Good evening folks, Anthony here with another Empire Extreme look into the mind of Dan Maines of CLUTCH. I recently got to have a little chat with him about, well you take a look and tell me.

EE: Dan thank you so much for taking the time to sit with us tonight.

DM: No problem thanks for having me.

EE: so let’s go back to when you were in high school what were your musical influences?

DM: Umm Punk rock… it was a combination of that nineties metal scene, Prong but when I first started jamming with Tim,John Paul and Neal. I had very limited experience playing any kind of musical instrument or ive never played with anyone or in a band. Where as John Paul and Tim had a slightly longer history with playing. I was listening to D.C hardcore bands FUGAZI was a big influence on us.

EE: You guys have been together for so long, since high school. How do you guys keep that comradely all these years?

DM: Well were not unlike other bands you know, we’ve had our ups and downs and we were just lucky enough to kind of fight through. You know I think we all agree and understand that this is something we’d rather be doing above anything else.

EE: do you like the way the music industry has changed over the years since you’ve started? Do you think it’s easier to get your name out there?

DM: I do thinks its easier for both parties, it’s a lot easier for a kid to hear about a band and go on the internet and find out everything about them. But on the downside its a lot more difficult for said band to get the monetary benefits of that exposure, so you have to figure out the best approach to that the solution in our case we felt like it was you know between the early nineties to our first major label in 93. And the first four albums have been on four different labels. So we have been really put through the ringer with record labels big and small and we just felt like the only solution was to create our own label.

EE: Speaking of record labels anything new coming out?

DM: Well we just released our  12th studio album Book Of Bad Decisions and that’s seems to be the biggest thing at the moment.

EE: How are the fans reacting to the new album

DM: well, most of our fans have been around for a long time and they all seem to love it.

EE: What would you say is your favorite track?

DM: Lorelei, composing and writing it.

EE: So when you’re not writing or composing what do you do in your spare time?

DM: Anything outdoors with my wife and kids.

EE: not being confined in a tour bus?

DM: Exactly…..

EE: do you have any regrets?

DM: Well yeah of course, but if I hung on them then I really didn’t learn anything.

Well there you have it folks my sit down with Dan Maines of CLUTCH. So after the interview I went and hit up VooDooDoughnuts, I have to say that if you haven’t had the chance I HIGHLY recommend this you going and checking it out, they even have gluten-free and vegan!! NO SHIT! As I go back into the venue I cant help but notice the crowd is older and A LOT of them wearing old CLUTCH tour shirts and all kinds of swag from the band. Now I didn’t know what to expect from this show but all I knew was I was ready for SEVENDUST and as normal they didn’t disappoint it was an amazing set and Lajon can still belt out those vocals. Now this crowd of older fans is getting restless and ready for who they came to see. From beginning to end this was an amazing show. Neil Fallon still can hold his own when it comes to getting the crowed captivated and sent on their way home with brains turned to jelly after an amazing performance. Now I have to say for my first time seeing these gentlemen play, holy shit….. I want more of this CLUTCH live! So I say if you haven’t seen them you are missing out on a very good entertaining evening!

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Anthony Bernardi

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