I was first introduced to Primus in the western suburbs of Chicago in or around 1993. During that time there was this insane musical renaissance going on. So many great albums were released between 1991 and 1993. It was staggering… Do yourself a favor and google albums released in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
It’s no coincidence that Primus released Pork Soda in 1993 which is arguably one of their best albums and it debuted in the top 10. During those times Primus had their lane… Les Claypool and his band thrived in their own lane. The creativity and musicianship were unmatched. Over 30 years later I am still a fan of Primus and appreciate opportunities to see them live more than ever.
Tonight the evening began with a set performed by New York City’s very own Too Many Zooz. A funky, jazzy trio that oozes style. Think of a band performing on the street that is so captivating everyone stops to witness the magic. I felt the Zooz NYC roots immediately. A special band to kick off the night. Too Many Zooz were famous for their performances in the Union Station subway and they do an excellent job bringing that art to the stage.
Following Too Many Zooz, were progressive rock veterans Coheed and Cambria. Another band also from New York City however this ensemble set a different pace and tone. Tonight was my first time seeing Coheed live and they were a pleasant surprise. My progressive metal chops have been rooted in Queensryche and Tool so discovering a new progressive metal band that I can now begin to unpack was unexpected. Coheed was all energy and they sounded incredible. It is hard to take my eyes off Claidio Sanchez who leads Coheed with confidence with this beautiful mane of curly hair. Very metal and very much a part of his live presence during the action. The Andrew J Brady Music Center was packed with Coheed fans. They delivered an impressive set and I plan to see them again.
That brings us to Primus. What Les Claypool did with the base tonight was awe-inspiring. From the intro walking on stage, Brady was filled with the signature Les Claypool bass painting the room with effects. It was just incredible.
The layout of Primus consists of Les on Bass, Larry LaLonde on guitar, and Tim Alexander on drums. Together they brought the Primus discography alive. The show was equal parts psychedelic trip, funky, dark, authentic, and quirky.
Les's appearance tonight was typical, top hat, dark suit… his glasses. Les just has this signature style! His appearance while unassuming is also memorable. He wouldn’t be difficult to pick out of a lineup. Despite the unassuming appearance, what we heard tonight was extraordinary. Primus just delivers this stunning eclectic journey of sound. At various points, I thought “Wow Dead and Company is the only other Band that can jam like this!” The synergies between Les and Larry were just mesmerizing at times. The band has perfected this playing style with a decent production which included well-timed videos and lighting that created this encompassing atmosphere for the audience.
What we saw tonight was a trippy, funky lesson in jamming. The crowd was energetic the entire time. Enthusiastically dancing and moving to the vibe of the show which included pits opening up and crowd surfing. Primus did not let up and neither did the audience. At one point Les had the house lights turned up to see all the different costumes there were throughout the venue. There were chickens, bananas, and even someone dressed as Buckethead.
Les even called out a guy in the lower balcony who was dressed up in the same outfit Les wore when we performed at Woodstock. It was spot on! Yes, Primus played at Woodstock in 1994 one year after the release of Pork Soda.
The set list included the usuals: "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" (played early in the setlist), "Mr. Krinkle" "My Name is Mud," and "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver." Primus delivered and it's a bonus that the lead singer is one of the greatest bass players to ever walk this earth.
