is tight. I'll be adding some Backyard Tire Fire to my collection.