Review: Clutch & Primus Light Up The Stone Pony

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Review & photos by Christian Smith

The perfect matchup of 90’s rock heavyweights Clutch and Primus hit The Stone Pony Summerstage in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Clutch took the stage with a vicious security in their role as entertainer. Neil absolutely entranced the crowd, which emitted waves of passion and, near the stage, a rumbling mosh pit. The power in their music was obvious, all the individuals making up the crowd had their passions directed en masse, and Clutch was the cause. Young people and older people enjoyed 18 year old classics like “Elephant Riders” and recent songs like “Psychic Warfare”.

After Clutch had finished, the already sizeable crowd grew significantly as Primus fans piled in. The stage had changed, the atmosphere grew stranger, the sun had began to set. A microphone with a horse mask hanging on it had been erected (and would remain untouched throughout the show). Les Claypool came out adorned with a bowler hat and petticoat.

His microphone had the appearance of a retro radio announcers. Fanatastic and strange visuals accompanied their music, some were from their music videos, others were looped visuals crafted for live performance and made up of digital art and old movie clips. Primus demonstrated their mastery of the art through brilliant exposition, each song was effective, from hits like “Jerry Was a Race Car Driver” and “My Name is Mud”.

Both Clutch and Primus displayed the talent that has kept them as mainstays of alternative and funk metal, and will continue to do so as long as there are people who love to hear them play.

Clutch setlist

  1. Electric Worry
  2. Big News I
  3. Escape From the Prison Planet
  4. Passive Restraints
  5. Sucker for the Witch
  6. The Mob Goes Wild
  7. Profits of Doom
  8. The Elephant Riders
  9. Vision Quest
  10. A Quick Death in Texas
  11. Texan Book of the Dead
  12. Crucial Velocity
  13. Burning Beard
  14. Decapitation Blues
  15. Bubonic Blues
  16. D.C. Sound Attack!
  17. X-Ray Visions

Primus setlist

  1. Too Many Puppies
  2. Sgt. Baker
  3. Moron TV
  4. Groundhog Day
  5. The Pressman
  6. Mr. Knowitall
  7. Candy Man
  8. Mr. Krinkle
  9. The Toys Go Winding Down
  10. Pudding Time
  11. On The Tweek Again
  12. My Name Is Mud
  13. Jerry Was A Racecar Driver
  14. Harold of the Rocks
  15. Southbound Pachyderm