Once upon a time, in 2013, I bumped into a random news article. The Central African Republic, a country in Africa, had a coup. A note said that there had been no peaceful transitions of power since the end of colonial times. I clicked it and could close - it was impossible to stop reading. One of the figures was Jean-Bédel Bokassa, a dictator seizing power in the mid sixties and until he was overthrown in 1979. Cannibalism, murders, spending of a quarter of the country’s budget on his coronation that aimed to replicate the coronation of Napoleon - better than any book. 

I had a smile on my face when a few years ago I saw Metallica selecting our locals Bokassa (that name!) as their warm-up for a tour. Metallica’s generosity has a history of inviting different obscure acts, some of which never managed to make it over the radar after. 

It is a heavy sludge night. 

So today Bokassa is warming up the Clutch. My attempts to check the band out a few years ago were not too successful - just not my thing. But we all know that live experience is a different story. 

A very loud intro, and the band shows they had a good preparation. This is what I call a power trio - every instrument being massive. There has definitely been a very good sound check. 
Bokassa are a very heavy sludge with Motorhead influence. 

Fantastic drummer Olav Dowkes, bass duties handled by Ole Vistnes from In Vain, Tristania, (Norwegian) Shining, and Jørn Kaarstad being big (figuratively and literally) on guitar (that looks like a toy guitar on him) and vocals. 

Very well played, and I enjoyed it more than the recordings. 

1000mods are up next, with a huge backdrop that signals the folks are fans of the Doom game - their logo is mocking the style. All the instruments sound just nasty terrible, and it all builds up a great sludge mix. The front figure Dani is massively inspired by Sleep, holding the bass very low and playing above the neck pickup - hitting strings on the neck. 

All the sludge cliches are here. A huge pedalboard, curvy cable and I see a mandatory Orange amp on the back.
 
If you like this style - you as well might get into them. Some vocal parts resemble Nirvana, and as I have already mentioned Sleep, I would compare them with a faster version of this band. Also some Motorhead moments. 
I cannot find anything that stands out for me, maybe just need to be a bit stoned and in a mood. 

Clutch also mocks a logo - NASA logo - and the backdrop and merch look very stylish. No clutch bags in the merch though.. 

Clutch is class, they are their own style. I like this mix of stoner and Clawfinger type vocals. 
Tim Sult is very concentrated on guitar avoiding any visible contact with us, the audience. I guess, he’s had enough, the band has been active since 1991. 

Neil Fallon is pure brilliance. Being a massive fan of Dead Kennedys I suddenly realize how some vocal patterns resemble my beloved Jello Biafra. 

The only thing I would remove from the show is the audience. It is the third act which gives a lot of time to fill in the space with very bad local beer. Drunk white trash dressed as lumberjacks start fighting. 
I relocate to another place that is more remote. The sound is good in all points of the Rockefeller club. It is the second time I encounter the band and I would love to see this charm again.