Article & Photos by: Linda Carlson

Cincinnati, OH – Friday night rocked as the Brady Music Center, nestled comfortably along the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, hosted Clutch on the band’s No Stars Above Tour, with openers Amigo The Devil and Nathan Bergman.

Bergman started the evening with a stellar acapella opener – just the man, his voice, and a piercing backlit spotlight.  This man, from Washington DC, has a vocal tone that can penetrate the darkness and bring a crowd to a hushed silence.  Really, it was quite stunning.  The remainder of the set, with the rest of the band joining, was just as enjoyable.  Hints of country, bits of rock, lots of fun.

Bergman is promoting his album, Metaphysical Change, which evolved from, and was inspired by, the pandemic lockdown.  The album features contributing musicians from a myriad of music genres that is a testament to Bergman’s own range – southern rocker Tyler Bryant, Frank Iero (My Chemical Romance), Per Wiberg (Opeth), among others.

Amigo The Devil is Danny Kiranos, indeed a devilish musician and storyteller from Florida.  His Greek and Spanish heritage meld with a comic sense of darkness and spirit – and what do you get?  A singer-songwriter-storyteller who is uniquely entertaining.  He is expressive, both in his music and his stage presence, and delivered a performance that evoked laughter, cheers and dance from the audience.  That is an insane accomplishment considering the dark lyrics of his songs, like “Dahmer Does Hollywood,” “Murder at the Bingo Hall,” and “I Hope Your Husband Dies.”  Incredible.

Headliner Clutch performed to a ready crowd.  This rock band from Germantown, Maryland, was formed in 1991 and has garnered quite a following.  With 13 studio albums under their belt, the band has solidified itself as an American rock staple.

Lead singer Neil Fallon is a terrific showman.  Here’s the thing… He looks like the guy next door, with neatly tailored jeans, a button-down pressed cotton shirt, athletic shoes, and a trim beard and haircut that looks like he just stepped out of the barber shop.  But the rock that seethes out of him, the stage showmanship he evokes, are in direct conflict with his neighborly appearance.  It’s a striking contrast that works magic on stage.

Along with Tim Sult (guitar), Dan Maines (bass) and Jean-Paul Gaster (drums), the band played a killer set.  “We Need Some Money” (Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers) was piped in prior to the band entering the stage.  After that, it was all Clutch::

A Shogun Named Marcus
Sucker for the Witch
Worm Drink
D.C. Sound Attack!
50,000 Unstoppable Watt
Slaughter Beach
We Strive for Excellence
Passive Restraints
Skeletons on Mars
The Face
Son of Virginia
Red Alert (Boss Metal Zone)
Nosferatu Madre
Walking in the Great Shining Path of Monster Trucks
Hot Bottom Feeder
Three Golden Horns
Cypress Grove

Encore:
Spacegrass
Subtle Hustle

All three bands are worth the trip to see live.  Check websites for tour schedules: https://www.clutchmerch.com/pages/tour-dates, https://www.amigothedevil.com/tour, HOME | Nate Bergman Sings.

Be sure to check out the image carousel below for more photos from the Cincinnati show!