The Two-Headed Beast tour roared into the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, with co-headliners Rival Sons and Clutch delivering a night packed with raw energy and unfiltered rock. The historic venue, with its intimate setting, was the perfect backdrop for a show that leaned heavy into both bands’ signature sounds.

With Rival Sons and Clutch splitting headliner duties, the night had a duality that fit the tour’s name. Both bands brought their A-game, yet their unique approaches made for a well-rounded experience. From the southern-infused swagger of Rival Sons to Clutch’s hard-hitting, riff-heavy celebration of Blast Tyrant, the audience was treated to two very distinct, but equally commanding, performances. But first….

Black Stone Cherry

Openers Black Stone Cherry hit the stage with high energy, immediately connecting with the crowd in their own way. The guitarist, with a thick southern drawl, declared how much they loved playing “I-wa” and thanked everyone for coming out on a Tuesday night—shoutout to the babysitters and Uber drivers. Their set was full of movement, with the guitarist and bassist constantly swapping spots, making sure every corner of the stage got some action. The band tore through tracks like Screamin’ at the Sky and White Trash Millionaire, the latter introduced with a joke about how being from Kentucky made them “somewhat cousins” with the folks in Iowa. The highlight might have been when the singer, in his unmissable accent, hyped up the crowd to “put your whole ass into it” before launching into Blame it on the Boom Boom. Though I didn’t catch the entire setlist, they definitely brought the heat with tracks like Lonely Train, keeping the crowd fully engaged until the very end of their 40-minute set.

Rival Sons

Rival Sons brought a whole different energy to the night. Vocalist Jay Buchanan, barefoot and alone, was led onto a dark stage with a guitar, and started singing Shooting Stars.The slow, haunting start really set the mood before the band jumped in and the lights came up, turning things up a notch with their bluesy, gritty rock.

While both Scott Holiday and Dave Beste remained fairly stationary on stage, they kept things interesting by constantly switching guitars and basses, adding some visual variety to their otherwise steady presence. Buchanan also often pulled out the tambourine as the band jammed. The band kept things rolling with songs like Darkside, Too Bad and Tied Up. 

Jay took a minute to chat with the crowd, announcing, “I grew up in the woods” before playing Feral Roots. The second half of the set really cranked up the intensity. Mosaic had the crowd locked in, and Do Your Worst was definitely a high point, with the crowd singing along with, “Oh my, oh my baby” . Then came Electric Man, bringing even more fire, before they wrapped up with Keep on Swinging.

They played for about an hour, and Rival Sons delivered a set that was equal parts soulful and hard-hitting. They’ve got that perfect mix of old-school rock roots with a modern twist, and they didn’t let up from start to finish.

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Clutch

Clutch hit the stage in true form, starting with a recording of their own We Need Some Money playing over the speakers as the crowd buzzed in anticipation. Neil Fallon, dressed in all black, walked on stage and immediately owned it. While the other band members stayed more in the background, Fallon never stopped moving, commanding the stage with his high-energy presence. It was clear from the start that Clutch wasn’t wasting any time.

They dove straight into Blast Tyrant territory, with a heavy focus on celebrating the 20th anniversary of the album. From the opening notes of Mercury, the band set the tone for a fast-paced, no-nonsense performance. The crowd was hit with a barrage of Blast Tyrant classics like Profits of Doom, The Mob Goes Wild, Cypress Grove, and Promoter (of Earthbound Causes), one after another, with little to no breaks between songs. Worm Drink and Army of Bono followed. Fallon did take a moment after Spleen Merchant to crack a joke, saying, “Thank you for coming to our TED talk.”

The band continued to tear through Blast Tyrant staples like (In the Wake of) The Swollen Goat, Weathermaker, and Ghost,with the crowd feeding off every riff. Subtle Hustle was on the setlist, but it seemed to have been skipped during the performance, unless I just zoned out.

At some point during the set, Fallon commented on how refreshing it was to tour with bands that actually use amplifiers, adding with his signature dry humor, “It’s a breath of fresh air in a sea of diarrhea.” 

Though Blast Tyrant took center stage, they also worked in a few extras at the end of the set, including Slaughter Beach, Cyborg Bette, and Burning Beard (my personal fave). They wrapped things up with Electric Worry, which had the crowd singing along (vamanos, vamanos) and feeling every last bit of the band’s raw energy.

For all the power Clutch brought to the stage, they kept the talking to a minimum, charging through the set quickly and efficiently. Fallon’s final words to the crowd were simple but fitting: “You did a great job. Excellent work. Highly recommended.” And just like that, without an encore, the band walked off, leaving the audience buzzing from a relentless hour-plus of pure rock.

As the lights came up and the final notes faded, it was clear that the Two-Headed Beast tour lived up to its name. Both Rival Sons and Clutch brought their own brand of rock intensity to the Val Air Ballroom, and the crowd got the best of both worlds. Rival Sons set the stage with their bluesy, soulful energy, while Clutch tore through their Blast Tyrant classics with the kind of raw, unapologetic power they’re known for. And openers Black Stone Cherry got everything started with their southern energy.

No encores, no frills—just pure rock from start to finish. 

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